The times., 1899-07-17
ANeLo-sAxoN ATHLETICS.
Interest in the YaIe-Harvnrd and
Oxford-Cambridge Contests.

Cambridge Contests.
New York, July 16.-The unique contest
between the athletes of Yale and Harvard
be held in London on July %, is at present
almost the sole topic of conversation
among admirers of track and field sport on
both sides of the water. Perhaps there
was never a match arranged which has
given rise to so many different opinions.
This applies as much to the general char
acter of the contest as to the predictions
regarding the winners of the several
events.
The general feeling is one of satisfaction.
II is felt that although Yale and Harvard
cannot by any means pretend TO have the
flower of American intercollegiate cracks
as their representatives this year, the past
record Of the two universities. entities
them 10 the distinction of competing in
an International meeting with oxford and
Cambridge. In a general way the circum-
stances under which the meeting will be
held are favorable TO the Englishmen, but
the venture is perhaps looked on with
more favor by sportsmen in this country
for that very reason. II is just one of those
fights against odds tnat Americans delight
TO engage in. 1t is q matter OF athletic
history that the greater the odds against
them the greater the probability of an
American victory. When the London Ath-
letic Club team visited this country in
1895 preliminary calculations were in favor
of an-orer~tteinrirg- victory for the Britt
ish aggregation. of star athletes, but the
result was a sweeping American success,
2 he prftf fGba 70 s1ad MI, l.,
one OF the eleven events on the card.
The principal point in favor of the Eng
| lish universities is that the games Will
be held on the Queens Club Grounds
London, where for years the annual inter-
varsity athletic meetings have taken place
The Importance of a team competing on
home grounds cannot be overes timated. In
1894. when Yale tackled Oxford on the
Queens Club Grounds, the Oxonians were
successful, as many OF the Americans fail
ed 10 perform as well as they did in Ameri-
ca. The following year Cambridge met
Yale on Manhattan Field and suffered de-
feat, so that, including the London A. c.
New York A. c. match, all international
contests of this character have been woI
by the home teams.
In racing experience, another important
factor when men of equal ability other
wise are pitted against each other, the
Englishmen have a decided advantage ovel
the representatives OF Yale and Harvard
Nearly all the men who will wear the ligh
| blue of Cambridge or the dark blue of Ok.
ford are veterans Of the cinder path, witt
judgment ripened by many races in col
| lego and open athletic games. In ever!
| event on the programme the Britisher!
will be represented by at least one mar
who has competed In two oxford Cam
bridge meets.
On the other hand, nearly all of III.
| Americans are comparative novices, aD(
| many Of them are freshmen who have
not shown prominently in races until thi
| spring. To offset the better judgment pre-
sumably possessed by their opponents. Yal
| and Harvard viii have to depend on III
| chance of Improvement. which ls, of cSHfsf
| more likely TO occur with young athlete
than with men who have been Ga th
path for several yearg n reports ff9H
| the training quarters are true, fhe expect
ed development has already nnteriHtize
in some OF the athletes who showed 0pi
moderate form at the inter -oolleRint
games. The recent date on which Inter
collegiate championships were held II ais
in favor of the visiting team. The OK
ford-CambTidge meet. which practically IN
cluded the seasons career Of varsity ath
letes on the other side, took place on tn
last Saturday in March. Since then IN
cracks OF both colleges have been out {
competition, and have had to commenc
a new course Of training for the inter
national meet.
The Yale and Harvard joint committe
intend 10 provide, as far as possible
against accidents to the team, or indispos
ton caused by the journey across th
ocean or the English climate. Twenty
two men have been taken along, althoug
only twenty will be allowed TO compel
In the games. The number of men /
reserve is greater than it appears to |
at the first glance, as any man entere
will be allowed 10 compete In any ever
} on the programme. Should any of the rur
ners not be fit on the day it will be eas
10 fill their places, as many OF the men G
the team are all-around athletes who ca
} perform creditably at any distance fro
! 100 yards to half mile.