Modern Athletics 1868

18 MODERN ATHLETICS. loosely by tlie judge across tlie course,so tliat wlien tlie winner passes the posthe may carry the tapeaway. Attendants onCompetitors. —One only should be allowed each mnner, andon the starter's giving thoerder to get ready, he should leave the course and retire ontside the ropes; no friendor attendant should on any pretencewhat­ ever be allowed to run round, or in any way time a competitor. They only tend to disheartenhis opponents, who, in handicaps especially, havequite enough to do in regaining apenalty imposed, without being jeeredand in­ commoded by other men's servants, so to speak. Any competitor who infringes this rule should be instantly disqualified. In privatelife we keep our domesticservants at a respectful distance, why should it not be so at athletic meetings P Timing. —Like handicapping, this requires an almost life-long apprenticeship. Too much attention cannot be given to this necessary item, as correctness is tohfe most vital importance, since the making of future handicaps depends thereon. The timer should nevertake his eye off the men for a single instant after they are once on the mark, perfect unison of the senses of seeing and feeling being necessary to time a race withany approach to ac­ curacy. Directly the winner'schest breasts the tape, the watch should be stopped. It is almost needless to say that an accurate stop-watch is necessary, as no correct estimate ofthe time which has elapsed can bfoermed with an ordinarywatch. Byfar the best stop-watches for timing athletic sports are those manufactured by _ Messrs. M. F. Dent and Co., 33, Cockspur-street, Charing-cross, London. The works contain both independent minute and second hands, so that whenthe timing part of the watch is stopped, the handsindicating theordinary hour of the daystill keepgoing. By a mositngenious contrivance the independent timing hands can be started from no other position except the figureXII. onthe dial. The first touch of the spring startsthese hands, the second stops them, and a third causesthem to fly back tothe original starting-point: viz., the figure XII. By this means, in case of a false start, the hands cabne instantly sent back without the timer taking heiyse off the competitors ; since' the hands can be started from one position only on the dial. A side-bolt is also placed in these watches, by pushing up which the independent hands can be locked.