The Cruise of the Branwen

THE WREATH OF OLIVE But this is not quite true. The running-track of the Athenian stadium was certainly much better in 1906 than it was in 1896, for it was not merely the high class of the runners which produced I I-g- sec. in 1906 instead of 12 sec. in 1896 for the hundred metres; 16-g- sec. instead of 17i sec. for the hurdles; 53J sec. instead of 54-t sec. for the quarter; 2 min. I!- sec. instead of 2 min. I I sec. for the half ; and 4 min. I 2 sec. instectd of 4 min. 33-k sec. for the I 500 metres. But the track is still far from being what an international racecourse ought to be, and its four sharp corners make so cruel a demand on fast runners that good performances can never be certain. Hawtrey's magnificent time in the five miles was made at a cost of physical disablement which every one must deplore, and too many of the short races were won purely by tactics instead of by sheer speed alone. This can only be very slightly improved, owing to the confor– mation of the permanent architectural surround– ings. An arena seating 60,000 spectators is, of course, a valuable asset; but white marble is more interesting than comfortable in blinding sunshine. Originally built about 330 B.c., the Athenian stadium nearly exhausted the Pentelic quarries in its reconstruction by Herodes Atticus some 500 years later, and then fell gradually into decay. But excavations were begun by the King of Greece in 1870, and in anticipation of the revival of the Games in I 896 the stadium was splendidly restored by the munificence of 101