The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-13

b. Jumping contests-(a) Long jump
eu Tor lime, leaving almost llndisturbed
the outlines Of the structure in the ap.
parent form OF q deep cutting into a
NH. IN reality 1t was originally made
out OF natural valley between two
Nils partially closed by knoll at the
sSutnern end. The end was entirely
closed by wall embankment, SO as to
give the appearance just mentioned.
Enough traces Of the ancient seats
ana aisles have been found to- enable
the modern architects to reconstruot
them precisely In their original dimen-
sions. Here and there, as for instance
on the outer boundary of the f3iazome
or main corridor at half height and in
the low patapet bounding the tract, old
stones have been left in place to share
IN the new construction. For the pres
ent the reconstruction will go no hifrher
than the diaaoma. All the seats of the
semicircular end (the speudene) viii
be OF marble. as well as the three lower
tiers along the long sides, SO bounding
the wall Of the arena. The rest will be
OF peros.stone or wood. Like all Greek
stadta this had g straightway track
500 feet long; 600 attic feet equal $50
English feet The entire length of the
arena was $40 English feet Through
phe centre or the arena on its longer
axis ran low barrier separating the
t"o TRACKS, each SUI Greek feet In
length.
At present with only three months re.
naming before the games, it looks as if
the masons were far behindhand with
their work. The marble boundary
walls, one or two tiers Of seats on the
long sides and somewhat less than half
of oil on the semi-circular end are in
pace: The cinder track for the laying
OF which Charles Perry, the ground
man of the London Athletic Club was
brought here five weeks ago, has not
yet been commenced
The GTeele competitors In the interna-
tional games are to be selected at pre-
urinary games called the Panbellinic
games to be held in March 1t Is eS-
pected that these two can be held in
the Stadion, but / fear there will be
some disappointments and some great
Commissions at the end, unless vastly
greater energy and promptitude Is soon
developed than anything that can be
seen now
me ancient Olympian games, which !
constituted the great national festival i
OF Greece, were held once every four
years In July at Olympia In the Pei
eponnesus. over 200 miles from Athens.
Ito ev'om 80 Is. C., when these games were
nrst established on an interstate basis.
down to the time of their discontinu-
ance In 394 A. D., they were regularly
held and the names of the chief viotors |
carefully recorded and kept. At Olym-
pia the only prize that awaited the
victor was n twig from the sacred olive
tree, but at home he was received and
feted as benefactor Of the State.
none but pure-blooded, free born
Greeks were permitted to enter the
competition. and of these only such as |
We're of stainless reputation. Before |
entering the contest the competitors |
We're obliged to take oath before the |
altar of Genus that they had spent ten \
months in training for the games, and |
that they would abide by the rules OF |
the meet, and resort to no unfair trick |
In the contest. The festival continu-
ed throughout the entire course OF |
Greek history the one most competent |
Institutional expression of the Greek |
national sentiment. AS such 1t was |
part and parcel of the religious Worship |
that begat 1t, the cult of Genus. that |
majestic ruler whose throne rested |
upon foundations deeper than the di-
viding lines of States and tribes, and i'm |
the sanction of whose august sway
were dimly revealed above the mIsts Of
particularism and factionalism. the |
solid Olympus OF Hellenic oneness. The
revival of the games is a step toward
the restoration of the Greek natIonal]
BENJAMIN WHEELER
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