Athletics and Football (extract)

46 ATHLETICS extensive estates in Lancashire, and is a first-rate hand in u lookingon " at all those sports in whichformerlyhe took such an active part. ' This is a slight sketch of the men who" set the ball rolling," but though their first meeting was evidently popular, the thing went slowlyfor a time. In 1851, Exeter Collegefollowed up the autumn meeting of 1850 with a summer meeting on Bullingdon, and we think that both a high and broad jump wereintroduced in the programme. In these sports both C. A. North and J. Hodges distinguished themselves, the latter, by the way, not long after for a wager riding 50, driving 50, and walking 50 miles in 24consecutive hours. Lincoln College, Oxford, was the next to take up the idea and held some sports. Then a collegein Cambridge. After this the thing went like wildfire, spreading simultaneously on every side ; but after Colleges and Schools, we believe that the l( Civil Service" was the first associationformed for the promotionof athletic sports.' Kensington Grammar School began their regular sports in 1852, and we believe there are several other private schools round London which have had annual foot races and jumping matches since about the same time, which we have little doubt weresuggested,or at any rate encouraged, by the interest taken by the boys' parents in ' The American Deer,' ' The Suffolk Stag,' ' The Greenwich Cowboy,'and other pedestrian worthies of the same kidney. In 1853 Harrow and Cheltenham both started athletic meetings; and Durham Universityalso had a gatheringwhich,however,appears to have died a natural death. Undoubtedly there wereraces at severalof the public schools beforethis date, but they can hardly be calledathletic meetings. The pastime of 'hare and hounds,' as an amusement for schoolboys, is quite as old as any other English athletic pastime. Strutt givesa quotation from an old comedy,written towards the close of the sixteenth century, in whichan ' idle boy ' says; ' And alsowhen we playand hunt the fox I outrunall the boys in the schoole.'