The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-28

ample games and empire did go
together. And the successful are
always initiated. but always imi-
tated in externals rather than IN
essentials. International sporting
ARRAYS were gradually established.
and gradually Britain was equaled
by her pupils. and now she is sur.
passed. Her pupils said: -
Britain takes games very seri-
ously. and we will take games very
seriously
RIVALS TURN SPORTS INTO
vOCATIONS, SAYS WRITER.
They determined to beat Britain
and naturally they succeeded. But
the point is that though Britain
took games very seriously. she only
took them seriously as games.
With her the passion was to play;
she wanted to win, but only on
the condition that tho game re-
.mained a game, and an end in It.
self. With her the supreme end
was never to win.
She said: 81 shall win II I can,
but my game shall not be my bust.
ness, and the chief charm of my
game for me is that it IL q great
lark"
BY a curious paradox she took
games seriously in themselves, but
in comparison with life as whole
she did not take them seriously.
There were lots of things she sim
ply would not do in order to win.
She refused to make certain sac
rifices and she scorned to employ
the whole Of her brain in the az
fair. AS for scientific organization.
the notion thereof was abhorent to
the sporting islanders.
Nor must a professional be ado
quately paid. He may be capable Of
drawing ten thousand people into
a field to see him hit. but ne must
not get more than the wages Of a
carpenter. Why? Because he has
fallen from grace. He has taken
his game absolutely seriously. and
devoted his whole life to It.
This cast+ron attitude on the
part Of the authorities often gets
them into dreadful difficulties, and
they can only get out OF the diff
ficulties by pretending vigorously
that certain notorious profession
ais are not professionals. but mere
ly amateurs. Thus a miserable at
mosphere OF make-believe and de-
ceit Is created. All of which may
be very noble and splendid, but 1t
il not cricket.
see no reason why. in order to
be a professional. 1t should be nee
cssary to lose caste and to suffer
ridiculous social humiliation. After
all, this is not the eighteenth cen
fury: II happens to be the twenti-
eth. And stern professionalism,
whether paid or unpaid. is bound
to conquer in the upper layers Of
games
Tho attitude which 10 antaSo-
nistio to professionalism Is and must
be antagonistic to the essential
factor in the attainment Of the
finest possible standard OF play
namely, strictly scientific and
strenuous organization with a view
not to a great lark. but to q VIC
tory.
The percentage Of professionals
to the total body OF players need
not be largo, but the existence OF
q percentage. duly honored and re-
munerated. Is necessary II any
game Is to prosper fully. without
professionals, amateurs must de-
teriorate. Without scientific or
ganization a game may keep caste
socially. but It Is bound to lose
casio az . game and to fall In Of
ficiency.
In order that-ts thousand games
may b satisfactorily no moro than
games. 1t 10 unavoidable that .
hundred games should cease to be
mere games. and. becoming per-
formances. partalks Of the nature
Of business. Tho day OF the SD
premacy Of amateurism and ANA
teurishnes Is over. Britain will no
doubt realize this fact Ing after
the rest of tho world has realized
It. but I believe that she will real
ize It. and that tho reactionary
mandarins Of today will either
mend their ways or be overthrow.
Professionalism, the invasion Of
sport by the scientific or business
spirit, may have bad side. So
has amateurishness.
SPORTS BRING GIRLS OUT
Or ORNAMENTAL SPHERE.
NO development that may hap
pen In the organization of the very
highest skill in games need affect,
save beneficially, the general prac-
tice Of games by the British people
at large.
The average youth and maid