Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-28
THE OLYMPIAN GAMES.
DIR. Qufnn's Lecture Attended by
Very Large Audience.

DIR. Qufnn's Lecture Attended by q
Very Large Audience.
The most interesting lecture of the course
now in progress at the Catholic University
was that delivered last evening by DR..
Quinn on Olympia and the Olympian
Games" The assembly hall was thronged
to its utmost. DR.. Quinn took his audience
on an imaginary journey across the At
lantic to Greece, thence to Olympia as a
spectator Of the games as witnessed in the
centuries before Christ, and finally as a
surveyor of the present country of Greece.
At Olympia every building was thoroughly
explained and located and the various
games spoken of. 1t was here that every
TOUR years Greeks from every part of that
vast empire fiocked to witness the games
SO dear to them. 1t was as if at present
all Europe should come together for some
common event, for the people of that PEN
lnsula country were found in southern TIA
ly, Egypt, Asia Minor, Macedonia and as
far east as the Euphrates. OF the many
buildings that rose SO majestically in the
Olympian valley were the Temple of Zeus,
the ruler of gods and men; the treasure
houses Of the different states the palestra
and the buildings for throwing quoits and
spears and similar sports. The racing was
always spirited contest. Horses of the
finest breed were entered by many. 1t Of
ten happened that in turning the chariots
were broken. and horse and driver tram
pied upon or thrown into confusion. Each
contestant was thinking only of winning
the race.
Here also literary productions of the
nnest masters and art in its various
branches entered for prizes. Statues of
heroes and gods of lfe-like representation
stood before the judges. And what was
this prize which was so eagerly sought by
all Greece? A simple laurel wreath, for to
the creeks the honor Of winning the prize
was sufficient. It is true at the Delphfan
were money for CHI
time, but this was soon abolished
Dr. quinn also spoke at length upon the
tneater IN those ancient days. 1t was
usually situated on the side of a hill Of a
semi-circular shape, with MANY tiers Of
seats In the center were some stage
buildings. and in front of these on a slight
~ raised platform the players acted with
out scenery and the many mechanical an
planes we have today.
FROM Olympia DIR. Quinn journeyed to
Athens. After passing many interesting
islands and the ruins of the walls which
once connected this city with the sea the
Greek capital was reached. 1t is over
looked by the Acropolis, that stronghold
winch played such an important part in
history when Athens was in her glory
Here. as in Olympia, now nothing bur
ruins greets the visitor. A few tall columns
marx the spot where once stood a mag
innocent temple. mutilated statue thrown
rom rom some building now reposes amid
broken stone. That once famed Parthenon
is now a mass OF ruins, hardly to be recoR-
nized as the one of old
Or. Quinn informed his audience of the
revivins of the Olympian games which will
Iake place this spring. Mr.. Averoff, a rich
Greek of Alexandria, has given 81 900 600
Tor the adjoining of the Stadion for this
purpose. These games. when revised, will
take place every four years, not at Olym-
pa but In the different cities throughout
Europe. Four years from this spring they
VIII be at Paris. 1t is probable that the
same spirit will be shown, and that once
more the best productions of body and
mind will contest for prizes.
Inc lecture was literally illustrated with
stereopticon views. which added to its at
tractiveness His style of delivery is con-
versatfonal, and his method is such as to
be instructive as well as entertaining.