Modern Athletics 1868

P E E F A C E . THEissue, for the first time, of the present work, requires a fewwords of explanation. Athletic sports haverap'dly spread throughout the length anbdreadth of the United Kingdom during the last few years; whether for good or for evil it is not within the author's province todiscuss, further than this, that the fact itwseolfuld seem to carry with it its own justification. General acceptance is suf­ ficient recognition of the need and of its supply, or at least may provethe author's justification for thepresent compilation. In order that he manyot be accused of plagiarism, it should be mentioned that the first chapter, on "Ancient Athletics," had previouslybeen written by him for an­ other publication, and he trusts thatits reproduction, if only for the sakeof comparison, with some slight addi­ tions, may not be out of place here in awork professedly on modern pursuits. The chapter on the "Rise and Progress of Modern Athletics" has been compiled from information found in fileosf BelVs Life in London, andis believed to be in the main part correct, although a few chronological errors may doubtless have crept in. The observations on "the Management ofAthletic Meetings" are in some measure derived from personal experience, and will perhaps prove useful to provincial committees desirous of instituting athleticgatherings. The regula­ tions in this chapterare chiefly founded on a set of rules originated by the West London Rowing Club, and the conditions in forceat the Amateur Athletic Club compe­ titions. For training, the chief works consulted have been " Training in Theoraynd Practice," by A. Maclaren; " Training forPedestrianism, &c.,"by C. West^all; and " Hints on Training," by J. G-. Chambers. To these authors I desireto express my many obligations and warm acknowledgments. A large mass of University and Public School statistics habdeen collected, but want