Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30


OF cOmmuuities-physical strength commanded
greater amount Of esteem than it does to-
day. Strange a. such a remark NAV seem in
these times of athlete worship and Just at the
opening of the baseball season. it is neverthe-
less true. In those good old days every man
had to be his own policeman. and quite fire.
quentiy was also somebody else's executioner:
therefore. to prevent the tables being turned
TO such an extent that be become the executed
while some one else performed the execution
er's office. he had to put himself in frst-rate
physical condition. The ancient Greek was
the best athlete the world has ever seen, and
he did not have such dreary time when he
was training as some more modern athletes
have had and do have. He was always in
training. commencing when boy of ten or
twelve, and continuing until some more skilful
or powerful antagonist came and took away
not only his hOnors but his life also. Religion
then was nothing but the worship of external
nature. and alteration paid to physical
beauty under the names of Venus and APOLLO
and physical strength as embodied in the myth
of Hercules.
The Greek athletes differed very materially
from their latter-day followers in the end sought
10 be achieved by training. and none OF the
ancient writers make more plain the difference
than did Galen, the physician. He said:
Athletes devote themselves to increasing the
bulk OF their flesh and the quantity of their
thick and viSciOus blOOd-nOt to the work OF
simply rendering the body more robust. but
more massive. and therefore more likely TO
crush an adversary by mere weight. This sort
OF training Is therefore of no use in the acqui-
sltIOn of that vigOr which may be attained by
ordinary means, and Is. besides, very danger
Gus"
Galens professional opinion did not seem TO
have much weight. for the race of athletes in
creased and multiplied and stroye-and for
what The reward of the victor in those DAYS
was simple and inexpensive; a wreath of
parsley. wild olive. pine. oak or laurel leaves
No heavy purse nor skilfully craven golden cup:
no gold or silver medals. artistically designed
and judlciously displayed in the prominent
window OF some jeweler on the Avenue And
yet the wreath brought in Its train more glory
and greater privileges than any of the more
recent and more expensive trophies. 1t gained
for it, pCSsessOr the applause of the people
throughout the whole of Greece When he re-
turned home he made his solemn entrance into
the town IN fOuT-hOrse chariot. preceded bv
t0rch-bearers and fOilowedb by a long procession
IL dld not enter by the common gate of the
town. but by breach made in the walls ex-
presslv TO do him honor: by this ceremonial it
was intended to indicate that a city that
could count among its a number
OF valiant athletes had no need CT walls
To protect II against the besieger. At
ter the parade was over there we're still
several hOnOrs and privileges left. He had the
right 10 free pass to all public games and as
there were games about twice a day including
.;-Indays. the privilege was valuable one to a
man whose mind had an economical turn. His
name was craven on a marble tablet and prop
erly displayed. and he was freed from the per
fOrmUnce of all civic duties. He was exempted
from liability to pay taxes and was maintained
az the national expense. while TO crown all his
native town set up statue of him. in bronze
representing him in the attitude in which he
Was when be gained the victory.
THE PRESENT.
How things have changed, The winner rides
home on his bicycle or takes street-car. There
Is no parade, no marble tablet, no immunity
from taxation. and statue. The ceremony
Of presenting the prizes is as simple as possible
and II often winds up with nothing more than
general invitation from everybo to every
BODY else 10 20 out and have something" A
few lines in the newspapers. with the athlete
name mlsspelled, is about allithe fame that fol-
lows a victory
The sporting reporter Of to-day differs mate
rally from his ancient predecessor in that wi lie
he may chronicle some marvellous things he
does not begin TO approach him in the forma-
ton vi creatures OF the Imagination. The his
torlans say that Milo of CrotOn a mile with
four-year-Old OK on his shoulders then killed
The animal with single blow of his fist and
finally ate every inch of his carcass in the same
day The reporter was very remiss in failing
70 state whether or not he chewed
the hide also. The same veracious Young
man also made public a statement to
the effect that Milo ate twenty pounds of meat
twenty pounds of homemade bread and drank
nfJeen pInts Of wine at every meal. Polvdamas
OF Ihcssalla, was another man who had friends
On the press. for IL Is recorded of him that he
seized a bull by one of its hind feet and the
animal only made It's escape by leaving the
hopt IN the Ihessalian's hand. Such reporters
could secure frst-class positions in New York
TODAY.
Everything is changed now. The profess
slon"I athlete has sawed so many boats and sold
70 many contests that he Is IN the background.
IAe amateur athlete. who trains and runs or
rows. or does anything else better than most Of
his fellows. Is al the front. respected and be-
loved. a good citizen and a man whom his
countrymen. IN reasonable, rational way. de-
hight to honor. OF such is the Columbia Atb-
letlc club made up.
ne city Of Washington never had an ath-
l"tc organization worthy of the name except
Ing. OF course, the old volunteer fire com
lauIes, until few Of the more vigorous MEM
bers OF the Old Columbia boat club decided to
extend their sphere Of usefulness. That was
IL December, 1856. The men who made the
proposition were enthusiasts. and thew soon
Lad large number OK supporters especiaIIy
among the younger members Of the boat-club
me- ttlng o. that organization was called early
L. i07t. and at that meeting. after much discus-
siCnlt was decided 10 merge the boat club into am
athletic club, where boating would be only one
OF the many features. On April 6 there was
another meeting. and there the deed was done
siIty-elght persons signing the constitution and
becoming members OF the Columbia athletic
club by purchasing a second mortgage bond
the proceeds Of which were to be used for the
advancement of the clubs material prOsperitv
The change in the character of the organization
brought with II numerous changes in the per
sonnet of The membership. FOrtv-one men
who had belonged TO the boat club declined to
remain on the rolls when il enlarged its sphere
OF use fulness but their places filled little
more rapidly, II that was possible than they
were omptied. fOrty-five new members coming
III while the forty one were going out In
January. 1858. the club had 204 active mem
bers and 80 uon-resident-a remarkable in
crease but nothing like so remarkable as the
gain up to January, 1889. when the athletic
crowd numbered 3lS active and Il2 non-resi-
dent. Since then the active list has climbed I'D
10 3Jj. and steady stream of applications Is
pouring Ia.
QUARTERS.
When the Athletic club was organized its
headquarters consisted practically of but one
room. on New York avenue. near 18th street.
but month later it was found necessary TO
move 10 the building occupied at present-SO9
I4th street. The numerous rooms were appro-
lrlately furnished and the membership was
Tor time. happy. The second-mortgage bonds
Id rapidly. and with the proceeds the club
purchased lot at tine junction of Ohio avenue
and 18th and ID streets Here the athletes pro-
posed 10 erect suitable clubhouse during this