The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-06-27
INTERNATIONAL SPORT.

What appears TO be fair and unpreju-
diced view Of the relative merits OF En-
glish and American athletics is contained
In the latest number OF Cosmopolis, a
quarterly review published in London. in
the form OF an article by Theodore An
drea Cook on English and American
Sports" II is interesting at this time
to note some Of the authors conclusions,
especially in view OF the fact that move
ment has Of late been setting in 10 secure
better comparative tests % international
rrowess along eertSin lines, Foot bah
and rowing form the burden Of the In
quiry. The former spor' IL Is pointed
out, is upieally English. but It has been
adopted by American athletes with such
Z vigor and ingenuity that today the Ameri-
can game is the more scientific. Mr.. Cook
admits that there has been much mere
done here within Few years than has
been ACCOMPLISHED in several decades in
England in the development Of the game.
through the invention Of systems and
signals and largely because of { persistent
tendency to crowd the laws OF the game.
As fast as r-It.s have been rdor;,d TO
prevent. certain conditions, the auther
writes. ths American players have evolved
some new combinations to overcome the
legal obstacles. And so the game has
progressed toward ineness Of scientific
development pntL the general conclusion
is reached that the America nplayers are
more skullful at football than are It's orig
inal patrons. BE attributes tnis to one
broad difference in temperament The
Erglishman. he urges. plays the game for
the love OF the gam. itself. while the
American plays for the victory. taking
the game far mora seriously. He re-
fuses to incur the slightest possibility of
being defeated before the eyes OF an his
friends and relatives" This tendency. MIR
Cook believes. points % a deterioration
OF the best qualities II to)t bail II eer-
tainly goes somewhat y disproys The ac-
eepted belief tha. que Of the mos, dom
inant traits OF the British character Is
persistent striving for goal n all lines Of
life. private or public
The author critieises the American style
Of rowing and believes that the crews
from this side viii never Be able 10 com
pete successfully with EasIish oarsnen
until they have learae-I 10 regard their
arms as mere cOnnec-ias rUds h,,ween
their bodies and their OARS the English
style Is less nervous. more solid alr.
Cook thinks that the race between Yale
and Leander last July. in which Yale was
beaten. clearly showed that on other than
a half-mile course and without a So.d
lead the American boa; cannot hold Up
against well-trained English erew He
believes that there has not yet been time to
develop great athletes here. and especially
a surely winning crew. TO -his exception
viii surely Be taken here The usrveus
life Of Americans hs feels u b. a haud-
icap on the efforts OF trainers On This ssss
Of the water. This some =l=m=at, a5E-
ever. he urges as the reason Why Auzer-
leans have established most Of the recc-Es
for field track sports. and especially th=
short runs. America is pretty wen sad IT,
ned with her athletic record, whatever
The analytical speculations Of English
critics may be. and those shortcomings /
that are confessed are probably more than
balanced by the possession OF base bah
as national sport. which, TO the Amerl-
can temperament at least, is as far supc-
rior TO cricket as the American pie Is to
The English tart"