The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-06

nous Of the four great national festivals
Of the Greeks, celebrated once in four
years at Olympia The project has grown
out OF proposal adopted at the Athletic
Congress in Paris last year to hold inter-
national contests once in four years In diff
ferent parts OF the world TO which shall
be invited all the peoples Of the earth.
It was eminently fitting that the first
meeting for these athletic exercises and
exhibitions OF strength, skill and prowess
should be held on Grecian soil among the
descendants OF those who cheered the
victors at the great Panhellenic gatherings
Of old. What better place could have been
found than IN the ancient Panathenaic
stadion. in the building OF which tae pub
Ilc-spirited Herodss-Atticus nearly ex-
hausted the immense quarries on Penteli-
con? This was the land where the great
ancient athletic festivals were frequented.
at first by the ne!ghboring Peloponnesians.
and later by spectators from the Greek col
onies Of Europe. Asia and Africa. and peo-
pie OF more distant states. and here 1t is
especially appropriate that the first inter
national meeting OF the worlds athletes
should be called together.
The origin of the Olympic games is
shrouded In hazy myths and traditions. but
was probably connected with rites paid TO
some deity. They gradually expanded in
to a festival. partly religious and partly
secular. and assumed so great an import
ance in Hellenic life and civilization that
from the games OF 40 B. c. the Greeks
subsequently, began 10 date a chronology
cal era. and the olympiads as the period
between the two celebrations was called.
have supplied one Of the oldest records of
continuous time. The early games con-
sisted or horse racing and chariot racing,
but. as they grew in popularity, othe- fea-
lures were added. Foot races were intro
duce6. and afterward followed boxing,
wrestling. jumping. throwing the discus.
dart and javelin.
The fame Of the games became so wide
/ spread that thousands focked 20 what soon
/ became a great Grecan festival. Athletics
soon developed into a national passion,
/ and young Greek could look 20 no higher
I honor than that OF being a victorious con-
/ testant in one Of the quadrennlal events.
! -. N NN--afNA Nf4+4'~ ~ ITS "a some NAAAe
T were given. but after Daicles. the Messcn-
I ian. in the seventh olymplad. received for
I his victory in the stadium a wreath from
| the sacred olive tree near Olympia. that
simple reward was the only one distrlbut-
/ ed for centuries after
Tho person who could wear the Oiynnplc
olive wreath of victory was ever afterward
a marked man. and his proves was sun
+ posed 10 have conferred upon his family
name an everlasting glory. He was toast
ed and feted and praises in his honor were
sung by the most celebrated bards OF the
time. Pindar has painted in words the
glories OF those stadium victories. and the
chisel OF Phidas has given 70 the world
those Incompatible masterpieces Of statl-
airy for which no doubt many an Hellenic
. athlete was taken as a model.
Supported as the old games were hv n
popular and perhaps religious enthusiasm.
and ranking as they did as great national
events. there was a dignity about them
which has not attached TO athletic con-
tests Of the Christian era The games
were open 70 all classes Of persons. the
only conditions being that they should be
q Hellenic descent and oc good moral char
actcr. They ilcladet no comba.s which
required weapons. aud the candidates for
honors were Obliged TO take a solemn
cath 20 contend fairly. ANY atteraot nj,
bribery was looked upon as he.nous. and
I punished by heavy fine. Strict honesty was
supposed 80 prevail. and the im7artial.tv
OF the Judges who were always fra-n Ellis
was rarely questioned. After the conquest
q Greece BY the Romans, the latter 80
( came competitors and the games contln-
uei 20 maintain their popularity AMI az
tract mulutudes from afar. even AFTER
the extinction OF Greek freedom. unsl they
we're finally abolished by a decree Of ,he
Christian emperor Theodoslus. \. u. 14.
The ides or revtytns the games has been
taken up by the modern Greeks with xraat
enthusiasm Il Is an sppeaI 10 the glori-
Gus traditions of The past % which thrv
are Partonably proud. ard 20 the proposal
In renew the contests which once called
Tor the admiration or The word. all Greece
unanimously gave favorable answer.
The tradesmeu opened the subscriptions
and soon rich ami poor. Greeks nj home
and abroad. poured in their contributions
Until enough was realised net only % pro
vide tcr the celebration of next year. but
also 20 restore TIRE ancient Fansthenalc
stadion to its ancient spleado~. thus Gre
s,tne a permanent AREA fer regular ma
+ tio1sl sports O.. TIE future
To the great festival. which VIII open I'm
April. ISSS. all the world is invited. THE
athletic congress proposes that TIRE fea-
/ turcs ~ each aua3reaniai meeting shall
tse characteristics of the country tn which
81 IS hello ana therefore the programme
/ which VII - offered az Athens has de-
/ eidea classic stamp from the fact that
/ many % the ola Olympia standards as 60
I distances and other conditions are revived
I TIE more modern sports VIII also be Intro
ducet AZ secondary attractionS.an1. while
! the followers % Aicihiades au3 Pcricles
/ HAY he uueQuaied N the hopliie race or IN
throwing thc 3isrus the Angio-Saxons
| may open Hellsaic eyes BY the skag dis
/ played - t2sssa1. eEloAet and locteaM.