Impressions of Northern Athletes and Athletics

nothing is more prejudicial to advancement than promiscuous indulgence in all-round athletics. One the twenty chapters in “Scientific Athletics” is entitled “The Efficacy of Athleticism: and How It Is Ensured.” It treats the subject in twelve concise clauses, the tenth which is as follows:- Do not be oblivious of the fact that promiscuous indulgence in athletics is really much more detrimental than beneficial to health and strength, and that all prospects of success will thus be obviated. Unhappily, the corroborations of this fact are innumerable. We, therefore, emphasise that without resolution and tenacity of purpose favourable influences are renounced and satisfactory progress rendered impossible. . . . Therefore, instead of this indiscriminate precipitation, resolute practice is inculcated, being, as is, sine qua non in the attainment of success. . . . As little echo of the Olympic Games, we ask: To what was the illustrious success of the American athletes attributed? Specialisation, emphatically! We go to the other extreme, and ask: To what was the wretched (or ignominious!) failure of the British amateur athletes attributed. First: an indifferent interest in their training at home; and, secondly: specialisation, of course! — with the coy damsels of Stockholm! Talk about “national prestige”; ye gods! Previous to the Olympiad some dreaming English editors made an idle attempt at sensationalism in regard to the “prospects” of British athletes in the great Marathon Race. “This,” said they, “is Britain’s time win—she must win!” We now read the actual, not the ideal, results—one - two—three—“and on” till number fourteen—he is the first Britisher in! Reflecting upon Britain’s retrogression, an editor well-known athletic periodical passed words equivalent to:—“What became of the Highland athletes, with their Games of world-wide renown! We very infrequently hear the name of our peerless Games takes in vain! Vitality Having emphasised the credentials of specialisation, we now come to the fourth key to genuine success: it is divided into two clauses, as follows:- (1) Acquisition of Vitality. (2) Conservation of Vitality. A man without vitality has not inappropriately been likened to a substantially built bank without capital, or, to change the simile, a steam-engine without fuel. It is unnecessary to inculcate the absolute necessity of great vitality, without which all endeavours will be nullified, and the sport will yield a very incommensurate reward indeed. After about eleven years’ incessant indulgence in athletics, I can advise authoritatively as to the acquisition and preservation of vitality. This most important subject is treated comprehensively in fourteen clauses in “Scientific Athletics.”