The Washington herald., 1908-07-05


York to the Mayor Of Chicago.
The carriers will be about two
thousand American boys. rang
ing in ages from fifteen 10 seven
teen years OLD. During the week Of July
10 not a minute. night or day, will pass
that some lad will not be speeding across
the country carrying this message. at an
average speed according to the appear
ance OF present tests) Of On. 3Ss. half
mile.
The idea Of organizing a cross country
race against time for so great n distance
originated with NJ. {. Crackel, superin-
tendent Of the West Side Boys Branch
Of the Y VI. c. A. in Cleveland, Ohio.
While attempting 10 arrange a cross
country run for his own local organiza-
tion from Cleveland to Cincinnati he dis
covered in the contesting spurts Of the
boys such universal speed and endur-
ance that il occurred TO him that other
branches OF the Y. NJ. c. \. would be
able to do as well as his boys. He wrote
20 a. y. jameson, secretary Of the Boys
Working Department Of the Twenty
third Street Branch Of the Y. ". c, A.
in New York. for his cooperation in the
idea, which was cordially given. Since
that time all branch organizations Of
the Y. NJ. c. \. between New York and
Chicago have been organizing among
their boys running teams who will be re-
sponsible for carrying the message at top
speed from their home town TO the next
one.
The 7. NJ. G. A. boasts of an organiza-
ton that includes four hundred thousand
students, and as soon as the boys were
notified that the relay race from New
York to Chicago had been decided upon
its directors were flooded with requests
from one hundred thousand boys. At
first this was a perplexing problem for
the directors of the race, who, TO accom-
modate this enthusiasm, reduced the dis
tance with the run for each boy to half
a mile. II would have been an easy mat
ter, it appears, TO have arranged a relay
race straight across the continent, except
for the long prairie distances OF the Far
West between towns.
The day before the big race starts a
marker" flag, supplied for the entire re-
lay post of the route, will be placed at
each point where q runner is to be sta
toned. These flags, on which will be
printed New YOrIS-Chicago Relay Race, {"
will be presented TO each boy at the end
OF his half mile run. This will be his
only prize, with the exception of. photo
graphs of the race from point 10 point
along the route and the finish of each
divisional point, including q report Of the
time in which the runs were made These
data will be put up in souvenir form and
presented to each boy.
r HERE is a special significance in
the character OF this Marathon race
that separates it and distinguishes it
from an ordinary athletic exploit Rich
ard c. Morse, general secretary Of the
International Committee Of the Y. ". c.
49, ASb~ANtAb sAAS RA'SS % the event.
says
There are manly men who admire
manly boys. Such boys admire and trust
such men. For many years the Young
Mems Christian Association has been
bringing together in its membership these
most desirable men and boys. until now
more than one hundred thousand boys are
enrolled as association members. These
boys, with their meg leaders and boy
leaders, have been heartily welcomed by
the association in the gymnasium and ath-
letic field, 70 reading room and library
and pariors Of their own. Recently boy
secretaries have been added TO the en-
ployed force.
For the working boys special privileges
and benefits have been introduced. Boys