The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-27
As our COUSINS SEE u.
of the London Field on tho
social side of American Athletics.

Comments of the London Field on the
social side of American Athletics.
The prosperous balance sheet OF tho New
YORK \. C., submitted at the annual meeting,
has been reviewed with mingled feelings by
the critics Oh The other side Of the water, where
pa'atial clubhouso9 and large revenues are un.
known in the athletic world. There appears TO
be a tingG orcrvy in the comparison between
the London A. G. and New York A. c. con-
tanned in the the following editorial published
IN the LoHdpn Field d Feb. 10:
Hard on the heels Of tho report Of the Lon.
don 4 C.. IN that Of its New York namesake.
Tho contrast between the two documents il
remarkable. and a clear indication Is given OF
the wIdo difference that exists between the
style and scope Of athletic clubs in the two
countrics-the natural evolution Of the de-
mands Of the two races. The London A. c.,
the first athletic club of this country. mum bers
barelythree hundred members ailtold the New
YORK A C., which recently increased its mem
bership by a triie Of Ave hundred, had a roll of
3,GtS at the close o. the year The modest
balance sheet o. the London A..C deals with
total under I'll loo: he figures At the foot OF the
treasurer's statement Of the New York club
denote more. than hall a million dollars,
the INCOME from subscriptions bajn1 iust
under Sli3.OU. Tho explanation, Of course. 4,
that Institutions like thai. OF which every Large
town IN the United States has one or more
representatives .partake much more OF the
nature Of social clubs than their qualifying title
SUGGESTS. The aggregation of retired athletes
becomes greater each year in the natural order
o. thlngs. but the bulk Of the membership il
stu drawn from the class which does not
practise athletics. although very willing to de-
vote, some OF Its. superfiuous Income to the
itItherance of athletic pursuits on tho part Of
It's more agile members.
without, cavllling at. an arrangement that
appears to be well suited TO the country of its
adoption, from an English point Of view the
athletic section. OF those great institutions ap-
pears IN me lGht, Of 40 ARRANGE. That Is b.
it's athletics. In the two page report before
", Just SIX lines are DEVOTED to the doings OF
the athletic department. OF tho club, although
~ those hall dozen In es the statement appears
that tho primary object for which this club
was founded Is athletics IL IL added that
like manner and how this admonition ia car.
ried on, IA made clear from the balance sheet.
where We ind the item Athletic Depart.
mont. net expense, s23.83s.5l'-nearIy four
tines the total income Of the London
Athletlc Gun. The athletic member Is by no
towh clubhouse. but is accommodated at the
hthIetc. quarters at Trnvcrs Island, where
eN"rVthing is done to improve what natural
hthletlc ablllty no may have. as many a eleven
2,iuctors WIN aggTegnt" salaries OF $4,000
n'ing Employed on hts behalf Tho stranger
II he be a cnrablo athlete. The expenditures is
rot o,nothing,io r we read that. ia lS,shthe New
YORK \. Z. wOG no fewer tlInn sixteen national
championships, eleven Metropolitan champion-
a,hilns. AMI twelve Canadian championships.
n" trust system almost seems to have entered
good 10 have all the ability pooled In one club
u one Tor Americans hem az yCs ~ answer"