Evening star., 1925-02-14

connecting efforts-wished to learr
and on while rivals floundered exha
Art also asserted its claims. Paint
ers and sculptors sought to catch his
figure in action or in repose- And
quite naturally, the athletic world de-
sired to gain all possible knowledge
of the secret or secrets of his phe
nominal ability.
Had Paavo reacted as would most
athletes to this besieging army he
would have had to sacrifice his con-
dition and possibly retire from COM
petition. But Paavo had no idea of
so doing. He sees no mystery in his
racing form, no Superhuman accom-
plishments in his great record.
My people were very human peo-
pie he declares, and 1 simply have
made use OF what nature has given
me. l think if you had seen me
when 1 was a youngster-for in
stance on the day when as a 10-year-
old. ran my first race against time
you would have agreed that / was not
formed for great athletic achieve
ments. But did have. as many other
boys had and many others will have
some natural speed, and 1 chose to
develop that natural asset.
Hard Work the Secret.
The developing of it was not fun
t all times 1t involved forsaking
many of the pleasures which others
might regard as essential When my
school friends were attending shows
or parties I was home in bed. That
was a rule I followed most strictly
when I was a. boy. Early to bed was
the order of the day with me- and de-
voting portion of each day to run
ming was another regulation. And
when l learned by this training that
i could outdo my associates I gained
a pleasure that lasted longer than
what might have come from my at
tendance at theaters or parties.
Il think much OF my success has
come through my very early interest
in running. AS a boy in my teens I
really laid the foundation, and by so
doing have found 1t much easier to
build up. Had I relied on intermit-
tent periods of training I do not be-
lteve it would have been possible.
This idea of breaking training after
an active season, remaining idle for
a period, and then starting sudden
and intensive preparation for the
next season, is not a sound one. 1t
means sacrificing much that you have
attained and then straining yourself
to regain it. And the limited time in
athletics that some really great men
have had is chargable, I believe, to
that faulty system.
THE physical condition is all i'm
portant to the athlete. Form un-
doubtedly plays a considerable part.
But natural ability and good physical
condition will beat form and poor
physical condition every time.
Was Vegetarian As Boy.
LAS boy a vegetable diet was or
dered for me, and I was not permit
ted to drink tea, coffee or intoxicat-
Ing liquors. That was the work of
my parents, and although I since
have become a meat eater and have
developed a fondness for coffee, I
think that period as vegetarian
played it's part in my development.
Il did not change from the vege-
table diet simply because I was re-
leased from family restraint. Be-
fore did SO I had learned the funda-
1nentalS of anatomy and the func-
tions of the organs, and, had my
early experiences on a meat diet pro-
duced any harmful effect, I most Ger
tainly would have returned to the
fare of my boyhood.
50, too, In my experiments with
coffee-I did not drink coffee until I
was 20. 1 learned it had no serious
effect on my condition. So it is you
find me enjoying the everyday food of
the everyday man and at the same
time continuing at my best in ath-
letics.
Thus you see there is no mystery
about my physical condition-no
startling facts to learn from my diet.
And. as I have said, I merely culti-
waited my natural ability as run
ner, SO there is no mystery there.
Keeping constantly fit is or should
be the big thing in athletics. 1t
should be a big thing in the life of
every one"
1t is because Paavo does not view
his career with the awe and wonder
of others that he falls to react as
would the majority to the demands
of science and art. His attitude in
this respect has proved especially
disconcerting to the scientists, ar
lists and others since he arrived in
America
Spurns All Money Offers.
Not day has passed but there has
come a delegation to his doorway or
to the home of his American sponsor.
Hugo Quist. Leading physicians and
surgeons, artists and sculptors, mo-
tion picture and theatrical folk, not
to speak of the representatives of
manufacturing concerns who wish to
secure his Endorsement of soap, shoes,
coffee, shaving cream and every
Imaginable article of food, clothing,
ct certera- Paavo could have made
a fortune during his first week in
this land by the many monetary
offers for his signature or a portion
of his time. He could have made
several fortunes since.
Instead of doing so, the Phantom
Finn has endeavored to make his Sc
clusion all the more secluded. He
las twice shifted his New York ad-
dress to put his besiegers of the
track and, in a city of many millions,
Paavo has led the life of a veritable
hermit. His physical condition is
everything to Paavo. He cannot af-
ford to bother with the claims Of
others Their proffers Of money do
not interest him. Amateur athletics
is Finlands national sport and Paavo
is a son of Finland.
Copyright, 1925, in United States, Canada
and Great Britain by North American News
paper Alliance. Copyright New York World)
Press Publishing Co. All rights reserved.)
TnvunrrOv,-Fiya Records n m