Athletic Sports (extract)

The Physical Proportions of the Typical Man in the summer, and to row and play ball in the winter months, in order to main­ tain the high standard of excellence de­ manded of those who would win prizes in these events. In fact, any athlete, to stand above mediocrity in his chosen sport, must keep in practice the greater portion of the year. So severe a tax is this upon the time and energies of those who are engaged in other occupations that it is quite impossible for them to attend to busi­ ness; consequently the attempt to make a businessof sport is the first step in the di­ rection of professionalism. It is a question, indeed, if many of our so-called amateurs, who devote so much of their time to the practice of athletics, do not belong to the professional class. In either case, the effect they have upon the practice of ath­ letics is detrimental. (in.) By reducing the number of active competitors. A characteristic trait of hu­ man nature is the desire to excel. Ex­ cellence in one thing often presupposes excellence in another, though none knows better than the specialist in athletics how weak he is outside of his favorite sport. A man who gains the reputation of being a champion oarsman or tennis-player will in all probability confine his athletic ef- 6