New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-01


merous Fairgrounds in every large city
for the grammar school boys. Built often
amid the most crowded parts Of the
cities, lavlshly provided with instructors
and all arrangements for hygiene and
sports, are running tracks, swimming
pools, gymnasiums and apparatus. They
are intended to give to the poorer classes
the advantages OF sport.
They serve both for the health and
physical development of the children and
for their moral education. That they
keep them from loafing about cannot be
proved better than by the fact that after
the opening of playground in a densely
populated district of Chicago the crimes
committed by the young people have de-
creased by rs per cent.
Everybody knows the important part
sport plays in the education Of the young
Americans Of the high schools, prepare
tory schools, colleges and universities.
But there, again, a perfect organization
deepens and broadens the wholesome in
fuence 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
that the Americans care only for the man
who is able to break records and neglect
those who cannot. In Princeton. for in
stance, LAST students out or $500 took
part in intercollegiate competitions in one
year At the same university twenty
seven baseball teams exist, each consist
Ing of nine men. At another place we
saw thirty-four elght-oared boats all in
use.
More than seventy students take part
in the fundamental preparations for the
varsity eleven for the great football
games. The results are very satisfactory.
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 victories are
not it's object but only It's logical conse-
quence.
General education is by no means
neglected. on the contrary, the free
American has. as student, to lead
very closely observed life. Everybody Is
expected to acquire certain standard of
knowledge in his class. The best Is 100
per cent but If a student does not come
up 10 70 per cent he Is no longer allowed
TO compete until he has filled in the gaps
I'm his scientific education We have seen
several of these unfortunate boys. and
everybody who knows the popularity
OF baseball in America will appreciate
saI,. Of mi
verslty team was not allowed TO play for
two years for this reason.
I'VE met with another remarkable fact
when we were talking about the season
of the olympic games. We were told
that if they were to be held in June the
students would be prevented from taking
part I'm them. The final examinations
take place every year at this time, and
even the best athlete would not be al
lowed TO 20 away before his examination.
That argues. too, against the opinion
that most Of the good American athletes.
and even the students, are professionals.
That Is n fairy tale az well az the story
about American specialsm. Nearly every
champion Is good at some other sport.
but ne completes only in the event I'm
which he can do something remarkable.
Besides, the United States has the best
all around athletes. for among the five
winners Of the Plantation at Stockholm
were three Americans.
General interest I'm sport and athletics
among all classes OF the nation, and
therefore the possibility OF selecting the
best men out Of large number OF good
ones, and finally an indlvidualiZing and
scientific method OF training-these are
the plain reasons for the United States
successes I'm sport. Therefore, the Amerl-
cans look forward to 1916 as to a great
festival. FOR which no special preparations
are wanted and az which they merely
hope 20 enjoy the fruits OF serious and
thorough work.
I'VE Germans hope that the visit OF the
commission 10 the United States will have
the result Of awakening In Germany in
terest and real understanding for sport
and the Olympic games. We, too. intend
TO make every effort 10 win. but at least
We shall also make the same effort to
show ideal games to our visitors-games
20 compete in which Is 10 be pleasure. as
In all good sport. for vlctors and defeated
mike"