Evening star., 1900-08-09
INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES.
A. q. SDaldinE Talks About Recent
Meets in England and France.

A. G. Spalding director of athletic sports
a the Paris exposition. when asked in Paris
a few days ago about the recent interna-
tionai athletic meet at Paris. said:
81 was more than pleased with the snow
ing made by the american champions as
evidenced by the number of championships
and prizes won by them in the recent inter-
national athletic games. which more than
fulflls the claims made that the Americans
would take the major portion of the world S
championships. Out of the thirteen Eng
lish championships in London July our
American athletes won eight: out of the
twentyfour scratch and championship con-
tests in Paris. America won seventeen.
England won four. Hungary won one
Scandinavia won one and France won one
The Americans established eighteen new
French records and two new worlds rec
ords. all of which demonstrates the athletic
supremacy of the United States.
In relation to the management of the
games, it is good in a way, providing you
know the language and customs OF the
country. A little incident will show just
how it affected our boys. Apparently the
French have rule that the clerk of the
course shall call the name three times be-
fore the contest begins; II you do not re-
spond you are counted out. Several Prince
ton pole vaulters and Orton Holman anu
DVorack of Michigan We're lying under a
tree watching the racers. and not being
able to understand French failed to respond
to the call of their names. and when they
appeared for the pole vault, Just after the
first vault. they were not allowed to COM
pete. thuS causing some unpleasant talk
and lots of argument, in which vigorous
French and American adjectiveS were Deau-
tfully mixed up. Another incilent will
illustrate: When the prizes We're given out
by the French officials, M. Tysoe Of Eng
land was called by the F'renchman as
Monsieur Ti-so-a.' and it was not until
an Interpreter called for Mr.. Tysoe that the
latter appeared. John Flanagan was also
a victim OF the French pronunciation He
was called Monsieur Flan-i-gaw' and since
the meeting the American champion ham
mer thrower Is known among his Paris as
sociates 'Flan-i-gaw'
THE grounds where the chamnjonsbins
We're held were those of the Racing Clu,.
IN the Bois de Boulogne. They are pre,Cy
grounds. indeed. but not laid out as are our
grounds in America. for the purpose of ac-
commodating thousands of people 1t is
"hat We would call a country club The
track is of grass. and that to a certain ey
tent handicapped our boys The Jumping
places were fairly good and for the broaS
jump they have more of an incline toward
the take-on than We have in America The
boxes for the discus and hammer were
good. the earth being packed solid. and in
some respects 1t was superior to the aver
age American grounds from which cur
boys are called upon to throw
Il nave had some correspondence with
baron de Coubertin. who represents the
international committee on Olympian
games. He Is heartily in favor of America
having this meeting in 1904. and upon INV
return to New York | will call together
those interested in athletics and see If
something cannot be done whereby we can
extend an invitation to foreigners To he
with us in that year"