woman, can witness
them without a shudder, so distinctly do they recall the duelling
field and the prize ring, we are unable to understand. But that
they are necessary and proper under the circumstances the result
showed. There were actually seven casualties among twenty-two men
who began the game. This is nearly 33 per cent. of the
combatants--a larger proportion than among the Federals at Cold
Harbor (the bloodiest battle of modern times), and much larger
than at Waterloo or at Gravelotte. What has American culture and
civilisation to say to this mode of training youth? "Brewer was
so badly injured that he had to be taken off the field crying
with mortification." Wright, captain of the Yale men, jumped on
him with both knees, breaking his collar bone. Beard was next
turned over to the doctors. Hallowell had his nose broken. Murphy
was soon badly injured and taken off the field on a stretcher
unconscious, with concussion of the brain. Butterworth, who is
said nearly to have lost an eye, soon followed. Add that there
was a great deal of "slugging"--that is, striking with the fist
and kicking--which was not punished by the umpires, though two
men were ruled out for it.

* * * * *

It may be laid down as a sound rule among civilised people that
games which may be won by disabling your adversary, or wearing
out his strength, or killing him, ought to be prohibited, at all
events among its youth. Swiftness of foot, skill and agility,
quickness of sight, and cunning of hands, are things to be
encouraged in education. The use of brute force against an
unequally matched antagonist, on the other hand, is one of the
most debauching influences to which a young man can be exposed.
The hurling of masses of highly trained athletes against one
another with intent to overcome by mere weight or kicking or
cuffing, without the possibility of the rigid superintendence
which the referee exercises in the prize ring, cannot fail to
blunt the sensibilities of young men, stimulate their bad
passions, and drown their sense of fairness. When this is done in
the sight of thousands, under the stimulation of their frantic
cheers and encouragement, and in full view of the stretchers
which carry their fellows from the field, for aught they k