Running Recollections and How to Train

4 I was educated at Watson's College, Edinburgh, Ports- month Grammar School, and the Edinburgh Institution. Watson's, admirableplace of education though it may be, filled my childish soul with loathing. The only part ofmy school life that I cared about was the approach of the annual schoolgames. At only one of these was I allowed to compete, although I was a scholar there for nearly five years. Once I was prostrated by a severe illness, and again, while taking partwith some youthful companions in some races beforehand, I strained my heart, andmy mother, backed up by the doctor, forbademe to run. I remember the latter occasion well, though it is as long- as 13 years ago. My mother, to make sure, hid my " running things." Nothing daunted, I went down to the ground and tried to borrow some. My efforts proved unsuccessful, andupon my presenting myselffor the "100, under 14," inmy ordinary clothes, I was indignantly asked where my " uniform" was. Not liking toadmit thatit had been hidden by my fond parent, I invented some excuse, which, however, was of no avail, and I was reqtiested to remove myself from the track. I did. I went home and wept bitterly. At Watson's, nevertheless, I pulled oft' my first race. In the yearof grace, 1885,I won the 100 yardsfor boys under 13. The year after I ran at the Inter-Scholastic Sports, which were open to all Scottish schools, and again proved successful, breaking the tape two yards ahead of another Watson's boy,one Johnny Curry by name. I was then sent to Portsmouth Grammar School to be coached for a naval appointment, and remained there nearly two years. At this time I was very small for my age, standing barely4ft. 9in. 1 ran at theschool sports, which took place on the Saturday previous to Jubilee Day, and