Cinder Path Tales

A VIRGINIA JUMPER 145 Beside Dick and Jack there were Frost and Seever, twoveterans who had reached their limit, and were good for a scant twenty- one. We had not one first-class man. Now, while I am telling this tale more particularly forthe initiated,I mean to make it plain to others less well informed, and will for their sakes say that the honor of the broad jump championship is to-day divided between Reber in America and Fry in the Old Country, both of whom have negotiated twenty-three feet six and one-half inches. No one jumping less than twenty-one feet has any chance in a first-class competition, and it would have done us as much good if Dick had done nine feet as nineteen; that is, no good at all. Mrs. Fairfax reminded me in her first letter, after I had informed her that Dick had chosen the " running broad "as his special event, that this was a traditional Virginia sport, and shewas pleased with the selection. She called my attention to the fact that Thackeray inhis story of the "Virginians " makes Harry Warrington cover twenty-one feet three inches against his English rivals, and says that Col. GeorgeWashington could better this by a foot. Now, if this is history, and the truthfulGeorge didthe distancewith a short run on grass, and no take-off but a