Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-06-12

Entered at Thurm0nt POsComce rs oecoiiu
Glass Matter.
THURSDAY. JUNE IL, 1919.
Serves The Purpose.
State Olymiad Making Better
Boys For Maryland By Build
ing Up Their Bodies.
eff all the lawmakers of MARYLAND and
members of the Park Board could have
been present Friday at Homewood Field
to have seen the stirring competition
among youths from all over the State
they would have known that their appro-
priations to the Public Athletic League
were not in vain These boys nearly
1000 strong came to Baltimore as cham
pions of their classes from the midgets
in the SO-pound division to the senior un-
limited, the husky fellows.
1.-THE State turns over $40, 900 and the
Park Board Sis, 900 annually to the Pub
lie Athletic League, and the budget OF
that worthy association that builds up the
bodies of young Marylanders will amount
to about $40, 600 for 1919.
"That this money is well spent will be
proved in the years that are to follow,
and that it is appreciated can be learned
from parents all over Maryland. because
they know what the Public Athletic
League is doing for their boys. This
sentiment was expressed by several Fri
day at Homewood.
''No set of cleaner boys ever ran Gin
der track than those who have performed
in the five Olympiads. That they have
been in the hands of instructors who
know their business was ably brought
out by their clever showing in the "a ev-
ents. They were feet of foot and quick
of mind and prove conclusively that they
will go on to greater deeds on the athletic
field.
"But these Olympiads do more than
build up the bodies the youths; they bring
together the future business men of the
State. and friendships made now will be
everlasting in many instances. Little
Tommy Jones, way up in the western
end of the State, now knows little Willie
Simpson, down on the Eastern Sho'.
Without these Olympiads they would
live their own lives and never know that
each other existed
when the Public Athletic League
completes its season of meets it will have
held about 40. Representatives of this
organization invaded every county in
Maryland save Charles, and by the 1920
set of games is held it is the hope of the
league to have every county represented
at Homewood.
''This task of teaching the fundamen-
tails of athletics to all the youths of Mary
land is big undertaking, one bigger
than imagined. But under the direction
of DR.. William Burdick the league has
gone forward in leaps and bounds, so that
the work is known everywhere. This is
proved by the offers made DR.. Burdick to
go elsewhere to become the head of such
organizations.
1.-THE league has branched out from
year to year, and this was the first time
that it was the duty of one employee of
the league to spend all his time in the
counties. This not only applied to track
and field athletics but to soccer football
as well. This instructor, William S. Pit
man, impaired his knowledge to the
county teachers, who in turn taught the
boys and girls.
Zone of the most ardent supporters of
the Olympiad is Robert Garrett, the
president of the Public Athletic League.
He was the first American to win in the
real Olympic games at Athens in 1896.
His speciality was the discus. That he is
still fond of the field end of the sports
was shown Friday when, after complet-
ing his task as referee, he busted across
the field to where the boys were staging
the last two events-the broad and high
jumps in the senior unlimited divisions.
" It's the number of boys, we have at
these games that counts, said Mr.. Gar
rett. instead of the persoss in the stands
and around the field
Z" It's the aim of the league to build
up these youngsters, he continued and
l believe it is making Roadway. The i'm
provement in the last five years has been
remarkable, especially if one saw the
first meet and the one today. The league
hopes to reach every nook and corner in
the State, and time alone will tell what
has been accomplished
"The dodgeball throw, junior sO-pound
class, was new event and it fell to
Leslie Ellbeck of Allegheny county. This
youngster hurled the ball "a feet and 10
inches. He certainly put it all over the
City youngsters, many of whom have a
football in their hands all fall and bas-
ketball all winter. baltimore Sun.