The Washington herald., 1908-07-19

London. July 1s-The first week OF the
Olympic games has ended. the chief de-
velopments Of which were the breaking
OF seven Olympic records and the stir
ring up OF one OF the worst athletic
muses. imaginable.
Having lost nearly every athletic honor
on the calendar 20 the Yankees within the
last decade. it looks as though the Brit
ishers have framed Up this olympic con-
test with the determination OF regaining
some OF the lost prestige. even if they
had TO use a ssndbag ard skeleton key.
Briefly stated, the British viewpoint IS
that a contest IN fancy shoe-lacing should
count for as much as the shot-put. and
exercise IN Delssrte for as much as a 100
meter dash IN determining Olympic ath-
Ietic supremacy.
Archery contests. fancy diving and
racquets are all right provided there is
not anything else. but the hundreds Of
athietec who have gathered here from all
over the world brought their athletic toys
along and forgot their teagowns. They
sre asking; What's the use7--
Yankees Just Laugh.
When the Yankees first tackled the
brace game they were as hu1y as q lot
OF English suTragettes but the more they
think OF it the more the humor Of the
situation appeals to them and their char
acteristic good nature has returned to
night
Let EN- figure up the points anyway
they want to- said one OF the prominent
athletes from the United States. Wen
win the big events. and that's all We came
over here for Wen give them the molly
cOddIe championship and take the ath-
ietic championship ourselves"
Hereafter, however. the Yankee ath-
Ietes will resent the imputation that our
cousins" are spOrtsmen.
The richest thing Of the week was the
tug-of-war. in which a bunch Of arraor-
shod London Boobies outpulIed the
United States team. The Londoners' feet
weighed about twenty stone each. incased
IN boots so big they had TO be put on by
block and tackle. and when once an
chored and spiked to the ground they
could have held in check a stampede Of
Montana steers.
The exercise Of lung power by the United
States contingent has been q distinct
shock 10 the English spectators and
contestants. Just because Martin Sheri-
le4A A-A4Alru TIE 1lStlS ldEAlltE ED6l any
other man on the grounds. why should a
group Of his friends let out roar OF ap-
plause, jump into the air pound each
other on the backs. and tear I'D their
hats The English can't see IL at all
Sheridan star.
Sheridan's work in the two discus events
has been the most impressive performance
OF the contest. The Englishmen were al
most ready to cheer him when he won
to-day. but they Strengthened out their
dignity in time. and instead Of joining in
the applause set about 20 find an excuse.
Il vas charged to-day that the Ca
madam and Australian sthIetes have been
aiding the British athletes by acting as
pacemakers for them in the speed con-
tests. with no thought Of winning them
selves the Colonial entrants are accused
Of entering some OF the events simply
to aid their British brother runners.
The first real crowd OF the week came
out this afternoon. nearly 5000 OF the
seats being filed Queen Alexandra was
an unexpected visitor. and thousands Of
persons fOcked TO the Stadium when Il
was learned that she was present.
The United States athletes and SPEC
tators eheered the Queen repeatedly. and
she bowed her acknowledgement toward
their section IN response 10 their tearty
greeting.