The Detroit times., 1910-11-12

II was the feat of -
woman. But %NVeNl
down through the =. :
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. II is well-authenticated
fact that the pioneer Crawford sur
viyed for four days the frebrands
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 or
the worlds first endurance contest.
According to him, MIR. 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-hghts and ngdistance sing
ing contests, an agreement was made
and the duly-signed articles set forth
that on a certain day they were to
meet forever TO settle the matter.
The winner was TO have the privilege
OF doing all the singing in the future
and the loser must keep silent for all
time.
On the appointed day they met, to-
gether with all their clans. Adher-
ents OF the respective contestants
brought them food and water Hour
after hour the battle OF the voices
waged. Hoarseness and sleepiness
set in, but still they sang on. Finally
the buzzards voice refused TO 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 Geld
smith, played ragtime on a piano for
As hours without missing note or
sleeping a wink. He afterward an
nounced that he believed he could
make 1t so hours, and proclaimed
himself the worlds champion endur-
ance piano player, ready TO meet all
corners. There were some few who
talked a 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
of 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 cognlzance was that OF William
Gale, a Welsh bookbinder, at Lily
! Bridge in 1877-a contest against
time He had something OF a record
as a walker. and challenged all com
ers for a thousand-hour contest. He
| finally had TO fight it out with only
one entrant against him-Old Father
Time. He started out 10 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 we're on hand to stop 1t IL the
walker showed signs of collapse But
they always found his heart, temper
ature and appetite to be practically
normal Sometimes he would 90 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-
bling, bicycling, and awaiting. are
too familiar and too frequently brok.
en- to need repetition here The great
six-day grinds in bicycling and auto
e>eS9ooo>oooN oSoNNNaSSSooSC
ing such characters as that OF Judas.
And although he is a noted example
he is by no means an exception; there
are many. Some OF them live today.
But whoever can see the meanness OF
such a disposition with reasonably
good focus will surely be saved from
manifesting such a character, how
ever mean might be his disposition.
The man who could sell his Master
for thirty pieces Of silver is Justly in
It merely the thirty pieces that info
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