The Detroit times., 1910-11-12


years there have ---
been other stressful times that have
tried mems hearts and souls. In the
days OF Indian supremacy. the tor
ture inflicted on his pale face breath
rem was often the very refinement OF
cruelty 1t is -well-authentieated
fact that the pioneer Crawford sur
vived for four days the hrebrands
put around him by his captors;
while Captain Byrd made his escape
with his flesh burned to the very
bone In many spots.
We are indebted TO that goodly
soul-Uncle Remus-for the story OF
the worlds first endurance contest.
According 10 him, Mr.. Crow and
B'rer Buzzard were vain OF their
voices Each claimed he could sing
the longer. and was ready TO back up
his opinion in no uncertain way. Al
ter the usual chickering's and banter
ings that precede such things as
prize-fghts and long distance sing
ing contests. an agreement was made
and the duly-signed articles set forth
that on certain day they were TO
meet, forever TO settle the matter.
The winner was TO have the privilege
OF doing all the singing I'm the future
and the loser must keep silent for all
time.
On the appointed day they met, to-
cether with all their clans. Adher-
ents OF the respective contestants
brought them food and water. Hour
after hour Rhe battle OF the voices
waged Hoarseness and sleepiness
set in, but still they sang on. Finally
the buzzards voice refused 10 work,
and the crow. with one grand burst
OF melody. was declared the winner
This is the reason why the buzzard
never sings and why the crow has
such a hoarse cav.
There have been endurance tests in
music which have been strenuous
events A few years ago, Dan Gold
smith. played ragtime on a piano for
as hours without missing n note or
sleeping wink He afterward an
nounced that he believed he could
make 1t 90 hours. and proclaimed
himself the worlds champion endur-
ance piano player, ready TO meet all
corners There were some few who
talked good deal about taking up
the gauntlet thrown down, but like
such things often do, II ended in talk.
! LAST year Danny set out TO lower his
| own record in a contest against time
| in a Denver music emporium He was
attended by his handler Chris Beck
! ham. who fed him ham sandwiches
as he played. Hour after hour he
reeled of ragtime by the yard, some
| times growing desperately weary.
sometimes nearly falling from his
stool for want of sleep, but never Civ
| ing up. One by one the hours tolled
off after the fifty mark was reached,
but Danny still played on. At last
the sixtieth hour struck, and Dan
Goldsmith. feeling that he had hung
! the record on a peg where II would
stay for years TO come. fell into the
sleep of victory.
One OF the earliest long-distance
contests OF which the sporting world
takes cognizance was that of William
Gale. Welsh bookbinder, at Lily
! Bridge In 1S77-a contest against
time. He had something OF record
as walker. and challenged all com
ers for a thousand-hour contest. He
/ finally had TO fight IL out with only
one entrant against him-Old Father
! Time. He started out to do fifteen
| hundred miles in a thousand hours.
! He had taken no previous orthodox
| physical training, and paid no atten-
| ton whatever TO the usual rules OF
| diet for those undergoing great ply
steal tests. Hour upon hour he walk
ed around the course often doing a
mile in ten minutes. There was a
great protest against the contest, and
| doctors were on hand TO stop IL il the
walker showed signs Of collapse But
they always found his heart, temper
ature and appetite to be practically
normal. Sometimes he would go to
sleep while walking. and upon one
occasion fell TO the ground while
asleep But he always rallied and
started out refreshed after a short
slumber.
The endurance records OF automo-
billing. bicycling. and awaiting. are
too familiar and too frequently brok.
en- to need repetition here. The great
six-day grinds in bicycling and auto
2>Noooo0oo0o0o S9oooASooooe
some, and in some ways clever little
love-story refreshingly lacking in
brain-wracking problem or profound
criticism OF life.
Red Pepper Burns Is by Grace S.
Richmond and is for sale at the local
bookshops.
THE Call OF the Nation by David
Starr Jordan, president OF Leland
Stanford university is OF especial iR-
terest in connection with the campaign
which has just occupied public at
tention. The subtitle is "a plea for
taking politics out of politics. II is
a brief statement Of the political faitl
and ideals OF the writer. I'm many
points 1t soinsides with the platform
of the much-discussed New National
ism
The questions taken up are those
that are foremost before the public.
Some of the topics discussed are the
system OF parties and the evils OF
blind partisan votes. the problems pre-
scented by vast private fortunes and
by corporations, the duty yof the ma
tons In enforcing regulations to pro-
tect the public health, militarism, inn.
perialism, etc.
The Call OF the Nation" Is strong
appeal for good citizenship. for re-
alization of the highest ideals of dem
ocracy. II is published as one OF a
series of essays on present day prob
lens by Professor Jordan by the Am
erIcan Unitarian Association Boston.
and is for sale at the local bookshops.