The state herald., 1908-07-03

One Of the greatest contests in the
history Of sport will mark the Franco
British exposition in London this
summer, when the Olympian games,
which have been growing feature
each succeeding year since their re-
vival, will be held. Thousands and
thousands Of lovers of track and field
athletics will crowd this immense
arena. the largest in the world. 1t is
expected that the tiers upon tiers of
solid concrete seats able to accom-
modate $4,000 people will be filed.
that $4,000 more will fill the available
standing room. while down on the
cinder path the greatest runners and
athletes of the world will strain
every muscle and sinew to win glory
and honor. and II is confidently eN.
pected that American contestants will
give good accounting of themselves
and will be able to carry of their
Share of the prizes.
That this country has every reason
TO expect great things of her athletes
one has only to consider the list of
men who have been selected to enter
the contests. 1t is without any doubt
the best and largest body of athletes
ever sent out by any country to cap
ture the championship of the world.
The success OF the American team at
Athens two years ago surprised even
Its most ardent supporters. The vic.
. tory was clean cut and decisive. That
Al.
could produce. A new system OF Sc.
lecting men has been tried this year,
and the Stars and Stripes will be car
ried by the cream OF this country's
athletes.
There never was n time when Amer.
lea could boast OF such athletes as
she has at present Now almost every
one. from the primary schoolboy to
the college senior. is interested In ath.
lotics. and consequently rapid strides
have been made In running, jumping
and weight throwing.
Everything will favor the English
athletes. They will be on their own
soil. climatic conditions will be In
their favor and they will escape long
and possibly rough ocean voyage and
n week In which training will be car.
ried on under great disadvantages.
The Americans must meet and over
come all these handicaps.
VIII America win the olympic cham.
pionshipg Nearly every one who has
followed track and field athletics at
all closely In this country will reply
In the affirmative and Immediately ask
Who can beat us7" More than sey.
enty.fye men will compose the Amer.
lean team. They will come from all
parts OF tho country-north. south.
east and west Nearly n dozen nation.
allties will bo represented. an Indian
from the government school. a Greek.
Germans. plenty OF Irish. Swcdc.
some French and Italian descendants
and n negro. The majority OF the
team will be natlyo'born Americans.
Americas greatest athletes seem 20
he OF Irish descent, and a glance Mt
tho names OF the members will prove
this. Hero are a few Of them: Flan.
ngan. Sheridan. McGrath. o'connoll.
Morrihsey and Hayes. And nearly all
OF these will be point winners,
At the head Of the team will bc the
creates, physical trainer In this coun.
try, II not the world. Mike" Murphy.
who now handles the athletes Of the
University Of Pennsylvania. lie has
spent n lifetime In this work. and II n
wizard In developing and determining
the ability Of runner or jumper
Mike" ms ho II known. will have a
big Job attending TO fb hiEh.s,rung
humrn thoroushbrodn. but thor. In no
man more capable Of sending them to
the mark In tho pink OF condition than
he.
Many Of tho members of tho team
arc college men. both students and
graduates, Some OF tho universities
and colleges which will be represented
nr. Pennsylvania. Yale. Princeton.
Harvard. Cornell. Dartmouth, Miohi
gan, Leland Stanford. Chicago. illl
noia. virginia and Bwafthmore. Some
OF the college athletes have Just com.
pic,ed their freshman year. while 9th
era are graduates OF six years stand
Ing.
Every man on the team Ia an anna.
,euf with not the slightest taint OF
professionalism. In selecting the men