Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-12-14
A TALK ON SPORTS
iBr f. VAN ALsTYNEl

as 10 the origin and u slight hlstor!
OF II up until the present time. Spcri
Is form Of recreation INDUCED IN 10y
people TO turn away from serious oc
cupation. and TO. refresh a tired mind
History and mythology define the fact
that sport was first INDUCED In as far
hack as there is the slightest record
hundreds ~ years before the Christian
Era, by the Egyptians and several
Asiatic races. The form Of games IN
dulged In by the Greeks were I'M.
doubtedly adopted from some Of the
elements Of the ancient Egyptian nth
letic exercises. The highest develop
ment OF ancient sport was reached by
the Greeks in their Olympic games
The later Roman circuses In the anphl'
theatres were at best shadow, and In
the later days OF the Roman empire u
traversity Of the Greek Olympia and
Pythia. and require only n cursory no
tice. The earliest Greek games OF
which we have any record are those
at the funeral Of PatroclcS, which form
the subject OF the twenty-third Had
The origin Of athletic games Is clearly
connected with religion, as they gen
orally took the form OF funeral rites.
were instituted In honor ~ the Gods, n
| thanks offering Of victory or were held
for the eXpiati1n Of some crime The
Olympic games were celebrated with
boxing. wrestling putting the weight
and chariot and foot races and are
forms that still persist TO the present
day. The Olympic games were urigiu-
atcd by the Eleians and Pisnus and
were first formulated through rcllg
ion. hut the games were not well known
until the powerful concurrence "
Sparta. which was at that time one
OF the leading cities OF the world The
original Olympic games became very
popular and were participated in by all
Of the Greek kingdom. for n period NJ
twelve centuries. when the classic wos
abolished by decree OF the Christian
Emperor Theodosius, in the fifth cen
fury. A. d., In the tenth year of his
reign. The games were all concluded
In one day until after the nth Olym.
piad, after which the time was extend
cd to five days. From the time OF the
abolition OF the Olympic games in the
fifth century. and IN medieval times,
about all OF the forms Of sport that
were the subject Of general interest
were hunting, archery, feats OF arms
and what was known as jousts, b..
tween lords and knights The feais VI
the common people have been very lit
tie discoursed upon during mcliaeval
times and seem TO he confined 10 fcats
OF knights and warriors OF unusual
skill. and OF the chase. The conquest
Of England by the Normans was the
Of the rise Of sport and ath-
etics in western Europe and since that
time athletics has become more pop
llar and began 10 show slight revival
II the ancient Greek games. England
mas shown more interest in physical
sport than any other country in the
world and at the present day the peo-
pie are thorough lovers OF athletics,
The first rise for general all around
port Ia the United States was about |
,lghteen-seventy and from that time on
{ was looked upon with increased in
crest by the American public.
At meeting in 1894 at Athens by |
OF different countries,
he Olympic games were revived and
he first meet was held Mt Athens. |
Greece. In 1896. and from that time on
he meets have been held at intervals
Il four years. IL was ut this meeting
hat the marathon race Of AZ kilomet-
RS was decided upon, as part Of the
ontest. The race originated and was
commemorative OF the famous run OF
he Greek messenger from the battle
ield to Athens, with the news Of the
-ictory ~ the Greeks over the Per-
ians, at the bnttle OF Marathon. The
irst marathon race was won by
ireek peasant. Since that time the
americans have held fairly good lead
ver the rest Of the nations In these
vents.
Present day sports cover a multitude
4 things and different forms OF con
ests. Even the gambler, the rowdy,
he booze holster and crooked baseball
layers consider themselves in the
ategory Of the term sport, but real
port is that OF the nature participated
n by the ancient Greeks, and is form
{ recreation. Any kind Of recreation
an be classed under the head OF sport
rovided 1t is real sport and not the
ure-thing OF professional crooks, that
~ to make people think that they are
ports, and manage to rope In the bank