The Cruise of the Branwen

THE OLYMPIC GAMES from the typical fact that England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are, for the purpose of these Games, taken as" one country," and can therefore send out only twelve representatives to complete in the hundred yards. No professionals whatever are allowed to compete in any of the Games in any capacity, or to take any share at all in their organisation. It must never be forgotten, too, in this connection, that the meeting at Shepherd's Bush is by no means either a fresh opportunity for competition between English, Scotch, Irish, and Welsh athletes, or a mere exhibition of the various sports developed by British activity. It will, on the contrary, be a serious (I was about to say a desperate) endeavour on our part to hold our own against all comers in a programme com– posed of those sports which have attained sufficient popularity outside the English-speaking com– munity to justify their inclusion in an international meeting. Several things follow from this principle. The first is that it would be grotesque to offer the rest of the world prizes in such games as cricket: as well might America include base– ball, or Spain pelota. The competitions would be so limited in scope as to lose all general interest. The next result is that the four sections of the United Kingdom must be content, for the time, to be mere geographical expressions; for it is only by the most sincere and enthusiastic union that we can hope to withstand the combined onset of the picked athletes of every other nation. Thirdly, the most careful tests must be carried out in every part of the country to produce the 10