Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-22
NEW ATHLETICS
"ALL-FOR-GLORY"
The Growth of the Amateur Spirit
in American Sports is Greek
Revival-No Hindrance to
Record Breaking
By MARTIN J. B. McDoNAGH

less regular intervals, Now we have the re-
currence OF the "all-for- glory idea in ath-
letics History repeating itself.
"All-for-glory" sport just now booming In
Philadelphia, is by no means a modern In
stitution, though there are many officials
and athletes who think so. Centuries upon
centuries have elapsed since this ideal Of
athletics was inaugurated and found popu-
lar. To be exact, the first successful "all-
for-glory" meet was in us B. c., in Greece.
In colleges something like this spirit is
found, though these institutions are not en-
tirely free from taint; but It is elsewhere
that the amateur spirit" finds its most sig
nifcant manifestation at present.
Tonight in Philadelphia
Tonight, when the young athletes Of the
city Of Philadelphia straighten out the
wrinkles in their muscles at West Branch
Y. M. C. A., SGD and SAMSON streets, in the
first run of the season, they need not think
they are fostering an original athletic
scheme. Due praise and credit will certainly
be their due, for It takes a good sportsman
TO show his mettle without a chance OF re-
muneration. During the past twenty-five
years experts have made an effort to revive
the old form of athletics, but the time was
not ripe. Today is the acceptable time, II
seems. From present indications a wave Of
"all-for-g glory idealism is almost certain to
break. Then "all-for- glory competition will
become the rule rather than the exception.
Philadelphia is doing all it can to foster
the growing idea and to apply again the
rules of the ancients.
One year ago today the athletes Of the city
were introduced to the idea of "all-for- glory"
athletics, and since that time there has been
unusual interest. West Branch Y. NJ. c. A.
was the pioneer organization here. In the
first runs of the West Philadelphia associa-
ton, champion athletes competed, and they
gave no thought to prizes. They worked
just as hard in the race as though a big cup
had been placed at the finish line, the very
same spirit that compelled the athletes of
776 B. c. to show their skill and prowess on
the athletic field.
Only the Beginning
Following the West Branch successes other
organizations asked how it could be done. A
representative of West Branch lectured on
the subject and before many months the
seeds we'll sowed netted great harvest.
The Germantown Boys Club and the Starr
Garden Recreation Centre followed suit and
promoted similar events. Germantown Off
cials promoted several sets of 'all-for- glory"
games, and recently big crowd of local
a track and field meet Tomorrow after
noon another cross-country race without
prizes is TO be run, and big entry has been
announced by Secretary Bainbridge. In a
number of instances the star athletes who
will attend will be able to do so only at a
sacrifice to themselves
In the olden days athletes who entered the
games swore to uphold the decision of the
officials, and to be sportsmanlike, while the
officials were bound by oath to render un-
biased judgment Harmony was the keynote
and gentlemanly all-around sport the result
Today the same rules are being observed,
and the improvement has been marked.
In the games of 776 B. C. the prize Of the
victor consisted of a crown of wild olive, a
palm branch and the right to erect a statue
in the Altis, or central inclosure, of the sa-
cred precinct Zeus was the chief deity to
whom the festival was devoted. Now the
athlete has the satisfaction Of knowing that
he is doing his level best for the sport He
doesn't receive even wreath or palm, and
in this he goes the aneients one better.
Teaching the Young Idea
Young America is being taught in the
Fairgrounds of a number of cities the ideal
in sports-i. e., to compete without the
thought Of prizes. Courtesy and manliness
arc liiC NHiCl lHilBS uCiHduucu anu received.
Gentlemanly conduct and "all-for- glory
ideals complement each other admirably In
deed, they are much the same. So the prn-
ciple of sport for sports sake is taking a
strong hold on the young generation, ap-
pealing to the best that there is in charac-
ter and helping to develop it. It establishes
! a kind of competition which leaves no
room for petty Jealousies or derision to-
ward the vanquished. II is the very on
posite of materiallsm in athletics. II Is
| play in the real sense of the word; II
is organized play in athletic pursuits which
| at one time seemed likely TO fall into
| a degenerate state from too much profes-
sionalism and too much commercialism. The
results, wherever the ancient rules have
found favor, are such as to rouse optimistic
confidence In the future. The causes OF
these results, moreover, are rapidly spread.
| ing throughout the country
In December OF 1909 the FIRST "just-for.
fun" contest ever held in America took place
under the auspices OF the Civic Games Com.
mittee Of Baltimore, an organization formed
for just such a purpose. In all the events
held since that time wonderful records have
been established.
The Public Athletic League OF Baltimor.
became interested In the sport in 1910, and
assumed the responsibility Of promoting spor
without prizes. This great athletic body was
fully equipped to popularize the games, and
it did, even beyond the dreams OF the pro
motsrs DR. William Burdick, secretary o.
the ''P A. L." former Philadelphian who
was connected with the Central Y. NJ c. A.
was instrumental in obtaining the desired
results. Hundreds OF "all-for-glory" contests
have since been held. ana as a developer o.
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