WHAT A GYMNASIUM MIGHT BE AND DO
St. Paul has its Halcyon Eight. But what has it ever done? Pulling an oar is almost as manly work for a youngster as pulling at a cigarette; and if any one doubts as to what an American eighteen-year-old can do with a pair of spoon-oars—and against all comers, too—if he will inquire at the University of Pennsylvania for a young fellow named Ten Eyck; and will look up his record a little; he will find out. His fine face and figure suggest a pretty promising man—one that the Provost of Pennsylvania's lusty University, and all the men of his great State, may well be proud of. For a nation is. Whether a few years of good, stiff rowing during one's youth unfits him for his life's work, or not; will be seen later on.
And look a minute at the way we manage our rowing.
Surprising as it is that so few students do much of actual contest, it shows that the present system of college athletic contests, so far as it assumes to benefit the students at large, or even a tithe of them, is a failure. There are a few men who devote much time and attention to severe athletics, more than there is any need of, and become skilled and famous at them; and many more do some work; but very many do little or nothing. Better ideas they doubtless have of what is and what is not creditable performance among the athletes; and also as to the progress that can be made in muscular development by direct and steady work. But that progress and that work they have small share in.
For half a century England has had her Henley—at once the school and battle-field of her greatest gentlemen-oarsmen. Yet where is ours to-day? With fifty good racing-tracks to her one, which one of ours has even yet a National name? Which gleans the flower of the year's oarsmen, and tells us who they are? We have
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