The Half-Back

on his mantel beside a bottle of chow-chow, and bore his name as the third winner of the trophy. But West had laid aside his clubs, save for an occasional hour at noon, and, abiding by his pr

ntly during practice, and there was a gen

-importance. And the grinds sneered at its appetites, and the obscure juniors admired reverently from afar. Joel had attended both recitations and practice with exemplary and impartia

eadily, until now they were scarcely separable. And that th

l do. After Christmas you move over to Hampton and room with me. You

e, but I can't pay the rent

for Number 2 Hampton anyhow, and it won't make any difference whether I have another fellow in with me or not. Only

stant entreaties led to a compromise. West was to put the matter before his father, and Joel before his. If t

to rare monosyllables. This was the outcome of a refusal on Joel's part to give a portion of his precious study time to helping Sproule with his lessons. Once or twice Joel had consented to assist his roommate, and had done so to the detrim

s dark and threatening. But in a school as large as Hillton there is plenty of room to avoid an objectionable acquaintance, so long as you are not under the same roof with him

rmission from Professor Wheeler to do so. The two boys met at the gymnasium after supper was over and took their way toward the village. West had armed himself with a formidable stick, in the hope, loudly expressed at intervals, that they would be set upo

e both room in Hampton, but Digbee's a grind, you know, and

don't attempt to keep up with you fellows." He shook Joel

the blaze, and, as Remsen talked,

to among themselves as "Dig," both because that suggested his Christian name and because, as they said, he was forever digging at his books. In appearance Albert Digbee was a tall, slender, but scarcely frail youth, with a cleanly cut face that

armful to schools and colleges as tending to draw the attention of pupils from their studies, and I maintain the opposite. No

talk about athletics being hurtful. Golf's a game that a chap can play and get through with and have some tim

t is a case in point. He plays golf, and has

y some lately, Joel," laughed Wes

d Digbee. "It hasn't been made a business, at least in this school. But

never become as--er--exacting on the fellows that play it.

g in training, doesn't it stand to reason that the same fellow can play a better game

will play a first-class g

a game as he will

not," adm

prove his mental, moral, and physical person, will play a still better game and derive more benefit from it. When golf gets a firmer hold on this side of the Atlantic, schools and colleges will have their golf teams of, say, from two to a dozen players. Of cou

unds funny," e

When a boy or a man goes in for athletics, whether football or rowing or hockey, he desires, if he is a real flesh-and-blood being, to excel in it. To do that it is necessary that he put himself in the condition that will allow of his doing his very best. And to that end

and who has to study to make his schooling pay for itself, can such a

into the question of the harm or benefit of athletics, since at every well-conducted school or college those boys are not allowed to take up with athletics. Yes, generally speaking, the boy who comes to school to study can afford to play football, train for football, and think football, because instead of interfering with his studies it really helps him with them. It makes him healthy, strong, wide-awake, self-reliant, and clearheaded. So

ave up football I might get higher marks in recitations, but I'd not feel so well, and it's possible that I'd only get lower marks. I agree with you, Mr. Remsen, tha

e?" asked Remsen. Digbee

than I do. In fact, it's cheeky for me to argue about them. Why, I

not necessarily follow that I am right," responded his host courteously. "But enough of su

tionship is settled finally; says she's certain that any kin of the Maine Remsens is a pe

heard of Tomm

ll captain a good

s father wrote and explained what would happen to Tommy if he didn't obey his mother; and as Tommy's folks lived just over in Albany it was a small thing for Tommy's father to run over some day with a strap; so Tommy obeyed his parents and every week wrote home. His le

e. Tommy looked sheepish. 'To tell the truth, mother, I didn't write one of those letters each week,' explained Tommy. 'But just aft

t of their way to see Joel safely to his dormitory, and then Joel accompanied them on their homeward way as far as Academy Building. There good-nights were said, and Joel, feeling but little inclined for sleep, drew his collar up and strolled to the front o

til a long, shrill sound from the north told of the coming of the 9.48 train; then he made his way back to Masters, up the dim stair