New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-28
SPANS NEW ATHLETES
Will Figure in Olympic Games
at Berlin Two Years Hence.

Copyright 1913 BY the Brentwood Company
Spain, thanks TO her King, who is so
devoted to athletic sports OF every Kind
will figure quite prominently at the inter-
national Olympic games at Berlin two
years hence Everybody knows OF his
fondness for polo, a game in which ne is
an adept. But what most people IN this
country do not know is that. largely que
TO his initiative Spain is developing an
enthusiasm for football. and he has Just
announced his intention OF giving a hand
some cup each year for national compe-
tition by the various football clubs In his
dominion. There are no less than five i'm
portant clubs of this kind In Madrid
alone. and most Of the cities and towns
both big and small, have now their foot
ball clubs and their football grounds. The
games excite a tremendous amount OF
popular interest, almost as much. Indeed,
as the bullhghts though there is as yet
no prospect Of their supplanting these
latter in popularity The game played is
association football.
Nor are polo and football the only man
ifestations of the rapid growth Of the new
athletic movement in Spain. Tennis, both
court and lawn; golf. yachting and swim
ming. are likewise In vogue, while ath-
letic meetings, with running. jumping,
pole vaulting, etc. contests are being or
ganized throughout the length and
breadth OF the land. Moreover, the Boy
Scout movement has caught on, and IS
being actively fostered by the King and
many Of his leading mobiles. II numbers
already many thousands OF Spanish boys.
In Madrid there are about five thou
sand OF them alone, and the youngsters
are full OF enthusiasm.
Spain, indeed. has. through the influence
mainly Of her King, turned over new
leaf. The old days OF physical indo-
lence and inertia. which kept men lpung-
ing, smoking and resting, in preference
to anything else. putting off every posi-
bic exertion to the morrow. are passing
away.
Don Alfonso has been largely assisted
in the promotion Of this athletic move
ment in his dominions by all those young
Spanlards Of good family, including some
Of his own Spanish kinsmen, who have
been educated at the great Catholic COL
leges I'm England. and who have acquired
.
there q pronounced taste for the various
sports OF the English-speaking races.
Metamorphosis Of Madrid.
Incidentally, it may be stated that Spain
Is thriving to a wonderful degree. Dur
ing the last ten years there has been an
, increase OF over 200 per cent in the
amount Of the deposits Of the various
savings banks Of the kingdom. and an
increase Of go per cent in the number OF
depositors. Moreover, industry and TRACE
are prospering to such an extent that
the Spanish railroads find themselves just
at present unable TO handle the trafhc'
owing to an insufficiency OF cars, and are
now engaged in endeavoring to purchase
at once, or to lease abroad, 5000 cars for
immediate use.
Several new hotels are going up in
Madrid, where the principal thorough
fares are now being paved with asphall
and wood, in the place OF those terrlpie
cobblestones which have done duty for
hundreds Of years: while the municipality
Is also equipplng the metropolis with an
entirely new sanitary and sewerage sys-
tenn OF the most modern and approved
/ type, Wnicn cannot IdlI " ti"'S''' -
Madrid from the most unhealthy into one
OF the healthiest cities Of the Old World.
I Hitherto the death rate at Madrid has
| been very high.
Another hopeful sign In Spain Is that
! the old aristocracy Is turning 10 com
merce and industry. Thus, the Duke OF
Tovar, brother of the Premier and an
+ intimate friend Of the King, Is at the
head OF a syndicate which is providing
1 not cnly Madrid but the other leading
| cities OF the kingdom, such as CordoVa'
Saragossa, Barcelona, Seville. Cadiz. etc,
/ with thoroughly up-to-date and first class
hotels, in which Spain has been until now
! lamentably deficient.
The Duke of San Pedro has now great
/ sugar factories In Granada. while the
I Duke OF Infantando. after starting great
electricity works. has recently formed
company to handle them. with capital
of $4,000. Indeed. l could give here a
long list of bearers OF historic names. and
OF the Grandezza, who are now taking
leading part in Industrial and commercial
enterprises. instead of contentlng them
selves, as formerly, with living idly as
absentee landlords In Madrid and Paris.
upon the revenues derived from the rack
rented tenantry of their estates.