In the first place, we respectfully ask the governing body of all
colleges what they have to say for a game between youths
presumably engaged in the cultivation of the liberal arts which
needs among its preliminaries a supply on the field of litters
and surgeons? Such preparations are not only brutal, but
brutalising. How any spectator, especially any 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