The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-10-22
CAN TIRE OLYMPIC GAMES BE RE-
VIVED:
Charlotte OJSerrer.

An event Of grea; Interest which is
6Ver Ssc TIE civilized world is the rensis-
samce Of the Olympic games 10 be held
in Greece at Athens next summer.
TIE Olympic games Of ancient Greece
ale to be revived on the same spot
where they originated, fourished and
died. How the mention inspires mind
pictures Of massive amphitheatre, with
the multitude, in tier after tier, bend
ing over in breathless expectancy, the
aristoi in the seats of honor, and the
hoi polloi in the body of the vast
structure whose canopy is the blue
sky, while far down in the arena the
faultlessly formed Grecian lads--models
for sculptured Apollos-are running
the race for the simple bat honorable,
the plain but priceless wreath of laurel
and bay. How, in our imagination,
the check Of the Athenian maiden,
whose form and face, blue-eyed
Athene herself, might envy, :nautles
with peach bloom blush as her lover
forges to the front of the ruuners!
Yes, it is ali 50 poetical and pretty
to contemplate, ana when we consider
the sums of money spent to bring on
the 'srenaissance," and the dashed
hopes Of fond scholars is it a!l be not
a success, we hope hord against failure.
Much has indeed been done at Athens
10 make sprout this seed for ages
busted. We are told:
The ancient Stadium, ct Athens, in
which the games will be held, is being
rebuilt for the purpose. In 1873, King
George, Of Greece, ordered the Stadium
10 be excavated, and paid all the ex-
penses. Under his direction, the
debris Of a thousand years was cleared
away down to the surface OF the arena,
and the sloping smphitheatre laid bare.
Thc marble seats and statuary had
gone into the limekiln-that rapacious
monster that has devoured 20 much Of
the achievement Of ancient Greece.
Little was found but tue bare amphi-
theatre and the arena, the ruins of the
two high supporting walls at the en-
trance, near the Illiseus, ani an under
ground passage at the other end for the
entrance ANA exit Of contestants and
Judges. But, thanks TO tie Iibcrality
Of King George and the prir cely gif'
Of 100000 drschmas (5l20,QO0) by Mr..
George Aberof, the rich Greek phi!at-
,h:opist Of Alexandria, the old S;a,
dium is beginning to look as it did in
the ancient days.
The idea of reviving these game
originated with a French sp>lt>man.
In the development Of the scheme no
man has been more forward than Prof.
William N. Sloan, of Princeton.
Many prominent scholars and athletes
have worked for the enserprise, among
others Prof. Eben Alexander, whom
the University Of North Carolina fur
nished as the present minister to
Greece. The United States consul at
Athens, Mr. George Horton, in speak
ing Of Prof. Alezander's enthusiasm
on the SUBJECT, says:
lie thinks it s good idea for the
American entries to come over in a |
special ship. Most of the men from
the United States will be college |
students, and the objection has been |
raised that the! will lose much time
coming so far, On private ship they |
could make arrangements for con'ihu-
ing their studies under the most favor
sb'e circumstances, and could also |
keep in physical condition by daily
training. The idea is charming one,
and smacks Of heroic times. Let us
hope that the American ship will CARY
home more than one Gictor There
will be. no footblll Or baseball at
Athens, but Mr. Alexander thinks ,tc
should be sure winl crs i
putting the shot, buring this, throw
ing the hammer anb in tie high jump.
Also they have fair char C.: il hurdt
races and running
Pr"f. Alexander is not only s'a di
Prilhe!lene," as ne {; mot
correctly termed in the PHI h'lal' l. hia |