The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-07
WON THE HOP, STEP AND JUMP
b. COxNOLLY's SUCCESS AT ATH-
ENs, GREECE.

u,. Friends Here Wired Their Con-
eratuIations-He Represented the
harvard Athletic Association in
the Revival of the Olympic Games.
VIII BE Crowned with n silver
v-reafh-What the Games Used 10
be ana what They Are To-day.
Mr. II. A. Connolly received a cable
gram yesterday from Athens, Greece, an
r,rncing that his brother. Mr. James B.
connolly, had won the hop. step and
,-oo at the revival OF the Olympian
zines. This gives him the worlds rec
anil and restores TO him the title of
,s1npion Of the world Ia that event. The
corsra tulations Of his brother and sew
s-lI of his friends here were cabled to
him Just after the receipt Of the mes
sage.
Mr.. Conn6lly. who is now a student
81 Harvard University. left New York
little over two weeks ago with team
Of athletes from Boston to participate in
the revival Of the Olympian games. He
Vas the only representative of the Har-
ward Athletic Association. There were,
however, ten other Americans who went
over 10 participate in The contest, FIVE
or them being from the Boston Athletic
Association. and five from Princeton Uni
v4rsitv. The winners are to be crowned
with silver wreaths by King George of
Greece.
Mr.. Connolly lived in Savannah for sew
eral years. and his many friends here
will Re glad to learn OF his success IN
an event in which he had to compete
vth athletes from all parts of the world.
He has been acting as special correspond
ent for several American newspapers dur
M his absence. Shortly after his re-
trrn he will probably pay visit TO MS
savannah friends before returning 10 MS
college duties. -
Ile games took place at Olympia, on the
eita of the celebrated Stadium, or race
course made famous by athletic contests
which were instituted in the earliest Pc
ri0l Of Greek history, and were cohJln-
ueI for more than thousand years, uh-
Ill suppressed by the Roman emperor
me reinstitution of these celebrated
games was due to the fact that eXcaVa-
lions. commenced in 1898, under the direc-
ton of King George, the present ruler or
Greece, have unearthed the ancient Sta-
dunn, much Of which was found TO De
in a state of good preservation. II was
an OblOug plateau, some QUO feet long,
surrounded by tiers of seats rising one
above the other, like an amphltheater.
The contests, which were principally trials
of strength and skill, were foot racing,
wrestling. boxing and chariot racing.
In the new games there are no chariots,
but instead, bicycles. Lawn tennis takes
the place of wrestling and boxing. Con-
testants have gone to Greece from most
European countries and from the United
States 1t does not appear that any poets
and orators viii contest Tor prizes IN
emulation of Gorgias, Euripides, Sopho~
cles and AristophaneS, who, more than
two thousand years ago, gained prizes
there; but the reopening Of the celebra-
ton may finally lead to a revival of the
Intellectual contests.
The ancient celebrations were held ev-
cry four years, and it is supposed that
this custom viii be revived. Besides the
King Of Greece, several wealthy citizens
of Athens have subscribed money for the
restoration of the ancient Stadium, whose
marble walls and seats, which mad been
removed to furnish building stone for
other structures, are to be replaced.
Reports from Athens make known thar
entrance to the Stadium is with certain
restrictions, free. All invited foreigners
and distinguished guests are given places
and sections are reserved for members of
trades and professions that have subScrib-
ed toward the support of the games.
There are two great thrones of Pentelic
marble modelled after the chair of the
priest in the Theater of Dionysus. In
these sit the King and Queen of Greece.
Two smaller thrones are for Crown Prince
Constantine and Princess Sophia.
AT the left of the king and queen are
marble chairs for the representatives of
foreign powers, the President of the Cham
Der of Deputies and other important Off
Gals. A seat of honor was also reserved
for George Aberoff, the wealthy Greek of
Alexandria, whose munitcence has rend-
cred possible the rebuilding Of the Stadium.
1T was he who came to the rescue of the
committee with a gift of 100000 francs at
he moment when it found itself almost
reduced to despair for want of funds. The
king himself will crown VictopS with silver
olive wreaths.
The Greeks were worshipers of human
beauty. No people ever paid so much at
tention to the cultivation and development
Of the bodily faculties and the young men
and virgins appeared in public naked with
out scandal. AS a consequence, the Greek
painters and sculptors constantly had be-
fore their eyes the most beautiful spec-
mems of both sexes, and they were able
to execute figures of the human form that
have never been surpassed for beauty.