, 1888-10-12

cal strength and courage were the only
qualities of much use in a fight. Naturally
the Scotch cultivated their muscle and be-
came a race of athletes, and the national
habit of muscular training survived the con-
ditions which developed it.
The origin of Caledoninn games was the
custom among S~cotchmen, Highland and
Lowland, of meeting in the village greens or
glens and engaging in trials of strength.
When it become an established annual event,
nobody knows, but it was u long time ago.
The first Caledonian games in this country
were contested at Boston in 1854 in an in
formal way, the Scotch residents holding a
free picnic and engaging in the games with
out any organization. William Grant, of
Boston, was one of the promoters of the idea.
C~aledonian clubs were formed afterwards,
and the games made the principal feature of
the annual meetings. All kinds of athletic
sports arc now included in the Caledonian
games, but there are some distinctly Scotch
features that are worth describing and ex-
planning. Throwing the hammer is one
of them. 1t is easy to understand how this
originated. After supper tho men and
boys of the village congreSated about
the blacksmith's shop and tested their
strength by throwing the blacksmith's
hammer. a few years ago tho clubs still
used a blaclsmith's sledce, with q handle
two feet and ten inches long, but tho sharp
angles of the hammer caused frequent break
ages of handles in falling, and tho oval head
was substituted. Finally the hammer head
was made round, and heightened the handle
to four feet ten inches. The only style of
throwing the hammer was to run with it,
turn completely around twice to give the
missile centrifugal momentum, and let it go.
The throwor often became dizzy and never
could tell where 10 was throwing the am
mer. After a few spectators had been killed
tho rules were changed, and now the hammer
must bo thrown froa 4 lZed position and
without a turn of tho body. In England they
retain the seven foot run with one turn. This
exercise brings Into play the whole body and
requires great strength.
Putting the shot is another Scotch exer-
else. Originally the men picked out a heavy
stone and put or pushed it as far as they
could. Now We use q shot of convenience
and uniformity. The heavy shot weighs
twenty-one and the light shot fourteen
pounds. TIL motion is not that of throwing.
Hold the shot in the right hand over and
back of the shoulder; throw the weight of
the body on the right leg, with the left leg
advanced. Take one jump forward in the
same attitude, and then quickly swing the
body around, bringing the right side and leg
forward, and shove the arm out sharply to
its full length, pushing the shot, not throw
ing it. 1t looks simple, but it is the hardest
knack in athletics to acquire.
Among the games that require no weights
and are tests of agility, the hitch and kick is
the most unique and thoroughly Scotch. The
performer springs into the air from one foot,
kicks with that foot u tamborine suspended
above his head, and alights upon the same
foot without letting the other touch the
ground until he has hoped twice to show
that he has his balance. This requires a great
deal of practice, even TO go through the mo-