The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-08-28
THE NEW OLYMPIADS.

THE NEW OLYMPIADS.
A correspondent of the academy writing
from Athens, June 18th, describes the at
tempted revival of the Olympic games
His account illustrates the fact that it is as
true of nations as of men, that when they
have once outgrown their old clothes they
never can make them fit again:
Last Sunday evening was the period
for performing the Olympic games in the
Panathenaic Stadium.
The present King of Greece some years
since caused the stadium to be cleared out
and, soon after, rich gentleman named
Kappa left considerable sum of money to
support an exhibition of athletic sports
every four years, to represent as closely as
could be the contests which took place in
the glorious days of old Greece. The third
of these revived Olympiads was celebrated
last Sunday, and it was strange sight to
see, towards five O'Clock in the afternoon,
the whole population-men, women, and
children, on foot and in carriages-hurry-
ing past the palace, over the site of the old
Athenian gardens, and across the Ilysus
towards the stadium. Few more glorious
sights could be witnessed than that which
this place usually so solitary and silent
presented when filled with eager crowds
last Sunday evening. The long, horseshoe
shaped, partly natural, partly artificial, at
the foot of Hymettus, with its intermina-
BILE rows of seats sweeping round the vast
extent, and capable of accommodating all
Athens, looked brilliant and gay indeed
with forty thousand patient sitters, and at
the first glance at the old place peopled
with this vast crowd there was something
that recalled its ancient glory. 1t was SIM
ply splendid. When, however, we have
said this there is not much to add. The
Greeks of to-day are not an athletic peo-
pie. The young Greek values his French
attire and manners, his easy saunter and
quiet gossip, far more than any thing to be
gained by severe bodily exertion, and the
time has gone by when the laurel crown
possesses any charm for him, for the only
gymnasium in which he cares to exercise
his energies is the school where he acquires
that educational varnish which will enable
him to eschew manual labor, or the mart
where he can develop to the utmost that
finesse and cunning that frequently lead to
fortune.
The exhibition of last Sunday is proudly
designated by the Greek newspapers as the
'Third Olympiad.' According to all &C
counts the first Olympiad was extremity
ridiculous, the second after four years was
but little better, and this third not any
thing to boast of. To one accustomed to
the athletic sports of a good English school
the whole affair appeared childish enough,
but from the excited applause at every feat
it was evident that the spectators regarded
the affair as perfect success. About
twenty athlets contested. There were foot
races, throwing the discus, jumping with
the pole, hurting the .iavelin, climbing, &C.,
but neither wrestling nor boxing. None
of the old forms, ceremonies, or costumes
were observed. The King and Queen were
HOJ pTeScuG, anu GDe WT6dtuS WeTo ulSCTlD-
uted by venerable old gentleman. To
say that stout old ladies and gentlemen
leisurely promenaded the arena during all
the excitement of tho foot race. and COM
PEELED the racers to wind in and out to
avoid knocking them over, that dogs were
roaming about just as they pleased and
getting in everybody's way, that the poles
of the Jumpers often stuck in the ground,
and required the dead weight of the own
ers to carry them over, that the javelins
never went near the target unless the
thrower ran almost close to it, and that the
discus instead of being metal was simply
wooden platter with which the dogs often
ran off-would be but saying little, for the
whole affair was most ridiculously absurd
as being supposed to resemble in the faint
est degree the glorious contests of ancient
Greece. The only feat at all worthy of
speech was that of climbing the pole, and
two fellows certainly achieved that in rather
fine style. But notwithstanding all it's
shortcomings we must hail with gratitude
any thing which every four years brings
the whole population of Athens to people
the long deserted seats of its magnificent
Stadium