New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
OLYMPIC GAMES REVIEWER
THE CELEBRATION AS SEEN BY ONE a,
THE JUDGES.

POPULARITY OF THE AMERIcANs-rur r,,..
INFLUENCE-A PERFORMANCE OF ".xr,o
oNE"-ExcAvATIoNs AT coRrNru
Athens, April a.
The Olympic Games that have lust com. >. :.
end have been success In every wav ~
American athletes have left fine impr....N
upon every one. They were quite the h,ro.. :.
the festival, and by their straightforvs,s ~,
manly behavior as we'll as by their a..
achievements have served to strensth..
probably the current Of philo-Amercan,,n 49,.
has been showing itself Enthusiastically n 49,, 80
years
The phllo-Gallism OF tn, court and the dom,.-.
Delyannis Government received a severe a.
through the conduct OF the French in conrs.Y~
with the games. They are popularity bel,@v,A y.
only to have alienated the Germans from ofn..,
participation and to have failed In concilhu,.
English support, but to have sought to mai. -.
whole affair merely a prelude TO the great s,u,.
at Paris during the Exposition OF 1900 In An,
case, Il Is certain that France contributes A..
little toward the success OF the games excen, b,
originating the idea, which eeems TO have been "a
creation OF Baron Conbertin. Very few FrrncA
men participated in the games. almost none IN N.
more important ones which caught the public ma.
tice Their victories were limited TO fencing ts,.
shooting and bicycling.
Most OF the foreign nations represented shov.s
themselves opposed to the idea OF takIns m.
Olympic Games out of Greece. Had II no, been "a,
the insistance OF France, which claimed thar q,
agreement had already been made TO call m.
Paris games Olympic" 1t seems certain th.,
Athens would have remained the permanent hous
OF the International olympic Games The exs.
tence Of the Stadion, the proved ability OF TIA
Greeks properly to administer the games and
their historic rights all combined to enforce hi,
claim. What will finally be decided is not QUIT.
clear, but certain It is that international games
will be held here in 1898 In the four year percds
1900, 1904, etc, International games under some
name Will probably be held In the different cour.
tries supporting them.
Work has already been begun In completing IL
Stadion The seats are 10 be entirely OF stous
those Of the half below the "dazoma" Of maria
For this purpose fresh supplies OF money han
been given BY the generous and patriotic Averof
TO whom we owe the entire restoration thusfr
One OF the features OF the celebration Of the
Olympic Games TO which believe little or no d.
tention has been paid in the newspaper reports Of
the occasion sent to America was the perform
ances OF Sophocless tragedy OF "Antigone." Il
was an occasion of great interest. because 1t vas
the first attempt to perform before O Greek audi
ence the ancient choruses In ancient rhythm For
this purpose music was composed Tor them oy
Greek versed in the history OF Greek music, being
a serious attempt to reproduce the effects and
spirit OF the ancient modes. Inc OLD rhythm rep'
resents, OF course. language suojugated to the
usages and necessities OF music. The time ee-
ment in language l. e.. the quantity OK the cyl
L. Stca1t hnUpVpr and that Ia What
We recognize as cumulative metre But the
modern Greek language has nearly lost me Ola
differences OF quantity. substituting proionea.
ton Of the accented sylables. II rs therefore sig.
nifcant step in advance when the modern Greek
permits O reproduction OF the old metres which v
at such variance with the present uaass Of tAe
spoken language. Without this however, ne
ancient metres must be positively uninssMtosp
him. .
The acting was done entirely by amateurs
mostly university students. and lacked somewhat
In freedom and life. but the total effect was e.
cellent and the various representations were
heard bv full and most enthusiastic audiencea
Attention has lately been called 10 the imp@'
tant concessions made by the Greek Governusn.
10 the authorities Of the American scnoo :!
Athens permitting them 70 excavate the sl.e oI
Ancient Corinth--a field hitherto untouched oy
antiquarians, but promising results OF the srss''
est interest and importance.
The excavations at Corinth are making excei'
lent Roadway The ancient Greek city has oeen
FOUND. as was expected. at great depth below the
present surface, AID some important finds Of 10.
dividual objects hi Ve already been made unu'
a wider area has been laid bare little however
can be determined as 70 what buildings are ~
resented by the lines OF wall discovered The re
sponse 10 the appeal for funds has been generous
bu, II Is evident that the work will have 70 ee
undertaken next year on larger scale tnan 'n, s
and large areas laid bare. We have seen enousu
70 assure that there Is no rcher sou III "'ee''
for exploration than at Corinth.
BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER