Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-15
THE OLYMPIC GAMES.
That They Will be Held at
Buffalo in 1901.

mittee, composed of Mr.. Caspar Whit
rey, Mr.. ]. Z. Sullivan and Mr.. Frank
b. Ellis, who have been in Paris en-
gagged in obtaining the authorization
of the holding Of the Olympic games at
Buffalo in 1901, has succeeded in its
work, and that the games will be
officially authorized. 1t is also an
nounced that the games will be under
the jurisdiction of the Amateur Atm
letic Union, and will be held at the
stadium to be erected at the Pan
American exhibition, writes James Il.
Connolly in the Boston Transcript.
Those who heard of the conduct of
the Olympic games at Paris this year,
Olympic games, so called, may have a
thought that the prospect is not so
very alluring, but the mistakes of
Paris are to be avoided here, or so it
is hoped Rather will the beautiful
festival that Greece threw open to the
world four years ago be the standard
OF attainment.
To those who We're not at Athens
during that glowing week in April,
1896, or who did not closely follow the
progress of events at the time, it may
be said that then and there was the
first modern Olympiad instituted. That
meeting of nations was brought about
through the eXertionS of an interna-
tionaI committee with Baron Couber-
tin of France at its head. Such an oc-
casion, with its flood of color and his
toric suggestion, may be beyond the
reach of this young and very pracu-
cal land, but something with just
Whit of the romance of it, with the
framework just as solid, even though
the decorations may be less enchant
ing, something of that indefinite but
promising kind-who can tell?
The celebration at Athens is without
parallel in the history of modern ath-
letics. No expense was spared. and
that by a people who have not full
cent to our whole dollar. One man alone
gave a quarter of million dollars
toward the construction of a stadium.
The stadium was built on the site
Of the old one at Athens. The plan Of
the old place was followed as far as
practicable. In digging for a founda-
ton the workmen unearthed parts of
the old structure, which here had lain
buried, with all its haunting memories.
for fifteen truly mournful centuries.
For months before these games the
newspapers and orators of Greece
were stimulating the people of the
country to a proper appreciation of the
thing The people We're easily zen
thused" With the rehearsals of the
stirring tales of the days of old they
fired up. An enthusiastic interest was
shown for everything Olympic. 1t
seemed as if the spirit of ancient
hol N lifa a oaip
Every vigorous young man was
urged to train for the contests. But
little pressure was needed to start
many of them. In the fields, in the
evenings, on Sundays and holidays,
the young men and boys were every
where seen practising assiduously the
running, leaping and discus exercises
that up to this time had been little
more than misty tradition to the popu-
lace.
With the approach of the date OF the
inauguration of the festival, all of
Greece that could possibly find time
and money prepared to journey to
Athens. Athletes from the world over
were to be present and marvellous
things were to be enacted again. Those
native athletes who had shown pro-
Iclency III the tTldlS were dpplduuth
and acclaimed, and prayers sent up for
their success. To them was the honor
Of striving for the ancient race against
the universal.
April was the day set for the open
ing of the first modern Olympiad.
That was the anniversary Of her dec
laration Of independence, and this par
ticular year it happened to be Easter
Sunday. The day was symbolic.
On that day the classic city was a
bewitchng sight. 1t was was soft,
sunlit. blue-arched morn to which the
people awoke. and the city had gather
ed to itself all the vividness Of Greece
She was ablaze with color and riotins
with life. Her people came out gem
orally and in their native dress.
Particularly did the people from out
side the city-the shepherds. the vine
growers, the hunters of the hills
crowd the streets in their picturesque
best Through the streets they famed
in their long. tight pantaloons. puffed,
friled white shirt of cambria or linen
white as snow, the colored fustian
coat of red or blue or glossy velvet
black, made known to US here in
opera; the little red fez and the red
slippers with the ornamental tuft on
the turned-up toes and the great wal
let slung in front, the wallet of many
compartments, roomy enough to hold
several days rations of bread and
dried meats and the copper money for
the whole celebration.
When the foreign athletes arrived
they We're escorted from the station to
the chamber of deputies, where the
officials made them welcome and drank
toasts to their everlasting health. Then
they We're put in carriages, preceded
by three bands, and drawn through
the streets while the cheering people
lined the curbs the balconies and the
house-tops. The air was saturated
with martial music.
Next morning all the soldiers and all
the bands and orchestras of Greece
and there We're a few-marched by be-
meath the windows of the hotel where
in reposed the distinguished visitors
Later in the morning, when they
walked about the streets, every man
woman and child, seemingly, gave
them a smile of greeting, and not
few hoped they felt reposed after their
long voyage. In the afternoon when