Evening star., 1905-07-30

one way or other by 100000 athletes OF
all kinds.
Modern athletic began with the Rugby
School cricket run in 1897. Twelve years
later the Royal Military College of Eng
land instituted games, and the organiza-
ton of the Athletic Club of Exeter Col
lege followed in 1880 1t was not until
1875 that colleges in England took up ath-
letic sports. Oxford University at this time
the pioneer figure in athletics in Eng
land, and through the stimulus received
from the colleges and athletic clubs there
sprang into existence many clubs of all
types. The reason many of these clubs
formed is the fact that there was reac-
ton on Puritansm and public sentiment
aroused that the people began to
think that he who cultivated the moral
mental and physical body was the perfect
man. The Crimean war played large part
In the revival of athletics. Trained bands
of men We're formed in open air to perfect
their bodies to be ready for immediate serv-
ice of the government should occasion pre-
sent itself. This fact gave new stimulus
to the English people, and not many years
elapsed before the Mincing Lane Athletic
Club was formed in 1853, which afterward
became the London Athletic Club, known
the world over. Following this, March o.
1864, was held the first meet of the inter-
university sports, now known the OK
ford and Cambridge games. The first ANA
teur championship meet in England was
held on March 23 1863. The same year OF
the interuniverSty meet in 1864 gave birth
to the Amateur Athletic Club, Englands
first club devoted to amateurs. This was
followed by the Amateur Athletic Union,
which owes its existence to a dispute be-
tween the university and non-univerSity ele-
ment over the time when the championships
should be held the struggle for pure ath-
letics being worse in England than in this
country.
Thirty-sX years ago organized athletic
associations were unknown in this country
The history of athletic clubs really dates
back to 1893 which is the earliest history
of boating. No such thing as recognized
sports was in existence in those days; the
training of men was unknown and the races
were impromptu in nature. 1t was not un-
til 1859 that any attempt at physical prep
aration was made for the crews. The Yale
Boat Club was formed in 1S43 with the dis
tinction of being the first club in America.
In the following year-1S44-Harvardf form
ed boat club, and in 1852 met Yale and
defeated her in the first race. Outside of
the colleges the earliest boating was done
by the Atalanta Boat Club of New York
city, organized in 1S4S, which exists at the
present day. The coasts, rivers and great
lakes were strewn with boat clubs, and even
at this early date rowing was the most at
tractive type of athletic sport
The organization of athletic clubs proper
dates back to 1860 when in the month of
March, the Olympic Club of San Francisco,
Cal, organized. 1t is supposed that
there were some Caledonian and other clubs
in existence before this, but they did not
give any athletic sports of an organized
character.
o. 1t was not until June II. 1866, that an
attempt made to form an athletic club
similar to those in England. On that date
the late. Father BIZ Curtis and Harry