Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Six-day walking matches were in
vogue so years ago, trials Of speed and
endurance that aroused
Generous sharp criticism on the
Rivalry score ST. O. Their II 1 Ms4eg n
1879, relative to the latest affair Of this
kind, is the following comment:
Whatever may be thought Of the
gambling adjuncts of the walking bust
ness, everybody will feel inclined to
admire the pluck and manliness dis
PLAYED by the contestants In the New
York arena. Hartman, in walking his
last hundred miles, when so crippled as
to be unable to move leg without In
tense pain, afforded evidence that the
native American Is equal in quality OF
game endurance to the pluckiest Eng
lishman or Irishman. Ennis and Rowell,
by the kind courtesies they extended to
him to encourage him to make his $50
miles, made friends Of every admirer
Of pluck and generosity united.
ut is related among the incidents
of the closing hours Of the contest that
when Hartman staggered from his cot
tage door to enter upon his last 10
miles Rowell, seeing how weak the
Yankee was, and with evident admira-
ton of the pluck he was showing, took
him by the hand and then, linking arms
with him, walked around the track,
while everybody cheered. Then Ennis
came along and took Harriman's other
arm, and thus the two heroes leading In
the race generously encouraged their
crippled but gallant brother to persevere
In the effort to reach the 450th mile,
though by his success they lost the
large sum they would have divided mao
he not come In for third gate money.
ut is stated that at tn rcint q scene
occurred that has r. i. equaled.
The kindly magna:i NOUS feC-1g dis
played by both the Englishman AID the
irish American for Hartman, and their
admiration of his pluck, was so consid-
erately displayed that more than one
man found the tears rolling down his
cheeks and there was not lady In
the garden who did not cry amidst
smiles and waving Of handkerchiefs.
From this time on until the finish,
while there was q time of much excite
ment, there was perfect good feeling
displayed and nobody seemed to grudge
the little Englishman (RowelD the belt
that he had so fairly won.
These walking matches have been
compared in brutality to the cruel
sports of the Roman arena, but such
scenes as the above described serve to
show the difference between the pagan
physical contests and our own. In
the Roman Coliseum the upturned
thumbs of the bloodthirsty spectators
constrained the victor to kill his pros
trate adversary; In our arena an act
Of generous good feeling, like that dis
played in this case, Is applauded to the
echo and brings tears OF admiration
to the eyes of strong men. So there are
redeeming points after all about the
walking business"
The criticism Of the large school
building appearing as follows In The
Star Of March 81, 1879,
Large Schools must be read in light
cr;t;c;,sd Of the fact that the
OAA'ieiAeu' building art was not
as well advanced then as now and that
methods of heating, lighting, ventilat-
ing and sanitation were not as effective
as at present:
Attention should be given to the
matter of defects in our school build
ings and the need that an improve
of the new schoolhouses authorized by
Congress. The law provides for two
new buildings at cost Of $4,000. It
is to be regretted that the act limits
the number of buildings to be erected
for this sum to two. The money could
be much more usefully expended in the
construction of three or even four
buildings. Experience has proved that
the big buildings protesting to accom-
modate 20 or 80 schools are fall
ures In everything except outside show.
Buildings of this size cannot be warmed
with any uniformity, the lights and
ventilation are necessarily defective,
there Is a great waste of time for pupils
and teachers In the ascent and descent
of many flights of stairs. to say moth
ing Of the fatigue of 1t, and the danger
from fire to those confined In the upper
portions Of these towering structures.
The Easements Of these great buildings