AAA Coming of Age Dinner

remarks from a gentleman who sits above me by about eight feet and some twenty feet off, and who explains to my fellow-countrymen that most of my arguments are fallacious (laughter), and I have no right of reply. But on this unique occasion I have ; but I can assure the Chairman that I shall be merciful , and I shall pass on to castigate quite another person, and not himself. I understand now why it was Mr. HERBERT did not consult me about the arrangements for this Dinner. He knew if he had consulted me, and if I had any voice in the matter he would have responded to the Toast , and that is why he decided to consult only himself and get me upon my legs. I know you regard me with considerable apprehension when I am asked to discuss any matter of athletichistory, because youknow I am rather apt to keep you until the early hours of the morning when that subject is started. Hut I am putting restraint upon myself and will pass over the first fifteen years ; and as regards the last twenty-one years I willmerely give you an epitome after the styolte ' Who's Whoo' r 'Men of the Times, ' or similar publications.The fully fledged athlete, whomI have the honour of representing, who is known chiefly by his initials A.A.A. , was born in the month of April , 1880. His parentage is somewhat doubtful . Undoubtedly his motherwas that lady whom we at Oxforadnd Cambridge know as 'Alma Mater ' ; but who the father was diosubtful . For the first time thisevening I hear the Amateur Athletic Club make a claim to be the father. Mr. C. N. JACKSONI know has asgood claim as any to father th; is Mr. BERNARD WISE has also claims, and I think really it was hatched between them. I think on one occasion—after dinner—lIaid some claims to the honour myself (laughter). I withdraw those claims now. I think I should be, perhaps, more aptly describeads thenurse of the young infant . The Athletic Association was born about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of a day in April atthe ' Randolph 'Hotel . It wasa veryrobust infant ,and three hours after itsbirth it proceeded to dine plentifully (renewed laughter). That shows iht ad the digestion of an athlete. I have no recollection of what the dinner was likbeu, t I do recollect that Mr. ABRAHAMw, ho is here, came to breakfast withme on the nextmorning in College, andI recollect well that he preferred tea to coffee on that occasion (more laughter). I assume that the budding officers of the Association did themselves very well on the night of their birthday. Well , gentlemen, we started in a ven- small way. I do not know that we shouldhave had any great successif we h a d n o t b e e n r e c e i v e d w i t h g r e a t k i n d n e s s a n d g e n e r o s i t y b y Mr . JOHN - CHAMBERS, of the Amateur Athletic Club, who, as soon as he saw- University men were in the field for championship and athletic government , cordially assisted us, handed over the challenge cups and practically placed matters in ourhands. That gave us a good start , and we held our first Championship Meeting. 1 am not going to take you quite as long over the other years.We held our first Championship Meeting at Lillie Bridge with JOHN CHAMBERS'assistance. Unfortunately, we had a very wet day, or perhaps the Secretary had not very good business capacity, and we had a deficit . However, we kept going. I assisted to nurse the