New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-28
Harvard University.


Harvard University,
Cambridge, Mass, June - 1885
6s ) 1ks e ana Clubs E d
bridge - ,.,., H.
ward University to unite with Yale University in
meeting the universities Of oxford and cam
bridge in an athletic competition IN TINS
Committee the Regulation of Athletic Sports.
Ms app Is with much that we feel obliged
to forego the pleasure Of the proposed competition:
We mould naray aSeep, es Harvard and
Yale occupy the pre-eminent position among amer
versitics by oxford and Cambridge As there Is no
foundation in fact for such pretenslon, we .n'ns
well as for university interests in general; that we
should lend any countenance to H. ana that we
SPIRIT OF exciusveness toward our UNIVERSE
ties Nor considering the narr9 'S ground AT a.a.
ton among American universities Harvard won
As matter Of general principle, IT seems to US
that international student competitions woud n De
versities fairly representing the general body 81
students in each country or else between s,n ers
NOT free to accept the invitation of the American
intercollegiate Association. and we are especiauy
sorry any mlsconcepiion as to our attitude n re-
t. We should be pleased II even now YOU were dis.
e Competition on the basis OF tina, invltaiion;
II should be fortunate enough IN some aaars
ship In the track athletics, which this year belongs
to Yale we snail nope 70 b ave wine ts
ner OF the Oxford-Cambridge games very uuy
yours. 80 .. - ..s,t,os
London. June G-Secretary Fitzherbert, OF the
Cambridge Athletic Club. when questioned TINS al
ternoon In regard TO the correspondence with the
Harvard and Yale Athletic clubs respecting the
proposed international college athletic games stated
that he had cabled to the American clubs asking
that a reply to the Cambrdge-Oxford challenge %
,.pt nv Saturday at the latest
representative OF the tinted Press before the
rspy p S heTs scott
hurdle racer an old senior OF me anne shSui
c San Mr the Oxford Club the latter would accept
and send team to America II Harvard ana da'e
meeting OF a combined Cambridge and OXFORD
team against team OF any two s,dnr ,hat onIy
Harvard and Yale correspond with OXFORD ana
In an Interview with regard to the challenge to
Yale and Harvard T. $ Koran pres,ien' ot she
universities and In no wise international II
Guide the Edinburgh. Dublin, Durham and other
universities We only wanted contest OF the four
20 ,' oul,e misunderstood this We were very keen
to have a meeting. and are sincerely grieved De-
When pressed to say the plans could not ne
altered 50 as to include The tniysrSy OF
said: We could not go back on the original pro-
Harvards reply. declining the challenge was
made public by oxford late Tonight.
The Standard will say tomorrow: The Har-
wards reasons for declining TO accept the cnaienge
are creditabe to their modes'y
Sporting Lfes" oxford correspondent says that
Haryard's refusal has caused much regret at the
university because II is felt that team would not
be able to go TO America this year. ana me UNI
versity could always rely upon sending repre-
sentative men,
Charles r. Sheriff., Yales ex-champlon sprinter
and a member OF the Graduate Advisory Board
said yesterday that ne considered Harvard's action
In declining the invitation to contests with the
English colleges. an unworthy begging out OF II.
Mr. Sheriff. says that Yale will now have an en-.
tirely new proposition before her. namely, what
TO do herself with the challenge According to Mr..
Sheriff. Harvard had no need TO worry over the
fact that the University OF Pennsylvania Is. ac-
coriing TO the last intercollegiate meeting returns.
a few points ahead OF her in athletic aDhty: AS
he understands II. the English universities did NOT
challenge merely the leading track athletic uni
verstles OF America but the universities tney con-
sidered the leading and representative Institutions
OF America.