The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-25

marble, though the great expense nec-
sssary to such vast undertaking, rem
ders the fulfilment of. this promise ex-
tremely doubtful.
This revival Of the Olympic games was
arranged for at the meeting of the In
ternational Congress of Athletics held
in Paris in 1894, the object of the con-
gress being. as stated in its report upon
the subject, ito preserve in athleticsthe
noble and chivalrous character that dis
tinguished them in the past, in order
that they may continue effectively to
play in the education of modern nations
the admirable role attributed to them
by the ancient Greeks" This is GER
tainly laudable object and il carried
out as hoped for by its projectors. will
do much to redeem modern athletics
from the disgrace into which it has fal.
len through brutal boxers and ruffianly
prize fighters.
In reality, however, this so-called re-
vival Of the Olympic games is not such
revival as the scholars and antiquarian
would have preferred. The great Olym-
pic festival and games, the greatest of
all Greece, we're not celebrated at Ath-
ems but at Olympia in Ellis on the banks
OF the Alpheus. 1t was here that the
great national temple to the Olympian
Zeus was erected, and in this temple was
the masterpiece of Phidias, the gold and
ivory statue of Zeus. one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world. But the
once renowned stadium OF Olympia, ex-
cept at one end, is now buried from ten
to twenty feet under the silt of the AL
pheus, and Olympia itself is but desert.
The games could not be held here,
therefore, nor for similar reasons at the
seats Of the other famous nation games
at Delphi. Nemea and Isthmia. The
City Of the Violet Crown. now having a
population of about 100000, could alone
entertain the great crowds the Olympic
games are expected to draw from all
parts Of the world. In still another res.
pect is there departure from the Olym.
pic games, for whereas the latter occur
red in August. the greater heat at that
time affording another test of endur-
ance. their modern revival is held in the
month of April, the most charming
month Of the year in Greece.
One of the events of the games of
most interest to students of the heroic
day Of Greece was the foot.race from
Marathon to Athens, a distance of about
twenty eight miles, in commemoration
Of the run of Eucles from the battle field
OF Marathon to Athens, B. G. 400, an
nouncing the victory Of the Athenians
in one Of the decisive battles of history.
1t will be remembered that in the an
cient Olympic games the oldest contest
and the one held in highest honor was
the foot-race. To the winner in this
contest alone was accorded the signal
honor of having the Olympiad in which
he was victor named after him, the Elean
Coroebus being the victor in the first
Olympic games, at which date Grecian
chronology begins.
The only reward conferred upon the
victors was the simple olive wreath, cut
with golden sickle from the sacred
grove Of the Altis, and after the games
libations were made to the heroes and
the victors were banqueted in the pry.
taneum. The victors were also honored
with statue in the sacred grove, ever
thereafter accorded the first seats at all
public entertainments and maintained
at the expense Of the public Of their own
citiesand provinces. The Olympic crown
was. in fact, the highest honor to which
the ancient Greek could aspire. and the
influence of these games upon the gen.
eral life OF the Greek people cannot cas-
lily be over -estimated.-