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Editorial
August 2, 1913
The Chronicle=News
Trinidad, Las Animas County, Colorado
What is this article about?
In 1913, the editorial hails a record era in sports with unprecedented participation and attendance but critiques professionalism's downsides, promoting amateur sports for personal health and societal strength, fostering a robust new generation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE RECORD ERA IN SPORT
This is the greatest year for sport the human race has ever known. More persons are engaged, more money is invested and more people are in attendance than in any season of the world's history. We read about the vast throng that went to the day's game in the ancient times-the tier on tier of the colosseum amphitheatre,-but that was a single performance of a national sport that attracted all the crowd, while in the year 1913 every community has its varied contests, each with its audience, and the whole making a total that reaches millions.
If the reports of sports printed during the current year were put in book form they would fill thousands of pages, or enough to make an encyclopedia.
In the soundness or decadence of sport can be traced the rise or fall of every civilization. It is a rule of experience that "he that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large portion of it to recreation," but there is another rule which says, "Amusements to virtue are like breezes of air to flame--gentle ones will fan it, but strong ones will put it out." In our day professionalism is the danger.
We are getting too well satisfied to see hired men play the game. The fresh air may be good for us, but the exercise we witness is paid for-it doesn't help our muscles.
Moreover, there cannot be the finer zeal on the part of the players when the whole matter resolves itself into a question of wages.
So, the hopeful tendencies of the day are not found so much in the tens of thousands that swarm the professional games as in the increase in the amateur playing, where personal participation and personal interest are found. Here the conditions are good.
From these diamonds and tennis courts and golf links and lacrosse fields and other playing grounds we are getting a new generation of young men and women, who have breath, muscle and endurance, and who will give a new stature to the nation.
This is the greatest year for sport the human race has ever known. More persons are engaged, more money is invested and more people are in attendance than in any season of the world's history. We read about the vast throng that went to the day's game in the ancient times-the tier on tier of the colosseum amphitheatre,-but that was a single performance of a national sport that attracted all the crowd, while in the year 1913 every community has its varied contests, each with its audience, and the whole making a total that reaches millions.
If the reports of sports printed during the current year were put in book form they would fill thousands of pages, or enough to make an encyclopedia.
In the soundness or decadence of sport can be traced the rise or fall of every civilization. It is a rule of experience that "he that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large portion of it to recreation," but there is another rule which says, "Amusements to virtue are like breezes of air to flame--gentle ones will fan it, but strong ones will put it out." In our day professionalism is the danger.
We are getting too well satisfied to see hired men play the game. The fresh air may be good for us, but the exercise we witness is paid for-it doesn't help our muscles.
Moreover, there cannot be the finer zeal on the part of the players when the whole matter resolves itself into a question of wages.
So, the hopeful tendencies of the day are not found so much in the tens of thousands that swarm the professional games as in the increase in the amateur playing, where personal participation and personal interest are found. Here the conditions are good.
From these diamonds and tennis courts and golf links and lacrosse fields and other playing grounds we are getting a new generation of young men and women, who have breath, muscle and endurance, and who will give a new stature to the nation.
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Reform
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Sports Boom
Professionalism Danger
Amateur Participation
Recreation Virtue
National Health
What entities or persons were involved?
Professional Players
Amateur Athletes
Young Men And Women
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Record Era In Sports And Advocacy For Amateur Participation
Stance / Tone
Hopeful About Amateur Sports, Critical Of Professionalism
Key Figures
Professional Players
Amateur Athletes
Young Men And Women
Key Arguments
1913 Is The Greatest Year For Sport With Massive Engagement, Investment, And Attendance
Sports Reports Of The Year Would Fill An Encyclopedia
Soundness Of Sport Traces Rise Or Fall Of Civilizations
Recreation Is Essential But Amusements Can Harm Virtue If Excessive
Professionalism Is The Danger As It Involves Hired Players Without Personal Benefit
Hired Play Lacks Finer Zeal, Reduced To Wages
Hopeful Trends In Increase Of Amateur Playing With Personal Participation
Amateur Sports Produce A New Generation With Breath, Muscle, Endurance, And National Stature