St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-05

parativey new in athletics. He was born in
San Francisco He is the son Of an army
ofhcer, who left the West in 1892 and removed
10 Boston. He won the 45-yard high hurdle
handicap race of the B. A. A., beating
stephen Chase, the worlds champion. While
curtis has not had chance yet to show him
self at his best, those who are familiar with
his work feel confident that he will come
away from Athens with an enviable record.
Manager Graham, of the Boston team. also
TOOK along with him W. w. Hoyt a nronis
ing young athlete, who may have try at
the pole vaulting prizes. He is a Harvard
man. class of '9S, who has made a specialtv
OF pole vaulting. His 10 feet ss4 inches at the
IN, ,nuoor ihterscnoiastic championship Of 1894
is still record for the Boston schools.
From the above records 1t may he seon +b o.
"hlie the American contingent is small there
Is good reason to believe that a considerah hIe
percentage OF the prizes are likely to be can
tured ana brought back by the doughty bows
from this side of the great waters.
Alter the vital questions of location and
the requirement of means for the material
furnishings or this great arena had been set
tied the subject of next greatest imnortanca
"hich came up for consideration was what
sort OF sports should be selected for the com
pettlon schedule. This was matter which
Kept tho committee busy for manv months
AL hrst everybody was for a pure revival of
.io OiJHlpian games, the throwing of the
oiscus, chariot racing and all the rest. But
"hen IL came to be considered that few would
take the time and trouble to study the classics
all over again with the single view of ac-
qulring practical knowledge of obsolete nas
tImes the views of the committees were mod
lned' and 1t was at last agreed that only such
ofecian games as were easily adaptable to
niooern conditions would be introduced This
was all the more reasonable fr6an the fact
that even the Greeks themselves have largely
abandoned the sports of their ancestors.
First on the list of events the committee
placed athletic sports. and first among these.
as oelng the most natural and universal, foot
races. These will be 100 400 SGD and / 900
meters. Then will come thef.IiufdIe race of
llo meters running broad and high iump.
pole vault, putting the shot and the Oldest of
Grcclan games, throwing the discus. The
greatest race will be at the end, the long dis
lance run from Marathon to Athens. The dis
tance between these points is thirty miles
Inls race course is classic, it being the on.
traversed by the jealous messenger who ran
ali the way to Athens to announce the mem
orable victory of Miltiades on Marathon's
bloody plain. The fact, as recorded in history
that this messenger dropped dead from ex
haustion after making his announcement does
not seem to dampen the ardor of the Young
athletes or today, who are eager to comnare
their agility and endurance with that of the
famous runners Of the days of Grecian glory.
The next division of the programme Is do.
nominated gymnastic sports. These consist
OF Individual exhibitions, exhibitions en- the
rings, parallel bars, horse leaping and team
work.
Fenoing and wrestling have place to them