AMATEUR' (Fr_ from Lat. atnator, lover, from (more, to love). It would seem at first easy to define the word "amateur" in yet it is a subject that has for half a century taxed the most active and subtle brains of two con tinents. One would say offhand that the ama teur in sport is one who engages in a personal physical contest of pluck, nerve, muscle, and skill for the love of it, as from the professional, who enters for profit; but that by no means disposes of this intricate subject. There were early found to be men in plenty who entered a particular contest because they loved the sport, and who derived no pecuniary interest from that contest, yet who it was unfair to allow to enter it. Asa matter of fact, not long after the renaissance of athletic contests in 1 S50, it became obvious that the lines would have to be drawn more strictly, or those would have an unfair advantage whose daily occupa tions gave them a continuous training in the skill needful for perfection. Take. for example. a boat-builder of time old school, one who had been apprenticed to it in his youth, and had spent all his early manhood in the handling of boats and oars, and in rowing and gradually acquiring the knowledge. power, and endurance of a •atem man. To such a man, trained and hardened by years, rowing became a second nature, and his skill in it automatic. It was plainly unfair to allow such a man, however much he rowed for love of the sport and without taking money for his prize, to enter contests where the rest of the participants had acquired their knowledge and skill only for the pleasure of the game. and as part of the ordinary routine of school and college, or for health and pleasure's sake. So it came to pass that the boat-builder and waterman were early excluded from the amateur ranks. The same principle has been working itself out ever since. Step by step the fences against professionalism have had to be raised. until now the rules bar them out of all contests under the control of the Amateur Row ing Association of England. No person can enter as an amateur "who has rowed or steered in any race for a stake, money, or entrance fee; who has ever knowingly rowed or steered with or against a professional for any prize; who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises for any kind of profit; who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in any manual labor for money or wages: who is or has been by trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artisan, laborer, or engaged in any menial duty; or who is disqualified as an ama teur in any other branch of sport." The most
jealous stickler for the purity of amateur oars manship could hardly desire the line to be more firmly or decisively drawn; yet the rules govern ing amateur athletics in America do go farther, for inter (Ilia, they make a man a professional who engages in an athletic contest where pro fessionals participate, even though no prize is at stake. The following are the rules of the Ama teur Athletic Union. which claims jurisdiction over the following games: 1, Basket ball; 2, billiards; 3. boxing: 4. fencing; 5, gymnastics; 6, hand ball: 7, hurdle racing: S. jumping; 9. lacrosse: 10, pole vaulting; IL putting the shot and throwing the discus, hammer, and weights; 12, running; 13, swimming; 14, tugs of war; 15, walking; 16, wrestling.
Comlitiomc of Competition. "1. No person shall be eligible to compete in any athletic meet ing, game or entertainment given or sanctioned by this Union who has (a) received or com peted for compensation or reward, in any form. for the display. exercise, or example of his skill in or knowledge of any athletic exercise, or for rendering personal service of any kind to any athletic organization, or for becoming or con tinuing a member of any athletic organization: or (b) has entered any competition under name other than his own, or from a club of whieh he was not at that time a member in good standing; or (e) has knowingly entered any competition open to any professional or professionals, or has knowingly competed with any professional for any prize or token; or (d) has issued or allowed to be issued in his behalf any challenge to compete against any profession al, or for money, or (e) haspawned, bartered, or sold any prize won in athletic competition. or (1) is not a registered athlete. Nor shall any person residing within the territory of any aciive member of this Union be eligible to com pete for or to enter any competition as a member of any club in the territory of any other active member of this Union. unless lie shall have been elected to membership in such club prior to April 1, 1891; provided, however, that this re striction as to residence shall not apply to undergraduates connected with any allied college athletic organization.