New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-03
GAMES At ROME.
Success of Those To Be Held IN
1908 already Assured.

Paris March II.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin. president OF the
International Olympic Games the American
delegates to which are Professor William NJ.
Sloane and James H. Hyde. with his character
istic enthusiasm and energy, is making the pre-
liminary arrangements for the Fourth Olympiad,
which will take place in Rome in 1908. During his
stay in Rome last week Baron Pierre de COuber-
tin was received by the King and Queen of Italy,
who both take keen interest in the success OF
the Olympic games, and the effective co-opera-
ton of the Italian government is now assured
as is also that of the Municipal Council of Rome,
which will have charge of the games. and IS
determined to make the Fourth Olympiad sur
pass anything Of the kind yet accomplished
Among the features will be literary ana
artistic tournaments. Five contests will be
opened for the best works in sculpture, paint
ing, architecture, literature and music inspired
by athIettcism Queen Helena has expressed her
willingness to assume the patronage Of the
women's section Of the Fourth Olympiad, and
her two daughters, the bright and athletic little
prncesses Yolands and Mafalda. who in 1908
will be respectively seven and six years Of age.
will take part in the contests in company with
some twenty or thirty little girls Of the capital.
Plus X accorded to Baron Pierre de COubertin
a private audience and cOnversed with him at
length about the Olympian games. and said that
the Church throughout the world ought to take
eager interest in athletic culture. and help in
promoting physical progress among the boys
and girls Of the rising generation. The Pope
expressed the opinion that healthful open air
sport was the surest means Of compromising for
the ever increasing strenuous mental work re-
quired of all-women as well as men-whO take
an intelligent share in the everyday tasks OF
contemporary civilization. Plus x believes that
there Is a certain correlation between broad
chests and broad minds. Himself a man Of
robust physique and hardy temperament, he
puts his faith in exercise and oxygen. and con-
siders a few moments Of brisk muscular action
with elastic straps dumbbells the best
preparation and incentive for concentrated brain
work.
The Pope dwelt upon the significance Of the
favor now bestowed by the Church upon athletic
sports which is the more interesting because it
was originally the Church's influence that in
terfered with the sports Of old, and it was the
Church that urged the Emperor Theodore to
stop the Olympic games. Plus has thus in
stituted a new era in regard to physical culture,
and the Importance of this step will soon be
felt throughout the Roman Catholic world, espe-
cially in the schools. seminaries and universe
ties under Roman Catholic auspices. Baron
Pierre de Coubertin is highly pleased with the
results Of his visit to Rome, and feels confident
that the Fourth Olympiad viii be on a larger and
more imposing scale than any of the Olympian
festivities suppressed in the eighth century by
Justinian, and revived by Baron de COubertin
at Athens in the spring Of 1896. in connection
with the Greek patriotic society. the Ethnike
Hetoeria The Fourth Oiympiad is now assured
OF the enthusiastic support Of the Quirinal as
well as Of the Vatican, Of the Blacks" and OF
the Whites" of the italian government, Of
the municipality Of Rome. and Of all the young
folks Of both sexes Of the Eternal City.
GLIB.