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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1900)
182 TRACK SPORT FOR ALL The Only Way for Yale to Build Up— A Letter from Mr. Brooks. lo the Editor of YaLE ALUMNI WEEKLY: Sir:—It may not be out of place at the present time to express my views on the subject of track athletics at Yale. It certainly is not exaggerating the case to say that Yale undergraduates have not done justice to this branch of sport. Whether the neglect is due to thought- lessness or to the bad odor of the sport from the contamination of the so-called “Athletic Clubs,” I do not know. The important fact remains that Yale of re- cent years has shirked her duty. This is very much to be regretted, for we look to the universities to preserve a sport if it is worth preserving, in spite of any and all outside influences. It has been my good fortune to see something of the inner. workings of track athletics, as conducted in Great Britain, and their popularity with the public at large and at Oxford and Cam- bridge in particular, is an eye-opener to the average American college ath- lete. Track athletics are indulged in by every one, primarily for the love oi the sport itseli—a feeling which seems to be entirely absent at Yale. Every village, every small school, every public school, every university has its track and grounds and is entirely given over to the sport. Every boy and man makes a try at it for the love of it and winning does not seem to be the only incentive or goal. Undoubtedly the Britisher laid his foundation well when he built on “the love of sport for sport’s sake.” It does not require hectic and lurid appeals to get the school boy or university man out on the track; the difficulty is to keep him off, so that he will not inter- fere too seriously with the team, which - is in good time chosen, and which, when finally selected, is the logical result of a well balanced system. eee It is hardly necessary for me to con- trast our mushroom system, which dies every year and would practically remain dead were it not for the zeal of a few enthusiasts. We hear a great deal of the Briton being a natural-born middle and long distance runner, which is all stuff and nonsense. These great run- ners are developed, because every man, who has a drop of blood in his heart, whether he be big or little, from the time he is old enough to have strength at all, makes a try at it and keeps trying for years and years. His efficiency is the result of a natural growth. You will find a miler or three-miler weigh- ing 180 pounds with the strength of an ox and with lungs as deep as a low- toned bell. We can never be permanently success- ful at Yale in track athletics, unless we build on some similar foundation. There is no sport that offers so many - attractions to the many or where so many are qualified to do well. It seems to me that Yale’men, if they attempt to take up a sport at all, should do it vigorously and thoroughly. the Yale Captain is issuing his call for men, might it not be well for very able- bodied man to give this matter serious attention and, if able-bodied, at least make a try at some one of its many at- tractions? It may take a little time to find out what one is best fitted for, but I have always found that the greatest track athletes came from the unex- pected. It is a noble sport and would be worthy of every endeavor for its own sake, even if the glory of Yale were not involved. , ii. S. Brooks, fr:, Yale ’86. New York, Jan. 25, 1900. ee CURRENT LITERATURE, The History of Troop A. “The History of Troop A, New York Cavalry, U. S. V., from May 2, 1868, to November 28, 1898, in the Spanish- American War,” is the title of a book recently published by the members of the Troop, through the house of R. H. Russell of New York. Its 341 pages are filled with interesting incidents occurring in the period of time stated above, touch- ing the humorous as well as the serious sides in the fortunes of the Troop. Now that — YALE ALUMNI WHREKLY Nearly a hundred reproductions of photographs appear in the book, and many pen and ink sketches by F. B. Morse, the former Princeton quarter- back. A “muster-out roll,’ an “in memoriam” page and a good war map of Puerto Rico are found in the book. The reading matter is divided into 24 short articles, each dealing with some particular period in the Troop’s history. The Yale men on the board of editors are Stowe Phelps, ’90, and F. Lawrence Lee, ‘95, while the following chapters were written by Yale men: “Ordered Out,” A. R. Moen, ’89S.; “Camp Al- ger,” F. Lawrence Lee, ’95; “From Camp Alger to Porto Rico,’ Stowe Phelps, ‘90; “The Frelinghuysen Lan- cers,’ L. S. Stillman, ’94; “The Ceales Expedition,’ G. O. Redington, ’94 L. S.; “Detail to Guyania,” F. W. Hoening- haus, 96; “A Little Journey in the World,’ Harry J. Fisher, ’96, and “The Second Invasion of Santa Isabel, Wil- liam R. Wright, ’94. The muster-out roll shows the names of these Yale graduates: First Sergeant, A. R. Moen, ’89S.; Sergeant, Stowe Phelps, ’90; Corporals, William R. Wright, ’94 and Arthur F. Brown, ’96S8.; Lance Corporal, Lewis S. Conner, ’87S.; Privates, G. T. Adee, 795; Edward V. Cox,-’948.; Henry S. Fisher, ’96; Louis P. Gillespie, ’94; Sherman R. Hull, ex-’95S.; William W. Heaton, 96; F. W. Hoeninghaus, "96; F. Laurence Lee, ’95; Richard F. Manning, ’92S.; Amos R. E. Pinchoi, 97; Samuel L. Quinby, 96 S.; George O. Redington, ’o4 L.S.;- L. SS: Stillman, 7094; R. F. Troescher, ’96S. Also the following discharged to accept commis- sions in the regular and volunteer forces: M. D. McKee, ’96; Frank L. Polk, ’94; Edwin O. Holter; ’94; F. B. Harrison, 95; Allan A. Robbins, ’93 S.; William Williams, ’84; Charles R. Hickox, ’93; G. B. Hoppin, ’91, and Nathan M. Flower, ‘96 S. 88 §. Decennial. Professor Percy F. Smith, Secretary, and Messrs. J. C. Anderson, C. E. Curtis and E. H. Lockwood, Commit- tee, have published the Decennial Record of the Class of Eighty-Eight Scientific. The facts which ought to be in a class record are all here, and there are many more of them than are in most records. They are also better prepared than one usually finds them. The record is a well published book in blue cloth cover, running to 110 pages and excellently illustrated. It is from the press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor. hey pt caer Prof. Phelps’ Map of Literary England, Professor William L. Phelps, ’87, of the English Department has recently published a map of England, for the es- pecial use of his English Literature class. This map is eight inches by ten inches, and contains all the points connected in any way with the study of English Literature, many of which are not to be found on any other map. The pub- lishers are Ginn & Co., and the map has been placed on sale at the Codpera- tive Store. The map is exceedingly use- ful and helpful for students and for all readers. The Yale Medical Journal for Janu- ary contains the following: “A Case of Dynamic Ileus,” by Dr. Leonard W. Bacon. “Two cases in Recent Methods of Treatment for Aortic Aneurism,” by Dr. William F. Verdi”; Some Observa- tions on the more Common Forms of Sexual Impotence,” by Dr. Ernest D. Chipman. (For .other Current Literature see editorial page.) isto Svernsnenae UD" annette Harvard and Columbia Gifts. The will of the late Dorman B. Eaton of New York City, which was recently filed for probate in the Surrogate’s of- fice, provides handsomely for several charitable and educational institutions. Columbia and Harvard Universities are each to receive upwards of $100,000. The money donated to the latter is to be used in founding a professorship of the science of government; while the » money given to Columbia is to be de- voted to the foundation of a professor- ship of municipal scietice and adminis- tration. : —_—0—OOOOS OSS. eee eee pn es PRESE IR et Nees meeme aac E have been obliged to.. Increase our mechanical plant 507 ~ in order to meet the.... | growing demand | FOR Smith Premier Cupewriters.... This simply means of Smith Premiers | MOre Users | everywhere. | : | Premier popularity | dell. ' SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE. Smith Premier Cypewriter Zo New York Office, 337 Broadway. New Haven Office, 25 Center St. Hartford Office, - 82 Pearl St. F. J. KINGSBURY, Pres. C. P. GOSS, Treas. and Gen. Mer. M. L. 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