The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-01-12

feet wide, with a three foot ledge
on the near side Of the water.
An exceedingly difficult race
the distractions making it so al
themselves, but also extremely
difficult from the shortness Of the
distance to be run. One of a mile
would be easier, giving you time
for moderate increase. which reg
ulates the breathing, and gives
you a chance to gradually bring
all yOurpowers into play or stea
dy increase; it must be a tremen-
dOus spurt, which but few can
stand.
When the time cameeio start,
about Thirty competitors toed the
mark, and fine, clean-limbed ac-
tive looking fellows they were,
too.
A pistol shot was to be the sig
nal to start. Crack went the pis-
tOl, and off shot thirty men like
arrows from as many bows. We
darted abreast but didn't keep so
long.
In the first hundred yards sev
eral came to grief, some, tripping
over the hurdles, sprawled, out Of
wind and time, and went limping
and cbopfallen back, others jump
ed well, but didn't come down so
well, or perhaps they imagined
they came down into a we'll. AT
any rate they came down too soon,
and like young ducks fell into
the water, and came blowing and
driving to shore, taking an invol-
untary bath instead of the prize.
When hundred yards had been
run over, TO my surprise | found
myself.frst and | began TO hope
that might win the race; strain
ing every muscle | urged on the
course, but being out OF condition
for easy running it began to tell
on me fearlully, for | was going
at tremendous pace, and | be-
came very anxious to know if
should be able TO hold out to
reach the goal, and if it was pru-
dent for ne to slacken and spare
myself a little for the last burst
that might come, if may safely
do it.
And so must know somehow
how far | was ahead.
There was no use Of running
faster than was necessary. | did
not know how far the next best
man was behind, for We were run
ming on turf and there was no
sound; and the only way ofjudg
ing was, when one was near we
could hear the heavy breathing
produced by the tremendous ex
artions the runners were making,
knew that there was none very
near me for should have heard
them breathe, and so the tempta-
ton came to look behind and see.
1t may not be know TO all our
readers that for a man TO be rnn-
ming on the top Of his speed that
any notion that disturbs the nice
equilibrium of the body is inya-
riably fatal to his chances of run
ming, and especially disturbing is
he motion and position necessa
" for the turning of the head; the |
head is the ruddcr, or like the !
'ront wheel of a velocipede, which |
f suddenly turned, over you 90.
| was now about fifty yards |
rom the winningpost, and nearly
exhausted. But had | kept on,
ooking straight ahead, ! should
lave won easily. but | TURNED
ROUND, and found to my surprise
he nearest man to me was fully |
TWENTY YARDS away.
But the fatal moment was on
ne, the turning of the head caused
ne to sway and reel and stagger
ike a drunken man. | went
lown heavily to sod, utterly cX
ONLY THREE FEET FROM THE
POST, and my opponent
'ushed on me winner be fore !
,ould gather myself for start;
md that is how | lost q race.
If you're doing anything worth
loing, keep at it, put on all speed
md don't LOOK BACK. No matter
what the inducements or tempta-
ions, don't look back.
Let the multitude thunder and
II competitors be distanced, but
lon't look back to see what is the !
Keep on, straight on, Look
lhead, straight ahead. Strain
very nerve, put on all steam,
md win. The last step is as i'm
)ortant as the first. A single mis-
,tep within a yard Of the goal may
0SG the WnOle enterprise LOT YOU
Anything that has been done
because the right man DID'T LOOK
sack, but carried the noble or
effort, rigSt up to the
ZONE mark, with dash and a
lerye anda will that meant it.
When the race is won aud the
hing is done, then you'll have
plenty of time to look back.
But FIRST don't DO 1T, or you may
ose the race.
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