The Cruise of the Branwen

THE OLYMPIC GAMES had moved towards this huge marble arena, until at least 50,000 people were massed in the vast horseshoe with its long straight sides, at the end of which a fine entrance of columnar architecture has been built. By three o'clock a brilliant group filled the grand stand on the inside of the curve opposite the entrance, and the King and Queen of Greece, the King and Queen of England, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the whole of the Greek royal family, surrounded by officers in uniform, made up a splendid centre in a most impressive scene. A burst of cheering heralded the advance of the athletes to a space between two marble columns, on which a pair of carven heads, recovered from some ancient temple and wreathed in living laurel, recalled the first Olympic Games of Hellas. A long blast sounded on the bugles, and the King of Greece declared the Games were open. A few gymnastic exhibitions followed, the most pleasing of which was that given by the Danish girls, short-skirted and neat-legged, led by a teacher in grave flowing robes and abundant light golden hair. Colonel Balck's Swedish team also gave an almost excessive testimony to the practical results of that gentleman's persis– tent and enthusiastic energy in the cause of national calisthenics. I am bound to say, how– ever, that my patience did not last as long as that of the royal spectators, who stayed to watch the combined evolutions of massed gymnastic teams long after I had left the stadium. Two of our party dined that night at the Palace; 64-