cp 44

dc.iths givc a silem warning of thc toll takcn by ovcrworkcd hcaris of scdcntary individuals who wcrc oncc athlctes.

It is a sorc tcmptation to usc strong languagc at this point, to condcmn unrc$crvcdly thc custom or fashion or public dcmand which rcquircs tbis terrible sacrifice on thc part of so many of our fmest. strongest. bravcst. dcancsl men.

Nor is tbat all. Unwillingly as I say this. most of thcsc sports arc orgics of purc brutality. of vcritablc butchcry, when one considers the many maimed heroes who pay tbe pcnalty for our applausc. of wrenched backs. broken knee-caps. smashed arms. legs and hcads. strained tendons. dislocations. contusions and facial blcmishcs.

One need only look at thc strctchers with injured. as they depart from 3n aeerage big college football gamę or cvcn in a closely fought highschool team. to vision thcsc boys a littlc latcr, as they hobble around on crutches, or with canes for the rest of their livcs.

Has any one ever countcd the percentage of deaths occur-ring in thc pugilistic arena, or figured up the smashed jaws. cauliflower ears 3nd flattencd noses that cmerge ffom this national blood-thirsty substitutc for a bull-fighi. over which so many thousands applaud so vigorously.

"It is our morał cquivalcnt for war.” says somc one. ”If you don't have prize-fights and football games. youth will break out somewhere elsc.” If that is a morał cquivalent for war. for my part give us war. At least then wc'll know what we are fighting for.