New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09
INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS.

The challenge from oxford and Cambridge ~
Yale and Harvard 10 a contest in field ana track
athletics Is in some respects the most noteworthy
&c ,he kind ever issued Contests between col
leces and between colleges of different couh-
fries have been frequent. Harvard sent over Il
bo,t's crew 70 row against oxford, years ago. and
rot bcoten though without loss of honor. Last
wear Yale men went to England TO match their
speed and strength against the men OF oNloru'
and were also beaten. though they. too, won the
respect Of their cOnquerorS Inc contest ho"
nroposcd is. however. essentially different from
these oxford and Cambridge. for generations
past keen rivals in all manly sports. are to ION
forces and work together on one sidc' ana i'''
and Harvard. the two historic rivals III America
are 10 unite for effort the other side. II VIII
he an intercollegiate and international contest
,nvovinc the greatest four English-spcaliinG uni
yersties in the world, an incident absolutely
unique in the annals Of athletic sports.
Tho exact terms proposed by oxford and cam
bridge are not yet known. They are awaited
with kccncst anticipation, and 1t 10 earnestly 10
he hoped they will be found satisfactory, ana
the challenge will be promptly accepted. lha'
they will prove fair is altogether prODablr' con
sdcrinr The high record of Englishmcn In sucll
matters. The date set, in September, may al
first seem n bit dsadvantascouS 10 Americans
That is nj the beginning of the college year. Whcn
the men have been on vacation for two or three
months and are therefore largely oul Of tram
nr Rut on the other hand. the Americans VIII
have the advantage If place, being at home in
stead Of in a foreign land. with strange climate
+, affect them. Moreover. Tor such an Olympic
g., la, al IL for flf nlr IA
mon to mn themselves or keep themselves IN
training It should lac 10 great hardship !" Go
So SO far rs all other considerations are con
ccrncd. September seems a good ilm' Tor INC
match That mouth usually give, Us some oi inc
finest weather ~ The year. ana 10 brings Inc SUI"
m,r wanderers home So ~ 10 assure Inc Ai1
lot,s such a crowd of spectators as never per
hans. has been drawn together before on such
an occasion
Wc hone the match will be- arranged. u would
serve a doubly harmonious purpose. u "'ul'
make Yale and Harvard better friends ana klhh
Her though not less keen antagonists, ana w'ull
do the same service for oxford AMI Cambridge
and II would make ncw bond Of so"lfrlloW
shin between America AMI The Mother country
Such objects are not Insignificant. They are III
decd. more important than the mere winning oi
,he ,rophIcs But they would not interfere with
thc latter. and We know full we'll that the EnS
lsh lads. II beaten will bear their defeat with
the same manly courage ihai The Yale lads
showed lat year and those from Harvard many
years before 1t will I've pleasant 10 welcome the
representatives Of oxford and Cambridge. "a
give them the best cheer American h"sp'anN
can afford, AMI thcn 10 v1npush them ih Inc
q trust. Tie
Defender will also vanquish the third NHlhy ne
But whichever side wins. with two such contests
on land and sea September $50 VIII DE Il
memorable time 10 athletes AMI sp'ri>m"n The
world around.