Evening star., 1922-12-27

Ono may appreciate much of the
value placed upon the character OF
the foot ball players Of a college
from the manner in which their COM
rades promote them to positions OF
honor and trust in college affairs
Williams. for instance. has just
Boynton of the foot ball team has
been elected president of his class, as
well as a marshal. while five Of the
marshals are gridiron products.
Athletics Power for Good.
Truly, college athletics and sports
are real power for good in their In
culcation of ideas of discipline. self
sacrif1ce and hard work. The Mich:
gan basket ball players have cut their
Christmas holidays in half, sacrificing
this midyear vacation for the sake
of their college. to engage in needed
additional practice. The student of
such forces as these working among
the youth of the country.
How it began. and what il is lead
ing to, is the question that is eAer-
cising the minds of many OF the
alumni of the older colleges as they
contemplate the wholesale identifica-
tion of athletic mentors from outside
! their own ranks. In rowing the shit
has become most marked. Yale mas
turned over her entire outfit to unl-
versity of washington instructors.
Penn's coach is from Canada; Prince
toms from Pennsylvania and Har-
wards from the outside, as well as
Columbia's.
Ocean Race Is Interesting.
International amateur sport has had
nothing in prospect for a long time
which is more interesting than the
agreement between the Duke OF Lem
ster and Commodore William WASH
hr,r N,,ffi IN
next summer in small yachts The
Anal conditions of therace have not,
up to today, been agreed upon, but 1T
is safe to say that they will provlue
ing Of each of the two men IN nc
world of amateur sports amply quartz
tees that 1t will be a true test OF skill
and courage.
Few persons realize what back
ground such a contest has. 1t is an in
teresting thing to trace the develop
ment Of the sporting spirit and in the
search Of sporting events none could
have been picked who is better fitted
historically than this same Duke OF
Lenster.
The very first mention that We are
able to find Of events among the Anglo
Saxon and Celtic races which took on
the character Of the later day Olympic
contests is in the book Of Leinster.
In that chronicle is decorated the great
in County Meath, Ireland. on the first
day in August, in certain years. Tho
Luenasard, which later was known more
familiarly as the Tailtian games was
celebrated as long ago as 1873 b. 7.
According to other historians and Eng
lish authorities. these games continued
to be held as late as $50 A. u.
Marks Return to Old Things.
The contest between the British peer
unusual ways the return to the old
British sporting spirit which prevail
ed in the early days.
Some Of those events between gen
tlemen of old were extremely un-
usual in their provisions. In the
coaching days large sums were bet as
to how many wheels of passing vehl-
cles a driver could Craze on journey
to London. Gentlemen in those days
did not disdain boxing contests either
Short rt-distance and long-distance run
ming and walking contests were fire.
quent.
u Perhaps a picture OF one or those
early-day contests will serve to give
a-better idea of the spirit which actu-
ated Leinster today. Yachting is one
of the oldest of sports. and in one
contest sailed ON the Bay OF Biscsv
it is recorded that the cap OF one
owner blew overheard. A gale was
blowing. but the owner ordered his
sailing master to lower a boat ana
recover the cap.
mo boat could live in this sea, sir"
the sailing master replied. Where
upon the owner leaped overheard to
swim for his cap. The sailing master
finally got a boat overheard and res
cued the owner. well nigh exhausted,
but firmly clutching the cap. These
were days when it was not necessary
to prepare or consult the public as to
details Of a contest or to specify as
to relative standing and eligibility OF
the contestants.
Copyright, 1927