Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29

DIR. Dudley Sergeant director of Har-
wards gymnasium, brought up tho fact
that the meeting of the n. c. A. A. yes
terday was the most pleasing he had
ever known. because the sentiment IT
developed showed complete turna-
bout in the minds of college presidents.
Twelve years ago. according to Or. Sar-
geant the National Collegiate ASsocia-
ton was organized, for the express pur-
pose of doing what it could to abolish
athletics, and foot ball in particular.
Yesterdays sentiment. DR.. Sergeant
pointed out. was not for the abolish
ment of athletics but to determine the
best way by which sports could be
made TO serve the national good
Recommend Continuance of Sports.
Yesterday morning the session of the
n. G. A. A. opened with an address by
organization. Briefly he told of the
gathering last August in Washington,
at which it was determined to recon-
mend that intercollegiate sports be re-
tanned SO far as possible, and pointed
meeting. He read communications
from the Secretary of the Navy and
Secretary of War. The Secretary of
Navy urged the continuance OF sports
in these words:
THE call. insistent and imperative.
will soon come to all young men under
thirty-one years of age They are row
thinking about the duty for them. Most
colleges have added military instruction,
and with this training college athletics
will make the youths fit for the service
calling for strength and ability to endure
hardship.
'Softness is incompatible with efficient
military service. In every branch col
lege men are proving that in modern edu-
cation sound body must go with sound
mind.
How will the young men be made
IA shortly
upon to do? Colleges will answer that
question by encouraging college athletics
and emphasizing those games which in
sure that all the student body will be
benefited.
intercollegiate games stimulate inter-
est and should be encouraged. The slim
illus of athletics both in improved morale
and in improved body is everywhere
that the heed for youths of sinew and
stuff is more felt than ever before"
The Secretary of War reiterated the
statements made by him to the dele
he urged the development of college
sports, but pleaded for athletics for the
many and not for the few.
Probably two of the most eloquent
academic discourses on athletics ever
delivered before the National Collegi-
ate Association were made by Presi-
dent Faunce of Brown University and
by George E. Vincent. former president
of the University of Minnesota. Presi-
dent Faunce told of the gradual devel-
opment of athletic sports until now they
were on the highest plane in their his
tory. He developed his idea along the
line of service to the nation through
athletic work. and said that no man
had a right to be an amateur in physi-
cal work, but that 1t was rather part
of every mans profession to keep fit.
He also said that there; was no diff
ference between the development of
mind and body and that they should be
built UP as one, fnasmuch as they are
so perfectly co-ordinated that they
practically are one. Mr.. Vincent as
sailed the over-importance given to the
development of teams In the colleges
and called a foot ball team "mecha-
nism of human automatons." Incident
ally, some of Mr.. Vincent's remarks did
not find particular favor with A. A.
Stage of Chicago and Harry Williams
of Minnesota, the men in charge of ath-
letics in these universities