The Cruise of the Branwen

THE OLYMPIC GAMES M. Averoff, a wealthy Greek merchant of Alexan– dria. It was in I 906 certainly one of the most impressive buildings of the kind I had ever seen. But though considerably smaller than the English amphitheatre of 1908, it enjoys a setting which po other structure can ever equal, for above it are Lycabettus and the Acropolis. This makes it even more unfortunate that so permanent and costly a structure should necessitate a cinder– track with corners that are practically im– possible for high speed, and a central enclosure too narrow for the proper arrangement of competitions that should take place on grass. The javelin competition, for instance, nearly proved fatal to the runners in the five-mile race. But on the whole the Games of 1906 in Athens were a distinct success ; and it was a most fortu– nate omen that our King and Queen, with the Prince and Princess of Wales, saw the Games at Athens, and expressed their unqualified approval of the meeting and its various events. They are certain, too, to sympathise with ideals that are far wider than would be implied by a mere contest for athletic prizes, as was shown by Baron Pierre de Coubertin's meeting in the Comedie Fran– ~aise. His whole Olympic movement embraces plans for literature and art, and for an international education on the broadest physical .and mental lines, that shall progressively benefit, not merely by Olympic Games, but by such an interchange of opinions as that produced at the yearly con– ferences already held in London, Berlin, Paris' 102