The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
Pennsylvania varsity eight in action.

great mass OF men DO more good than
harm.
ION the other hand I am very con-
idert that a good many of those who
become champions in various lines
seriously overdo, both in training and
in competition. and that a considerable
number Of college athletes who drop
their training and participation In
sport too completely and quickly after
leaving college are worse of in the
end because they have given so much
time and energy to athletics.
"A considerable number Of promi-
nent athletes. both amateur and
professional. have been subject to de-
Senerative disease. organic in charac-
ter, and some have died because Of
organic degeneration. prematurely
aged. and others have been invalids for
many years. have known of a con-
siderable number Of examples Of men
who have been disting uished in ath-
ietic sports and who have either SUI.
fered from organic illness or who have
died from such troubles. Just what
would have happened to them II they
had not participated in athletics at
earlier stages It is impossible of course
to say.
T state my opinion in another
way. then. I believe that excessive
indulgence In athletics, particularly IL
accompanied by sudden cessation Of
such vigorous habits Of life, 10 dele
FERROUS to health in various ways.
with reference to other questions.
ThA ayayonn MAN ~ an cno,, ~in,, AA.>-
ball II he Ia In good condition and has
kept consistently in training. I doubt
whether the average man Of 80 should
continue to play basketball.
"a man between 80 and 40 in good
condition and In training Is as we'll
n not better equipped to row in
matches than he was before that time.
A younger man In the early twenties
is better adapted to the track events.
The young man In the late teens and
In the twenties has greater elasticity Of
heart and blood vessels and 10 less apt
TO injure himself by quick. spurty ef-
forts than the boy OF high school age
n than the man over 80 or in the
fortles.
With reference to the forms Of
sport suitable for the man Of 10 or IS
the more active and more vigorous
games, like baseball. basketball. row.
Ing or track, should be discontinued.
Tennis In moderation. golf (of course),
bowling, handball. swimming, moder-
ate rowing without racing), horse
back riding, tramping. fishing and
hunting are suitable.
THE average man Of middle age
with reference to diet should eat spar
ingly. leaving out alcohol altogether,
and limit rather markedly the proteid
elements in food (of which red meat
IL the most objectionable). On the
whole, however. I believe that alb
seriousness in eating for a man Of
middle age Is more important than the
question of any particular article Of
diet"
From the director Of physical edu-
cation at the University Of Wisconsin,
Or. George w. Ehler. also comes word
that he has no available data on which
to base anything OF value concerning
the age at which athletes die.
There are a large number OF Wis
consin alumni who were prominent In
athletics twenty, twenty-five and
thirty years ago and who are still
living. hearty and WE'LL he adds. "and
showing no effects OF physical or
mental deterioration" As to the exer-
cises that can wisely he INDUCED In by
The average mar Of 80 years DIR.
Ehler has some very definite opinions.
IL should consider 1t unwise," he
writes, "for the average mar OF 30
to go into competitive sports II he
has not been In them previously,
There Is no reason, however, why a
man at the age Of 30. who was In
athletics at school or college and has
kept himself In condition during the
intervening years should not continue
in vigorous sport up to S6. or even
longer, particularly In baseball, basket
ball, tennis. golf. swimming and hand
ball.
Competitive rowing and track
events, not including field events, on
stitute too intense a strain under COM
petitive conditions to be continued
with safety after 30. Handball. golf.
swimming, boating and canoeing con-
stitute sports that may be continued
by the average man till very late In
life. provided that he maintains more
or less regular and systematic train
ing.
with respect to diet for the average
man Of middle & I would say to eat
meat not more than C u day and
partake freely Of fresh vegetables and
fruit.
Appetite and taste are good guides
for the man who keeps himself In
good physical condition by an ade-