The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-27
Am / Right !?
THE present year has been marked by,
an unusual number Of international

"HE present year has been marked by.
an unusual number Of international
athletic and sporting contests be-
tween representatives Of this country and
England. The races for the Americas
cup, naturally, are Of first Importance In
the public mind. The visit of the Oxford
Cambridge lacrosse team on this side,
however, has aroused much interest, and
the Philadelphia cricket team has encoun-
tered a warm reception in England. With
the spirit Of true hospitality the American
lacrosse players have let the Englishmen
win most Of their matches here, while the
British cricketers have been quite as kind
to the Quakers. The International con-
test in tennis later in the, summer will at
tract much attention shere,aand, the Royal
Caledonian curriers' last winter were heart
lily Welcomed By the Americans. g. 5s
It is a singular fact, however, that in
nearly all these International contests,
save those which are peculiarly English,
the Americans have won. And even in
such games as cricket, the Americans
have often held their own, even when the
|SOAICSL WdS i1clu III IIl6 GuS1uy . COu1llIy.s
In track athletics the Americans, while
not always victorious, have made better
showing in England than$the British have
In contests held on this side. The unbro-S
ken succession of victories in the strug-s
gle for the retention of the Americas cup
is another instance. The success Of the,
Philadelphia cricketers has been crafty
ing, and certainly no English team could
have made as good a showing in baseball
Yet cricket is quite as distinctively Eng
lish as baseball is American /;
American crews have failed repeatedly,
it is true, in their efforts to win the honors
at Henley. Considering the disadvantage
under which a crew labors when Compel
ing In strange waters, and especially in
different climate, the Americans have at
least held their own, and it IS doubtful If
either Oxford or Cambridge could make as
good a showing in the regatta at Pough-
keepsie as Americans have done at Hen
ley. a
The remarkable success Of American
jockeys and horse trainers in England is
another item In the list. Considering all
branches Of sport, 1t must be conceded
that the Americans have had the better Of
the argument with their English cousins.
"HESE facts might be explained in a
number Of ways But perhaps the
most plausible reason is that the
American is more teachable, and more
adaptable that the Fnglishman. The Brit
| ish are VIGOROUSLY slow in departing from
established customs. Second rate Ameri-
can boxers who have whipped the best
Great Britain could offer have explained
their success by saying that the English
fought according to the style Of fifty years
ago, and that they obstinately refuse to.
learn any new tricks. The same has been
said Of British Jockeys. ~
| The Americans, not only In sport, but
| in all other lines, are quick to pick up new
ideas. They have no scruples about adopt
ing an adversary's tricks and using them
against him. They show the adaptability
which marks the true cosmopolitan, whilo
England, in spite Of the fact that her en-
pire extends to all parts Of the globe, has
always remained insular This is not true
OF Englishmen in the colonies or in Amer
ica but 1t is true Of those who reside
/ on the island. Thor.