The Washington times., 1920-08-11

attend the Olympic games.
to lead-by the way, they find the
taste of defeat very bitter-their
vast numbers. which enable them to
put three or four good men In the
field to our one, and the amazing en-
thusiasm of their own people over
their performances-all these make
for success.
AT PARTING OF WAYS.
"we in England are at the part
ing OF the ways. Are we or are we
not going to take up sport on Amer
fcan lines? Arc we going to aHonize,
to energize, to think long, furlously,
concentratedly, or are We going to
continue taking a certain amount of
trouble, doing our best and finding 1t
not good enough? II we continue the
latter, then from an international
standpoint our number Is up, and we
had better realize IL. We must be
thorough or through
The reply to this statement would
be. naturally, for Britishers to get
down to work, but the chances are
very much against that. In the first
place for generations the emphasis
on sports in Great Britain has never
been upon victory. With a certain
stolidity the Britisher has done his
best and accepted defeat gracefully.
He had maintained his caste, which Is
always noticeable in Britisher, deny
II as he will in q goodrnatured man
ner. What more could be done, save
to congratulate the winner?
But this passivity, this willingness
to face defeat with smile. this
slothful lack of determined action
spells certain failure in any branch
of athletics. No muscle Ia strength
ened with laziness, only by the hard
est Of hard work. The desire for
toll seems to have passed out of
England and Scotland, for SO long the
home Of athletic heroes.
SAME THING IN RING.
The same conditions are to be
found in British ring circles. Weekly
bouts are held everywhere, but only
the poorest sort of competition is seen.
When a Bombardier Wells, repeatedly
defeated by mediocre opponents, can
maintain wide public popularity for
years. there Is something wrong with
the British view point. When a Joe
Beckett can become a champion there
is much radically wrong with the
British system Of developing boxers.
The war, hitting Britishers hard,
did not kill the nataural desire for
outdoor sports. But nowhere in Eng
land or Scotland today are to be
found coaches worth a plugged nickel
nor youths dreaming of triumps in
world competition. History sufnces
the youths. The coaches probably
think they're good, having no means
- oh - l,,A
themselves.
In 1904 the Olympiad was staged
at ST. Louis in conjunction with the
Worlds Fair. Naturally Americans
won practically everything. A Cana
dian won the 56-pound weight throw
ing, and a Greek was first in lifting
weights with both hands. America
swept the world in track and field
sports.
-Four years later the olyf7fpiad was
staged in London and for months, IL
not for a couple Of years. Britishers
claimed that they would then "show
America where the honor belonged"
AMERICA AGAIN WINS.
Again II was America that showed
its heels to the world. Lieutenant
Halswelle's victory in the 400 meter
event on a technicality stirred up
much bitterness, many English writ
ers charging Americans with sharp
practices in their sports. Besides
Halswelle's victory. England saw
Russell win the 5000 meter steepie-
chase, Ahearne take the running, hop,
step and jump, Voight win the fivc-
mile event. and Larner triumph twice
in walking events.
A Canadian, Bobby Kerr, was first
in the 200 meter run. A South
African, Walker. won the 100-meters
and Lemming, of Sweden, won the
javelin throws. In every other track
and field competition IL was America
which won, America which had sent
across the seas such marvels as Mel
Sheppard. Forrest Smithson, Bacon.
Irons, Porter, Ray Ewry, Gilbert,
Cook. Ralph Rose. John Flanagan,
Martin Sheridan and little Johnny
Hayes.
In 1912 came the Stockholm Olym-
piad and OF all the winners in track
and field sports just one was an
Englishman. the wonderful gamester
and gentleman. A. N. S. Jackson.
later to win high rank on the field of
battle and suffer severe wounds in
the service OF his country.
b. 1t was America first In most of the
contests, with South Africa, Finland,
Sweden, Norway, Canada and Greece
getting the crumbs. Americas Craig,
Reidpath, Meredith, Gutterson, Bah
cock, Macdonald. Rose, Adams, Rich
ards. Kelly and McGrath had proved
mishtier than the best England had
to offer.
Great Britain's abject failures at
London and Stockholm over the
stretch OF twelve years have brought
about a serious decadence until to-
day all the world gathers at Antwerp
hopeful of athletic glory. all the
world but Great Britain, for so many
centuries the mother OF athletics"