338 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EDUCATION. 
shat great muscular strength impedes the circulation, interferes with 
cespiration, and makes the pulse irregular. Also that the brain does not 
rest during exercise. Assuming his conclusions to be correct, as they 
doubtless are, the fact remains that college men will insist upon playing 
football, running, jumping, and heaving weights ; but as we are at pres- 
ant trying to regulate and control this Saxon characteristic and minimize 
its attendant dangers, his conclusions are hardly relevant, for they apply 
to extremes only, and in the case before us are like half-truths in evi- 
dence—more misleading than mistakes or direct falsehoods. 
Physical education is becoming a department of preventive medicine 
at the cost of the recreative element that Herbert Spencer lays so much 
stress upon in his essay on that subject. If the authorized physical 
department does not recognize the ‘play instinct,” it will manifest itself 
as a discordant factor, opposing where it should codperate, interfering 
with and detracting from the popularity of the official work. Apropos 
of this, a philosopher once said it was hard to understand why football 
should be called play when shoveling coal was considered hard work. 
That such is the case proves that a great deal of hard work can be dis- 
guised by the spirit of play, and if some ingenious mind were to plan 
‘ntercollegiate coal-shoveling contests, it would doubtless become a new 
and popular sport. 
In the English universities we find sports at their best, for England is 
the mother of athletic games, and has a large family of them. So much do 
boating, cricket, and football take up the time and strength of the Oxford 
andergraduate that Ruskin, seeing in this a waste of valuable energy, said 
't might mend all the roads in Oxfordshire—a most productive form of 
athletics. As there is little or no control exercised over such athletics, 
and as the open weather extends throughout nearly the whole year, out- 
door sports and games almost entirely take the place of indoor gymnastic 
work ; in fact they leave little room for it. In America we find that his 
sporting proclivities have followed the Englishman, and the same love of 
games and admiration of physical prowess are there seen. But sport has 
pecome changed by the more stimulating climate, and has taken on some 
national characteristics. Everything is done under high pressure and 
great excitement ; and because of interested crowds and big gate-money at 
stake, ingenious tricks are indulged in to gain advantage in the match. 
Who but an American would have thought of greasing his canvas jacket 
for a football match ? 
Athletics are, however, taken seriously in most American colleges, and 
are undertaken with a characteristic intenseness. There is not much fun 
or freedom in the life of a candidate for the university crew or the foot- 
ball team. A stranger is astonished at the spirit of keen competition in 
the athletics of American colleges. It is in danger of interfering with 
fair play in many intercollegiate contests. The mere winning is an inci-