The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-02-05
English He0dn1aSterS Vote
Against SchO0lbOy Relays

their colleagues had proposed to hold
a relay meeting at Queens Club on April
s. when they themselves will decide a
contest with the athletic team from
Pennsylvania University. Simultane-
eusly it was their intention to organize
relay races open to teams from the
public schools of this country.
Vetoed by -Four TO One.
The Headmasters' Conference by a
majority OF to 1 has decided against
the participation Of the boys under their
charge in this interesting and educative
function. The motion Of disapproval
was brought forward by Mr.. Vaughan
of Rugby and Mr.. Plum of Kelly College
the former in his day redoubtable
forward at Rugby football, the latter a
more than usual cricketer. Mr.. Fife OF
Christ's Hospital was their most elo-
quent supporter. These three and the
other speakers on the same side relied
on two arguments. They pointed out
that participation in the proposed meet
ing would cause some expense to fall on
the parents of boys selected and they
alleged that publicity is bad for the
morals and manners OF athletes still in
their teens
The former argument has some
weight and might be almost conclusive
II 1t were inevitable that expenses should
be high and borne entirely by the pa
rents. But the cost OF sending a COM
petitor to Queens can be kept within
reasonable limits. Even II he has no
relatives living In London with whom
he can stay It should not be difricult to
find an old boy who will pat him up
for the honor of the old school, and rail-
way fares could surely be paid out OF
the gate money. The Achilles Club is
not constituted in order to pay dividends
to its members.
The proposition that publicity causes
the heads of boys or girls TO swell is
maintained by the very men who spend
much time and energy in the endeavor
to plant the seeds of ambition in youth
full minds. That must be dangerous
thing to do II 1t be automatically true
that the temptation to conceit is pc
culiarly strong in the young and the eff
fects OF yielding to 1t disastrous. Nor
is II, Mt least in our judgment. based
upon experience. We should like TO
have the views of DIR. Abingdon and Mr..
Lionel Ford, headmasters OF Elton and
Harrow. on this subject.
Is Il common ground between them
schools match at Lords. one of the
chief events in the London season. be-
come more conceited than the other
cricketers in their schools who escape
the limelight OF publicity? Would Mr.
Vaughan, or Mr. Plum, or Mr.. Fife.
having son at Elton or Harrow, prefer
that he should Just secure or Just fall
to secure place In the school eleven
and undergo or be spared from the
ordeal of publicity? Publicity may in
! crease conceit e. the congenitally con-
ceited. but for ..ie rest II IS likely to
strengthen their sense OF proportion.
When n boy makes his appearance
before n large and sufficiently critical
company at Lords or Queens he Is up
against the real thing. Unless he has
already become hidebound in conceit as
the result of his training at home and
In the comparative privacy OF his school
publicity gives him knowledge. And
knowledge OF the truth never did harm
to anybody, though IL has maze many
hideousy uncomfortable. We maintain
the exact contrary opinion 20 that ex-
pressed by Mr.. Vaughan. II is good
for boys that the conccit natural to
those who are destined 20 make their
mark in the world and fostered by the
artihcially sheltered privacy OF school
life should early be knocked out OF them
and ultimately transformed into the adj
rnittedly valuable and kindred quality
self-conhdoncc
AZ oxford tho Achilles Club has pro-
duced an offshoot Tao Ccntipcdes stand
In tho same relation 20 the O. u. A. G.
az Tho Authentics 10 tho University
Cricket Club. 1t is It's intention 10
tour tho public SCHOOLS and contest
matches at track and field athletics
with tho boys. II 10 much 20 be hoped
that the headmasters will not decline
invitations to accept hospitality rc-
ceived from the committee OF tho Cent?
pedes Club. IL they are logical they
should do so. 10 might make n boy
awfully conceitcd II no should happen
TO hcet y half Blue possibly half
trained, on lbs own cricket ground.