Cinder Path Tales

142 CINDER-PATH TALES not even the plea that he was "needed," or the threat thathe would be considered disloyal to his class, had anyeffect whatever on him. Now, it must not be thought for a moment that Iobject to footballin its proper place. It is the king of sports, andstands by itself, unrivalled in its attractions for all of Anglo- Saxon blood. It is the bestsuccessor to the knightly tourney that this prosaic century has left us. Neither an occasional accident, nor the foolishnessof some of its supporters, with excuses for defeat, nor demands for apologies, will ever succeed in killing it. The game is made, however, only for strong, stocky men. To see one with a turn of speed, long,shapely legs, and slender body mixed upin a scrimmage, and sure to end in the hospital at last, is more thanI can stand. It should not take those unfittedfor its fierce struggles, but qualified by nature for other forms of sport. After considerable thought I decided to have Dick try for the running broad jump, and for these reasons: First, the team was weak in this department. Second, this was trifle his best performance. Third, Dick chose it, as calling for the least labor. In­ deed, heabsolutely declined distant running, unless he was bound to it by his promise to his mother.