The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-04-26

fencing: the japanese and Turks the
greatest wrestIers.
The Australian bushmen the greatest
throwers. Norwegians. Danes. Swedes.
and Germans the greatest skaters.
though the championships in these
branches of athletics have been held by
athletes Of other races.
England leads in lacrosse. game which
originated with the North American In
dams.
The most scientific game PLAYED with
a ball. is pelota. played by the people OF
Latin South America.
Connecting in the several Olympic
games. American athletes have eNcelled
in numerous branches. a fact due large
~ to our improved method of training.
which seems to be more thorough than
that practiced by other nations.
MuIntto Well Fitted.
These meetings have demonstrated the
fact that there is but little difference in
the athletic powers of representatives Of
the several branches of the caucasian
race. While the pure-bred negro has
seldom excelled in any branch OF ath-
I-tics the mulatto has for centuries been
an important factor. especially in boxing.
for which nature seems to have fitted
him He is closer to the antropoids.
with his small head. small legs. massive
arms and chest. and projecting heels.
With naturally less vitality than the eau
casian. he is better able to stand the OPP
pressive heat. charged with tobacco
smoke.
In the early days of prizefghting. when
all battles were fought out of doors.
often in zero weather and with bare
knuCkles. in binding snowstorms. the
negro invariably fell an easy victim TO
the white man. For years the courage
81 the negro was doubted. but under
modern conditions. which are favorable
to the race. there is no longer any doubt
about his courage.
Answer with Individual.
In tabuIating the pedigrees of some Of
the most noted American athletes. we
find that the first and second genera
tions born of foreign parents far out
rank those whose ancestors have been
here for several generations. which would
naturally lead us to the conclusion that
there is something IL either our mode Of
living or in our climate which initiates
against us from an athletic viewpoint
After a careful review of the athletic
history of the modern world. We are
forced to the conclusion that supremacy
depends entirely upon individual enort.
regardless of race or previous condition.:
that no race has monopoly on the
qualities essential to success in athletics.
any more than in any other line OF hui
man endeavOr.
The Japanese. a race which is noted
for its stamina. has for centuries been
accustomed TO sitting on floors. and until
trained to do so. there is not native NJ
thu island who could sit five minutes In
a chair without fainting. All races have
peculiar characteristics which. however.
are rapidly changed through environ
ment
Japanese Poor Runners.
II would not surprise students OF ath-
Iptfc history to see a Norwegian go to
the South Sea Islands and win the swim
ming championship from the natives.
who are the most accomplished swim
mers in the world. nor to see a team Of
Japanese baseball players visit this
country and defeat our champions The
Japanese are the poorest runners in the
world; they have the shortest legs. long
est heads and necks OF any race. In the
branches Of athletics to which they have
devoted their time. however. such as
wire-balancins. juggling. acrobatics.
gymnastics, and wrestling. they are su-
prone.
They have recently gone in for the
athletic games of European. American.
and Asiatic origin.
In the great universities Of Japan. the
students are applying themselves to the
different branches of athletics, especially
to running. where several youngsters
have run a hundred yards in close to
even time