Prof. Shaler's Article on Athletics and Education.

Prof. Shaler has a significant paper in the January issue of the Atlantic, entitled "The Athletic Problem in Education."

The following comments on his article we take from the Cambridge Tribune:-

"He takes issue with the idea, which has become prevalent, that competitive athletics serve to lower the physical condition of the mass of students because only a few take part in such sports."

"Professor Shaler draws on his own experience of over thirty years to show this view to be incorrect. He notes that in teaching geology in the field, walks which twenty years ago surpassed the pedestrian powers of one-half of his students are now quite within their abilities. He notes that a poor physical condition is now a matter of reproach to a student, which he feels obliged to explain in some way. He says, decidedly: 'There can be no question in my mind that the physical condition of the average student at Harvard College is vastly better than it was a score of years ago.'"

"A decided gain in certain moral qualities is also noted by Professor Shaler, side by side with the physical gain. Between 1864 and 1870 it was not uncommon to find Harvard students seriously the worse for habits of drinking. Since then, especially since the foundation of the Hemenway gymnasium, the vice has rapidly diminished. At present, Professor Shaler, whose acquaintance extends to perhaps half the students in the university, does not know of a single one who can be called a drunkard. The use of tobacco he also finds to have largely diminished, and even the use of tea and coffee is much less than formerly.