Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-17
Miseellansu,ls Readins.
THROWING THE JAvELIN.

THROWING THE JAvELIN.
Newest Addition to the List of Ath-
; letic Contests.
Throwing the javelin, or lance. Is
the newest addition to the already
long list Of athletic contests. Proper
ly speaking 1t is the revised edition OF
All ancient pastime and was officially
catalogued for modern discussion al
the Olympic games at Athens last
Iyear.
That 1t will rank prominently among
the recognized forms Of modern field
sports there is no reason to doubt
Medical science has stamped 1T with
approval. 1t is said to develop the
thorax and respiratory organs, and for
a. man inclined to pulmonary trouble
there is no better tonic than regular
indulgence in the pastime.
Probably, for these reasons, in olden
times 1t had place on the list of med
ical gymnastics, and it was also rec
commended to men Of plethoric temper
ament and those subject to spells of
vertigo. The action Of the arms and
the body Of propelling the javelln
through the air tends to strengthen
the shoulders and chest, thereby in
ducing the proper amount Of circula-
ton in the region Of the lungs.
Another thing that will help the
sport to become popular is that the
most delicate person can freely indulge
in it without the danger Of strain or
injury so often met with in more vio-
lent practices. The modern javelin Is
about eight feet long. shod with a
steel point, the socket of which is
two feet in length.
| In due course Americans may effec-
lively "hurl their lances in the sun"
and rank with the foremost experts,
but just now Sweden has the lead in
the record department. This is not to
be wondered at, for the game has been
revived in that country for the last ten
years, while only a few contests have
been seen in America
At the Olympic games the Swedes
captured all the honors. E. Lemming
made a worlds best mark with a
throw Of IT'S feet inches; Knut Lind
berg was second, with 148 feet 22-5
inches; B. Soderstrom was third, with
147 feet inches, and M. Mellander
fourth, with 145 feet 3-5 inches.
| Prince George of Greece, governor
general Of the island Of Crete, brought
an expert with him named Anedsakes.
but the Cretan, although showing SCI
entific methods and making a smooth
throw, proved no match for the Morse
men. Neither was Jaervinen, a gigan-
tic Finlander, who was expected to
eclipse all opposition.
| Almost every contestant, and there
were a score, had a different style of
throwing. The Swedish throwers
grasped the Javelin in the middle Of
the shaft and shot It away with a
quick twist of the arm. The Germans,
Greeks, Hungarians and Bohemians
threw much the same way. but the big
Finn exhibited the most original plan.
Balancing the top Of the handle on
the tip Of his index finger he drove
the javelin high into the air. 1t show
ed wonderful muscular power on his
part and was highly spectacular to
watch, but the throw was wanting in
the main desideratum Of the contest
distance.
| Besides being a regular event Of the
Olympiad this feat Of throwing the
javeln formed one Of the five contests
which made up the Pentathlon or all
around championship. In the first re-
vival of the games in 1896 the javelin
was left out because the Hellenic Of
ficials were not sure what class Of
spear to use. Finally they selected one
specimen, and it is supposed to be an
exact reproduction Of the weapons used
in the early days Of Greece.
In ancient times most spears or
darts thrown with the hand were alike,
but there were three exceptionally dis
tinctive. There were the djerid, the
plum and the javelin.
To the Orientals was generally con-
fined the practice Of throwing the
djerid, and for centuries they were re-
nowned as experts in its use. This
djerid was hardwood reed, very slen-
der and about six feet in length.
Unlike the other two, 1t was usually
festooned with tassels. and oftentimes
ornamented with q feather at the top;
the latter attachment to keep 1t from
wabbling in it's flight. Though once an
offensive weapon the djerid is princi-
pally used in the sham fights and
jousts Of the Arabs and Persians.
The game of djerid is played on foot
and on horseback, but the latter way
Is more favored as 1t gives chance for
a display Of equestrian agility. The
game is rather simple. II there are,
say, thirty horsemen, they are evenly
divided into two squads and take op-
posite sides Of the field. Sometimes
they are separated by fence or bar
rier, which Is disliked by the players,
as it prevents the more effective work
with the horses.
After lining up. at a given word
they charge at each other, seemingly
with all the fury Of a real battle. Then
the lances fly thick and fast, the horse
men yelling as they pass and repass.
So dexterous are the Persians at
handling the djerid that they can
swing themselves under their horses
bellies, pick the weapons off the ground
and swing back into the saddle with
out their horses losing a stride. 9th
ers are so quick Of eye that they are
able to catch the djerid Of an opponent
as it flies through the air.
Innumerable marvellous deeds with
the djerid are recorded in Arabia, 1t
being said of the Emir Of Lobeia that
on horseback at full gallop he used to
fling the djerid forward with full force
and catch it before 1t landed. Similar
feats are attributed to the Persians.
They would hold the djerid by their
side in a perpendicular position as they