Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1914 — WHY DO OUR ATHLETES WIN? [ARTICLE]

WHY DO OUR ATHLETES WIN?

Said In Europe That Americans Won Bolely Because Amateurs Trained With Thoroughness. Every athletic victory by America has brought forth a great deal of European comment As we ourselves do not know why we should win, it Is only natural that there should be a great deal of European speculation on this point In much of it there is a reflection of the remark Herbert Spencer once made to a youth who bad beaten him at billiards: “Young man,, a moderate proficiency pt billiards is the sign of a well-rounded education; but such proficiency as you have shown is the sign of an ill-spent youth.” Europe said our athletes were no better than hers, but won solely because our amateurs trained with professional thoroughness, in. the various Olympic contests our athletes have doubtless had the benefit of superior training, bnt few of them ever trained so thoroughly as did the old Olympic athletes, who were required before entering the contests to make oath that they had trained for tan months—World’s Work.