Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-08

was due to. the use of brains. coupled
with Ids powers rs q racer. says the
New York Times
Possibly there Is no better example
of the superiority of brain over Drawn
than In the career OF George Bothner,
the wrestler His lack OF bulk was
more than compensated for in his abil-
ity to think quickly. almost uncannily
to anticipate and thwart the particular
hold his opponent intended making. 1t
is no disparagement to his unquestion-
ed skill to say that II was due to his
headwork as much as to his science
that he was able to throw his physical
superiors. Many Of them had develop
ed physical powers at the expense OF
mental and went to the mat chiefly
because their sluggish brains could not
meet Bothner's quick wits DR.. Rollers
success has been almost wholly due to
the fact that he uses his brains rather
more.
John McGraw's success as a baseball
manager has been entirely due to ex-
ceptionally acute brain power, develop
ed first in his determination to make
himself a finished player.
If Jim Jefrries had been possessed Of
enough gray matter, he might never
have lost the heavyweight champion
ship to Jack Johnson But the punch
in the eye In the second round, which
was the turning point in the contest.
so angered him as to counteract what
brain power he had There was no
ability to change his method Of attack.
no ability to think out a consistent line
OF defense. nothing but brute force to
combat brute force. Many successful
boxers have achieved victories. or at
least averted defeat. by their power to
| think quickly and adequately.
Football is so entirely a matter of
brains that everybody familiar with
sports admits that the best eleven of
| the best physical boxers or wrestlers,
for instance, would have no chance
| whatever against an eleven such as
represents any one of the great uni
versities on the gridiron each fall. In
such meeting the inferiority of Drawn
against brain, would be so manifest as
to make it almost painful for the col
lection of boxers or wrestlers. Yet the
football player must have a certain
amount of physical prowess. &.
1t is Harry Payne Whitney's won
derful ability to grasp. solve and i'm
mediately take advantage of the Incl
/ dents of a game that made him the
| ideal captain of a polo team Players
/ there are who have never been inter
nationalists, who play the game more
brilliantly. place their strokes more
\ effectively, and ride more recklessly
than Whitney. But he has that brain
| quality that enabled him to have the
right thing done at the right instant
i anu W AAAG man. nAA[n mn
| pre-emfnent as a field captain in con-
tests in which international honors
were to be won.
The thinking athlete gets more spori
out of the games he happens to indulge
in, also. than he who is merely an ex.
ceptionally good natural athlete or one
| who is able to absorb the ideas of q
trainer and carry them out in purely
mechanical fashion A trained mind e
supplement a well nutured and trained
body creates true zest and spirit. fol
sport, a thing OF which the mentally
dull but physically superb athlete car
know nothing.
To the young athlete the lessor
modern sport teaches is: Attend a,
well to the cultivation of the mind a.
to the training OF the body and it
muscles II you would enjoy competitive
athletics to the full. The first is a.
necessary as the last to become super
excellent at any sport. to get thu
greatest enjoyment from sport and 4
cope with its emergencies.