The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-08
A Communication


puDllSn Ill your very fdludDie tdltioH.
Gratitude, Class Spirit and Sports
manship, every one, at some time or
another in the course OF life finds
himself or herself, as the case may be.
indebted 10 some other person or per
sons for services rendered in his or
her behalf. For such services rem
dered the person favored, as rule,
has some method of demonstrating
their appreciation for this service.
The demonstration of this appreciation
regardless the method, is to the writ
er's best judgment gratitude. In the
field of sport there are numerous ways
for the participants to earn the graft
tude of their followers. This is es-
pecially proven in scholastic sports
Many times during the course of sea
son, one man is looked for, and ex-
pected to do, what seems to be the i'm
impossible and by his actions win the
engagement. Many times he is call
ed upon and invariably aecomplishes
the desires of his school following.
Then when accomplishment is the re-
suit of his endeavor he is hero" until
some one else duplicates his perform
ance in a subsequent encounter and a
new hero is made. Expression of
gratitude is hereby demonstrated by
the entrenchment of their idyl on the
throne of glory. On every lip is the
word "He fought and won and de-
Tended our cause to our glory" A
beautiful thing is this gratitude and
all true athletes long to receive it
when properly earned. But iniser-
IL nd mi
forthcoming as was the case which
caused the writer to compose this mis-
sive. Just two weeks or less ago
the boys name was on the end of
every ones tongue in Skowhegan High
School. They played and defeated
Waterville and journeyed with ban
ner unsullied to do battle with Wilton
Academy. Three times this boy was
knocked unconscious and three times
rallied with that never-to-die spirit of
all real athletes. But his spirit was
stronger than his flesh it seems for
when the team returned TO Skowhe-
gan, defeated, they left "the boy" in
Farmipgton in a hospital Here he
lay for four days and no one but his
own parents even inquired for his well
even word of regret or sympathy
from his classmates for whose cause
he was lying with an injury of the
spine. Gratitude! Yes, a beautiful
thing is gratitude when deserved but
a terrible weapon of misery, lost hope
and deep chagrin when earned and
not even in the most minute manner
demonstrated.
CLASS SPIRIT
What wonderful and inspiring
sight to see a crowd of classmates
lending their assistance in whatever
way possible to each other. Out on
the field of sport are their accepted
representatives in whatever the coca
sion may be- Whatever it chance to
be, whether football, baseball, basket
balltrack or any branch of sport, you
can see the participants trying, try
ing and always trying to do their
mightiest. that the school they repre-
sent shall NOT carry banner be-
smirched by defeat if any earthly eff
fort of theirs can overcome it. Eyes
bright with expectancy; cheeks flush
ed and an expression of set deter
mination on their faces. Each one
feeling the responsibility that has
been placed upon Them by their class
mates. And their classmates? What
of them? On the sidelnes and with
faces flushed, eager expectancy and
hope shining from their eyes and mus
cles tense, they watch, pray, groan or
cheer as the occasion demands Al
ways in spirit trying to assist the
gladiators in any way possible. A
very beautiful and awe inspiring
sight. This is termed "Class Spirit"
A beautiful thing and the writer can
not but help thinking of what en-
eouragement and good cheer would
have been brought to him on his hos
pital cot if "Class Spirit and Graft
tude" were demonstrated by the re-
ception by him, of one word or so to
the effect that they were sorry for his
incapacity and hoped for his speedy
recovery.
"SPORTSMANSHIP"
AS no organization is invulnerable
or unbeatable there comes a date
when defeat is melted out to it. When
this defeat comes and is met fairly
and squarely with the announcement
I'VE have done our best and we CON
graduate the victors and are glad to
take their hands we brand this as
sportsmanship. AT some time defeat
is inevitable and if meted out by an
organization that has Justly and metri-
toriously melted it out 1t is no dis
grace to have been defeated. Rather
1t Is an honor to have engaged even
though the result is not to be desired
The writer has talked to several
members of the Skowhegan High
School football squad which has been
given the honor of playing Coburn
Classical Institute at WaterVille on
Saturday next As the writer under
stands it Coburn has picked Skowhe-
gan as the only team in this locality
with the necessary punch and stamina
to give them a good game They
claim that a match on the gridiron be-
tween these teams would result in
large turnout of football fans. Its
the opinion of the writer who is an
enthusiastic supporter of the local
team, that Coburn would win. How
eyer, the boys themselves all agree
that they will fight to the last and are
eager to try. | understand that when