The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-04
FOOTBALL HOLDS
IT'S POPULARITY
Thousands Witness Big Games Each
season. While Many More Thous-
ands Watch the sulie-
tin Boards.
CAME TEACHES LESSON
COLLEGE, Professor In Recent Address,
Makes Interesting Statements
Regarding the
Game.
CAME TEACHES LESSON

NEW YORK, jan 4.-1n an ad-
dress on 1.-THE Value OF Football" de-
1iyered at the eleventh annual conYen-
ton Of the National Collegiate Atm
letic association here, Prof. RAYMOND
Garfield Gettell, of Amherst college,
eaid:
a phenomenon of frequent recur-
renee in widely separated times ana
places has been the intense general
interest in games or contests mani
tested by those peoples who held the
leading place in the civilization OF
their day. The Olympic games IN
Greece, the gladiatorial contests IN
Z Hnme. and me tournaments or the
middle ages alike were characterized
by the enthusiastic zeal OF those ac-
lively engaged by the presence or
crowds Of frenZied spectators, and by
the interest and attention conferred
upon them by the public at large. All
these athletic caTniyaIs were subject
to severe criticism in their age, yet
they increased in popularity in spite
Of opposition, and declined only with
the decadence of the peoples interest
ed or with changes in culture that
made them no longer possible. In
the modern world, Teutonic peoples
hold the reins of power. and among
them great football, baseball, ana
cricket contests inspire widespread
interest and enthusiasm One explain
alton OF this phenomenon, using foot
ball as an example OF the - modern
type Is here attempted.
LAS might be expected. football
has been subjected to unusually Sc
we're criticism The danger to life and
limb. the accompanying evils OF
gambling, professionalism, or un-
sportsman1fke methods, the enormous
expenditures. the comparatively small
number who actually take part in
proportion to the numerous spectators,
the false standards created in the
minds OF growing school boys, the
over-emphasis on athletics in general
in colleges and universities-these
are some of the direct accusations
that the sport has been compelled to
face.
Popularity Increases.
.In spite OF these criticisms and
these defects, however. football has
become during the autumn's season,
the pre-eminent sport, especially in
American schools and colleges. The
Geethell "ster" IS e college hero; am
fbition to make the team is a chief de-
sire In the MIND or many a student,
and pride over football victories Is
powerful stimuIant TO loyal college
spirit. Nor does public interest in
the game show signs of decline. Each
Saturday during the season thousands
assemble to witness the contests, ad-
rIitional thousands, even in the re-
motest parts of the country, crowd
around bulletin boards, which give
detailed descriptions OF the plays or
announce the scores, and still other
thousands turn first to the sporting
columns of the Sunday morning news
papers. A game that inspires such
widespread devotion must rest upon
certain vital underlying principles Of
human nature.
.'Football is not a contest between
individuals. It is a contest between
groups or teams. The union of eleven
men under their captain typifies the
I characteristic human factor of or
sanitation. In 10 other game is the
Individual, as individual, Of so little
moment, and the unit, or team, &C
closely tntegrated. The success Of al
ynost every maneuvre depends upor
a detailed division Of labor, distinct
part being assigned to each member
within the machine; and the success
of team in competition with other:
depends mainly upon the perfection o.
its organized teamwork. Football