The San Francisco call., 1896-07-19

The triumphs of science have demon
strated that if you would arrive at con-
cluSion be sure you understand the cause;
if you wish to attain certain end be sat
isfied that you thoroughly comprehend
the beginning. I Go not mean that if you
cannot understand thing in It's entirety
you must abandon the idea. Not at
all Aim at the truth, and if you do not
bit the mark your hand will be stronger
and your eye steadier for the next trial.
Acting on these principles l have en-
deavored to compile rational and, to q
certain degree, conclusive essay on the
philosophy OF speed. 1 say conclusive, :"
meaning that the ideas herein stated are
not the result of hurried scratching to-
gether OF notions, but rather they repre-
sent the reflections of years and are TO me
fixed and Interchangeable dogmas. My pres
ent object is to reveal to minds inexperi-
enced in athletics and unaccustomed to
their philosophy why it is that of two men
built about alike one will run like a deer
and the other like COW; or why one man
built like an Apollo cannot jump as well as
a schoolboy, while another with stumpy
legs and awkward style clears his own
height.
The first idea to be considered is, "What
is speed?' The dictionary says moving
forward with celerity." Very good, but
can we not make the shoe fit little closer
A locomotive moves like the wind and you
ask the engineer how it is done and he
will doubtless call your attention to some
such fact as the wheels m assuring eighteen
feet and revolving 300 times a minute.
You notice another engine making a great
fuss, putting and blowing, but not running
nearly as fast as the express and on close
inspection discover that she is built fol-
Notwithstanding or freight, and that
her wheels are but twelve feet in circum-
ference and clustered on the rails like the
feet of a centipede.
As far as my knowledge has extended
the principal forces which contribute to
speed and jumping ability are as follows:
First. nerve force; second, strength of the
circulatory system; third, condition OF
the digestive function; = fourth, develop.
ment of the muscular system. The ele.
ments OF the body, however, that are ex-
ercised in the process of locom otion are
the muscles, bones, nerves, sinews and
vitals. These are the mechanical forces
and have nothing to do with Judgment
dllu OOu1dBSt WulCu are IOIceB OF the MIND.
Let Us first get some of the minor points
out of the way that we may dwell at
length on the more important matters,
and we will begin on the sinews Let not
the reader suppose that / underestimate
the importance of the sinews; they are
unimportant by comparison only These
tough, guttapercha-like cords are the con-
Meeting link between the muscles and the
bones. They have no power of their own.
have little if any elasticity, and their dis
tinct attributes are fexibility and resist
ance to any effort TO stretch or snap them.
In this their consistency is wonderful. the
bone sometimes breaking before the ten
don will part While il is desirable to
have large, strong sinews, particularly for
jumping, still / am inclined to think that
for running the tendons of the average
man are sufficient for all practical pur-
poses in athletics.
Then we take the bones. These are
tubes filled with marrow They fre-
quently have consistency peculiar to
themselves or to their kind For instance
Some are large and heavy; some are small
and light. The best bones for runner Oh
jumper are the latter kind, as it will be
plainly seen that he has little weight to
carry thereby, but derives just as much
benefit from their consistency as if they
were heavy and large. The weight-throwe1
can afford to possess the latter kind, for
while they are of no special benefit to him
they are no detriment
1t has been asserted that slight curva-
ture of bone is an excellent thing, as il
fmparts sprlnginess to the stride OF
spring thereby. While 1 do not think
this has been satisfactorily proved, dc
not doubt there is a great deal in the
theory advanced. There is probably much
to be gained by having a well-arched in.
step. Here the bones are joined by car
tilage and form an elastic curve that
must give springiness to the step. In
some cases there is undoubtedly a distiuct