GOLFING
“Tee-Off” and “Fore”
While it is called rich people’s game
Poor folks should learn it just the same;
And tramp the meadows and the hill
To let fresh air their lungs to fill:
But if too poor to hire a caddy
Then use instead your sweetheart’s Daddy.
—Harrison.
When the Colored people become enough interested in golf to take advantage of the privileges that are today granted to them on several public links, and which privileges will increase as time goes on; they will then begin to forward one of their Jim Barnes or Robert Balls into a champion Jock Hutchinson, just as they will some day discover and begin to develop a Colored woman into a championess Aleca Stirling.
An Athletic Dawn of To-morrow
Today fresh air is free: but how long will it be?
(We better snuff it while it’s pure
Before the airplanes leave no more.) needed]
Young folks should stay more in pure airs
And outdoor sports seek for health cares;
And lessen more house party ’fairs
Held in hot rooms stuffed with stale airs.
—Harrison.
The writer recently received from Mr. Chas. H. Williams, Head of the Physical Culture Department of Hampton Institute, a graduate of that institution as well as Harvard University and one of the most successful Colored athletic directors in the country, official letters and architectural drawings relative to a campaign having already been launched by Hampton Institute to raise funds for the construction of a thirty thousand dollar modernly equipped athletic field. When this pioneer movement for Negro field sports is completed and opened for general inspection and national track meets; it will then, as the Mecca in America for Colored field sports, most certainly arouse unbounded interests, inspirations and determinations in the minds of visitors from other Colored schools that do not possess such advantages. And as those visitors turn homeward bound their enthusiasms are going to be elevated to such high and lasting hopes and longings that they will dreamingly hear, until materially heeded, conscience voices from the clouds above that will softly and encouragingly whisper; “Go thou likewise and do the same.” Thus a real athletic dawn will eventually light up and spread over many Negro schools in such ways as to enable them in due time to turn out athletes who will surprise the world by making unheard-of and unbelievable new track records. For instance, as Edward O. Gourdin, the Colored and greatest track athlete Harvard University has ever had, did July 23, 1921 at the Harvard Stadium when, in competing against Great Britain’s best athletes, he made a new running broad jump world record by leaping 25 feet 3 inches. In making that wonderful jump he beat Peter O’Connor’s then world record of 24 feet 11¾ inches that track athletes all over the world for the past 20 years had repeatedly tried but always failed to beat until Gourdin, a Negro, came along and did the trick by over a clear margin of 3 inches.
After reading the foregoing pages of Negro success in athletics, Colored youths have every right to become inspired to redouble their efforts in trying to win even more first places along these lines. But if a Colored athlete should at any time just before entering a severe, critical and history making contest suddenly become discouraged and heavy-hearted, because of his race and color; he should remember that:—
The swiftest and most valuable piece of horse-flesh in the world (Man-O-War) is not white, but is a light-red bay, and from the firm tread of his feet, prancing swing of his legs, proud carriage of his body, beautiful arch of his neck, graceful poise of his head, and fearless look in his eyes, shows he is neither ashamed of his horsehood nor his well-colored natural coat. So this three-year-old colt did not fret and worry about his brunette complexion nor the odds in years against him as he nearly divorced his body from his shadow in winning the Canadian race that gave him the title, “King of the turf”, seventy-five thousand dollars in money, and a five thousand dollar gold cup that otherwise would have gone to the four-year-old British colt, Sir Barton.