Athletics

36 ATHLETICS. dealings in all respects. Mappin and Webb,opposite the Mansion House, isanother welland deservedly patronized firm; their special points are cutlery, bags, etc. For special articles, such as lamps, etc., Benetfink, inCheapside, is a capital house. Wilkinson and Co., 16, Holborn Viaduct, have also some attractive and cheap articles. In the pro­ vinces, Yorkshire andNorth of England, Fattorini and Son, 27, Kirkgate, Bradford,make a specialstudy in prizes, and supply an enormous number of clubs. Birmingham is a particularly good place to get prizes, amongst the chief firms being Elkingtonand Co.; Deykin and Sons, Venetian Works, Dale End;Messrs. Browett, Ashbury and Co.,Dean Street. Clubs who wish to give a prize of limit amount (^10 IOJ.), cannot possibly do better than get one of the split-seconds chronographs fromS. Smith and Sons, 9, Strand, London. They are marvels of advanced scientific watch­ making, andare practically the samein appearance as that illustrated onp. 44. At all houses clubs areput on trade terms;but the dis­ counts vary from 10 to 40 per cent, according to the original marked price and liberality of the seller. Prize choosing is at all times troublesome, and wants an education of its own. However, the committee of selection ought to avoid biscuit-boxes, butter-dishes, salad-bowls, and like hackneyed objects, and anything where there is much glass, as damages are frequent Cups, tankards, etc., are only suitable for boys or novices' races. (The writer has seen aman travel to a town nearly eighty miles away, win one of the chief events, and receive a plated cup value about 15^) While high value prizes are not to be encouraged, a prize ought to have appearance and value, so that the winner has pride in showing it in after years, when he has long retired from active athleticism; besides