The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-20

fellows were looking for all they could get as well as the English. We entered as individuals, not as a team. So we had no kick coming when we were drawn in heats against each other. But we kicked at 1t and accused the English Of unfair dealing. Then, when we were ac- cused of teaming against Halswelle in the 400-meter race we were quick to claim that We entered as individuals, not as team You see, one claim vitiates the other.
 "Unquestionably the English officials lost their heads in the 400-meter race. They had no right to break the tape on an alleged foul. They had no right to declare 1t no race because Carpenter might have fouled Halswelle. What Car penter did affected Robbins, who ran sec ond, not at all. If the referee had reg ularly heard the case. or seen the foul, and disqualified Carpenter and placed Robbins first, we would not kick. Such proceeding would be legal even if wrong. But no court on earth would af- firm decision which took second place from Robbins because Carpenter fouled Halswelle. This decision has been made before, and always reversed by higher authority in athletics. If Robbins brought suit for second prize Qf there was any second prize) I'll wager the English courts would award it to him.
 SoPdpiCs
 ''So in making this absurd decision the Englishmen acted without legal or other warrant. It would be legal to disqualify Carpenter, but it was not legal to declare 1t no race and take second honors away from Robbins. This is the weak point in the British decision. It cannot be ex- cused.
 Upon the whole, find the Englshmen all right. We beat them at athletics be- f5p af afh In at work while they go at it as they do at afternoon tea, in a lazy, lackadaisical, careless sort of way They take things easy and loaf and laze and dawdle, while we get in and bustle
 "They are poorly developed. Their boys mostly all take part in some sort of ath- letics, and they are at home in them. They do things naturally and prettily, but not extraordinarily well. They have no idea of hard training They are better oarsmen than we are, because they have the best rowing water in the world and are always at the sport, It suits their country and their temperament, whereas it suits neither our temperament nor our country. But I see the Belgians have taken their crack crew again this yeah
 Must Accept Their Customs.
 ''It is a nice country and the man who is civil and mannerly can get along there finely. He must not try to impose his habits and likes or methods or customs on them, but he must accept theirs Which, I think. the wisdom of all ages says you should do. There is no hard feeling against Americans, but if an American goes there boasting and brag- ging and looking for trouble he'll get it. I have seen some Americans who were very overbearing in England and who were always making odious comparisons.
 "If an Englishman were to speak dis paragingly of my country should deem him very ill-bred man, and should re- sent his remarks. If I spoke disparaging- ly of his country I should expect that he would resent it, too, and think me very ill-bred also. So I do not speak disparag- ingly of England or Englishmen and | expect that they will not speak of my country and my people save with the same regard and respect with which I speak of them. Therefore, I get along famously and am quite happy at Oxford"