Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-01

"No professional was allowed to
enter; only amateurs. Contestants
came from Greece, of course, and
from France, Italy, Australia, switz-
erland, Austria, and from America.
"It was gratifying to my pride, of
course, that decisive majority of the
games were won by Americans, chiefly
from the Boston Athletic association
and Princeton university. I sincerely
hope, as trustee of the University of
Pennsylvania, we may be nobly repre-
sented in the next Olympiad. There
were all sorts of games, except eques-
trian. There we're wrestling, boxing,
foot races, leaping, throwing disks,
the latter of which has been from the
beginning peculiarly Greek game.
"The games lasted ten days. Each
day was intensely interesting, not
because the games as athletics were
especially marked by skill or prowess
Il need not have left Philadelphia
for that-but because of the historical
associations, going back nearly 5000
years. Of these ten days, two were
specially memorable. The first was
called Marathon day. You will re-
member that the battle Of Marathon,
fought 400 B. c., was one of the deci.
sive battles Of the world, won the
ever-memorable victory of the army
of Xerxes.
"When the battle was won, foot
man ran from Marathon to Athens to
announce the glorious news, as it was
before the days of telegraph, steam, or
clocks or watches. We do not know
how long it took him. We only know
that the victor, after entering the gates
and proclaiming the result, fell dead.
zone of the contests at Athens this
year was a renewal of the race from
Marathon which is 1S miles northeast
of Athens, over a billy and stony road.
This was the fifth day of the games,
and the poor Greeks, Notwithstanding
they had invited the contests and spent
much money to make them interesting
and successful. had not won a game,
but they were generously enthusiastic
over the success of the Americans.
"On Marathon day at least 10000
spectators were present. AS the time
drew near for the arrival of the winner
every eye was intensely strained to.
ward the entry gate to see who should
come in first. The suspense grew 30
keen that the people even ceased to
whisper. Suddenly there was a boom
of cannon, the soldiers on the outside,
of the arera parted right and left and
the white tunic of Greek appeared
first. never witnessed such scene
of tumultuous excitement even at q
political demonstration. The crown
prince embraced the victor as he
jaunted into the arena. The Greeks
went almost insane from enthusiasm.
"The victor turned out to be peas
ant who had done no professional run
ming and who regarded it as sort of
religious service. Three days before
were spent by him at devotional SER
vices in the Greek church. One gen.
tleman offered him gold watch, and
an Athens barber said he would shave
him and cut his hair during his life
time. The victor will receive cot
tage from the Grecian government.
An Australian was expected to win
the race, but he tainted when about
four miles from Athens.
"The other particularly memora-
orable day to me was the closing day
when the victors appeared in their
national costumes. The herald blew
blast on his trumpet, as in ancient
times, and called out the names of the
victors. As each victor's name was
called, he assembled six steps to the
throne where the king sat.
"The king rose and shook hands
with him and presented him with a
handsome diploma, having inscribed
upon it the words, 'Olympian Games
and a branch of wild olives from the
very groves of Olympia itself. When
all had received awards they marched
around the arena twice, the Greek
peasant at the head, waving his award
of laurel, while 20 military bands
played Greek airs"
Referring to other features of his
trip, DR.. Boardman said: "Our Amer
lean Archaeological school in Athens
is fourishing, and Prof. Wheeler of
Cornell began while I was there the
work of excavating old Corinth, where
it is believed there are many glorious
Greek works of art under the sod.
"The king of Greece, who is son of
the king of Denmark, and brother of
the Princess of Wales, and the queen,
who is Olga of Russia, are very much
respected by the Greeks, but not be-
lovad reoeived very strong inn