Evening star., 1913-12-02
TO THE CLEANLINESS
OF ALL AMERICAN SPORTS
Member of German Athletic Commission Tells of Con
ditions in the United
States.

proved better than by the fact that after
the opening OF a playground in a densely
populated district of Chicago the crimes
committed by the young people have de-
creased by 2s per cent.
'Everybod knows the important part
sport plays in the education OF the young
Americans of the high schools. prepara-
tory schools. colleges and universities
But there. again. perfect organization
deepens and broadens the wholesome in
fiuence of the combination Of mental and
physical training. At most universities
We found gymnastic training or sport
compulsory, at least for the freshmen.
This contradicts the European belief
who Is able to break records and neglect
those who cannot. In Princeton. for in
stance. l.4S1 students out of $500 took
part In intercollegiate competitions i'm one
year. vt the same university twenty
seven base ball teams exist, each consist
ing of nine men. At another place we
saw thirty-four eight-oarct boats all in
use.
More than seventy students take part
in the fundamental preparations for the
varsity e'even for the great foot ball
games. The results are very satisfac-
tory. Careful examinations for a space
OF more than twenty years have proved
a general Increase in height and strength
OF the American students. That is good
race-building work and Olympic vic
tories are not it's object, but only it's
logical consequence.
Education Not Neglected.
General education is by no means neg
lected. On the contrary. tine free Amer
lean has. as student. 10 lead a very
closely observed life. Everybody is ex-
pected to acquire a certain standard of
knowledge in his class The best is 100
per cent, but if student does not come
up to % per cent he is no longer allowe ed
to compete until he has filled in the gaps
in his scientific education. We have seen
several of these unfortunate boys. and
everybody who knows the popularity OF
base ball in America will appreciate the
fact that the best pitcher of a university
team was not allowed to play for two
years for this reason.
I'VE met with another remarkable eact
when we were talking about the season
OF the Olympic games. We We're told
that If they were to be held in June the
students would he prevented from taking
part in them. The final examinations
take place every year at this time, and
even the best athlete would not be al
lowed to go away before his eXamina-
ton.
That argues. too, against the opinion
that most of the good American athletes,
and even the students, are professionals.
i udt ID a AnAlS tdlc, DIS Wcli dS TIE StOTS
about American specialism. Nearly every
champion is good at some other sport
but he completes only in the event in
which ne can do something remarkable
Besides, the United States has the best
all-around athletes. for among the five
winners of the pantathlon at Stockholm
We're three Americans.
General interest in sport and athletics
among all classes of the nation. and
Therefore the possibility of selecting the
best men out Of a large number of good
ones. and finally an iudividualizing and
scientific method of training-these are
the plain reasons for the United States
success is sport. Therefore, the Ameri-
cans look forward to 1916 as to great
festival. for which no special prepara-
tions are wanted and at which they
, merely hope to enjoy the fruits of serious
and thorough work.
I'VE Germans hope that the visit of
the commission to the United States will
have the result of awakening in Ger
many interest and real understanding
for sport and the Olympic games. We,
too, intend to make every effort to win,
but at least We shall also make the
same effort to show ideal games to our
visitors-games to compete In which is
| to be a pleasure, as in all good sport, for
victorS and defeated alike