amount to bare one’s head to the sharp weapon even of a friend.
Civilization is rapidly relegating this pernicious sport to the bar
baric ages, yet it is astonishing what a prestige it holds to-day,
Take it all in all, we must consider ourselves fortunate that we
are of an American college. We ought to give thanks every day
of our lives that we are subjects of Uncle Sam and that the stars
and stripes form our banner. Though the opportunities for per
fecting one’s requirements in many lines are inferior to foreign ad
vantages in our own good land, the air we breathe is the pure,
undulterated ozone of liberty, than which there is nothing more
pleasing to the heart of man.
FOOT BAUU—ITS BENEFITS
The close of the present football season brings pleasant recollec
tions to the thousands of young men who have completed the
course of training which is so necessary to the successful player.
As the unfortunate young man looks back over the past three
months, it is with the keenest appreciation of the manly game.
It may be true he has nursed bruised muscles, disfigured eyes,
and even worse; but the training and discipline which he has
undergone will last years after the injured body has been restored.
Why is it that the public in general, especially those who have
never even so much as learned its principles, call it a brutal and
unmanly game? Perhaps it is because of glovying newspaper
accounts of broken bones, and even death, resulting from so-called
football games.
It is certainly a sad sight to witness a free fight, which under
any other head except football would be punished by the civil
authorities. Nevertheless such exhibitions have been witnessed
the past season, and will be seen in future years, unless measures
are taken to suppress these riotous exhibitions, which are a dis
grace to this great game as indulged in by representative teams of
American colleges.
Under these conditions hundreds of men have sustained severe
injuries, and it is not to be wondered at that the game is unpopu
lar among those who have witnessed these exhibitions.
Uet us look at the other side of this question. The man who
can play the game throughout the entire season has an experience
which will be of priceless value to him, in whatever sphere he may
find his calling,
The Free 'Lance,
[December,