Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1922-11-17
From The Study Desk

Unfailing signs of a fast receding
Autumn are all about us. The frost is
on the pumpkin; the latest turkeys
are growing wary we read the annual
record of accidental shootings by over
enthusiastic huntsmen; we hear the
usual tale of the destructive, defective
flue; Fathers and Sons Week is upon
us; and, surest sign of all, the football
season is drawing to a close. At the
present writing we are awaiting with
FACILITATING interest the approaching
visit of the valiant band of pigskin
chasers from our rival in the lakeshore
city to the North OF course Middle
bury may not win, but in town and
college there is general agreement that
the team this year has a record for
which excuses are unnecessary, and Of
which we need not be ahamed 1t is a
formidable record which our opponents
have written, too, but all the more
| honor in PLAYING the game We want
to win, if possible, but after all victory
is not the all-important thing.
OTIS not the fact that you're dead
that counts,
But only how did you die
The game won by unfair methods. or
through unSportsmanlike play is not a
worthy victory.
Tn the current number Of the Allan
tic monthly Or AleXandc Meiklc-iohu
president Of Amherst College. has said
some interesting things about "What
College Games Are For" He contends
that these Games should be freed from
the evils of commercialization Thev
are to be PLAYED for fun and not for
money even though the money ac-
crue to the profit of the athletic inter
ests of the college and in no way ben
eft any individual PLAYER Further
more, he insists, lust so far as possible
every man in college should be an aC-
tive participant in some athletic 70ort
Games are to be played for their phv-
steal. intellectual social. and moral
values, and the financial Influences in
volved should he wholly negligible
President Meikleiohn is touching
here upon a phase of modern life which
has a general interest. It is not merely
in the college circle that commercial
lied sport has been an unfortunate in
huence In almost any American com
munitv today one can find no inCon-
siderable number of baseball fans OF
these enthusiasts over the national
game only a verv few actually INDULGE
in the real PLAYING of baseball Bv far
the greater number are merely passive
and Sedentarv spectators. Most Of
them are so hardened to the excite
ments of the contest that only the I'M
usually brilliant play or the grossest err
ror calls forth more vigorous applause
than gentle handicap. or more ear
nest protest than a Disappearing
grunt. The fact is that as a DeoDle we
are in danger of making our popular
athletics mere spectacular exhibitions
With the increasingly popular use OF
the automobile we even do away with
what exercise was formerly involved
in walking to and from she eXlffbition
field We paw our good money to see
others enjoy the exercise which we
need ourselves. and at the same time
we are in real danger of losing the true
spirit of play
In view of this tendency we may
we'll welcome organizations ike or
Golf and mountain clubs which pro
mote types of athletic sport which
,'a'." definite demands uuon each in
dividual to pcrsonallv exert himself il
he is to get any real happiness or ben