The Pedestrian's Record

3° the pedestrian's record. such mettle or hecould not have given a true or graphic £> description of their deeds. The swift-footed Achilles was a good runner, and we are told that after the loss of BriseisandChryseis.he consoled himself in his tent by playing theharp and singing;heconsequently possessed a knowledge of music, which strengthened his nervous system ; and that he was an athlete Homer testifies in pronouncing him to have been swift of foot, and of so powerful a voice that the Trojans bolted when he shouted. His lung power stood him in stead at the military sports, if they ever had any, and if not, this man was a representative athlete and warrior of the time, when strength of body, swiftness of foot, and endurance formed the most important characteristics of a Grecian hero. It has been contended by some that the ancients were stronger men than those of the present, whilst others have asserted that the various athletic exercises which are now so common are performed by men superior in strength and dexterity to those of older times. The fact of who is right or who is wrong cannot be proved with mathematical certainty, but a glimpse into the past may assist us in arriving at a somewhat satisfactory conclusion ; not that this will in any way help us to train, neither will it conduce much to our athletic superiority, but as a matter of historical research may possess some attractive information. There can be no doubt that the menof the past were stronger than those of the present, if history is to be relied on, for we read of feats of strength in some