The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-12
! HAS A NEW SCHEME.
6A Hope That Manly Sports Will
Take New Life.

Our good friend James Devon is again
before the pubic. There have been few
things out of which any sport is to be
( gotten that he has mot been found mixed
up in. In the old days when the Roa-
( noke boys were wont to go forth to do
battle in the football arena he was there
and his presence had great weight. Then
little later when the public was invited
out to spend Thanksgiving day and drink
\ beer while the cricket match waXed hot
anu the scores went away up into The
hundreds, he was there with his shin pro.
tectors ami all the rest of the..togs. If he
is not one of the leading lights you can
generally find him with the crowd in
some.capacity, even if he has to take his
violin along to let you know that he is
there. He has been quiet for some time
past and we are not surprised to see him
come to the front again. OF ali the manly
sports Mr.. Devon is the most devoted to
OUT of door athletics and he is now en-
gagged in working up a scheme to have
large meet of local and ther athletes here
at some time not very far distant to take
part in what will be called the "Caleao
nian Games.n The programme is not yet
definitely outlined ami will probably not
be for some time, hut there will be high
jumping, running and standing broad
jumping, fiat races, hurdle races, ham
mer throwing, vaulting, pole vaulting,
bicycle racing and fancy bicycle riding
In short the idea simply means u field day
on which the contests will be open to all
persons who may be thought desirable.
Since the unfortunate ending of the
Roanoke Athletic Club, interest in such
things has not been lively. There are
great many men in Roanoke who are wilt
ing and glad to help in all athletic mat.
tiers and it is probable that Mr.. Devon's
idea may lead to the formation of another
association, though to succeed it will
have to be organized on Il broader and
less expensive basis, with more encour-
agement for outdoor exercise The same
argument Will hold here that lis used in
favor of the organization of n bicycle club.
Many people would go in for athletics if
they had any one to go with them. 1t is
some less pleasure to go out and beat
yourself jumping or running than it is to
go scorching or taking trips over the
country alone on your wheel. Why rot
use every effort to make the "Caledonian
Games" n success aud in the meantime
work up a sort of cycle association, which
will look after the interests of it's mem
bers and at the same time strengthen the
bond OF good fellowship that ought to
exist between bicyclists and other ath.
letes? There is not enough of this good
fellowship in Roanoke.
The Office of 4 growler or kicker at all
things and all times is not IL pleasant one
and is as distasteful to the party so un-
fortunately situated us to be always in n
position to grumble as it must inevitably
become to the public. However there are
times when criticism accomplishes n
great eal-especially if expressed in the
right spirit. We have felt called upon of
late to mention different matters concern.
ing which in our capacity us TRAMP" we
hear comment and upon these things and
these things only have we expressed
views. Therefore it must he born in mind
that what we say on such matters Is just
what other people are saying, and he re it
may be said that other people are saying
great deal just now about the lack of
attention of which cur sidewalks bear
evidence. OF course where these walks
extend along vacant lots there is some
excuse, but there is none for the accumu
lation of filth which is allowed to remain
in front of the residences. This may be
seen in all sections of the city and is GER
tainly nuisance that might be abated
1t would certainly seem that peoples in
terest in others and their convenience
would extend at lenst the width of the
sidewalks beyond their front fences. A
very little care on the part of each citizen
would soon accomplish II great deal to-
wards rendering our sidewalks fit to he