ever been more'n eight blades of grass in the whole place, and five of
those was ate up six years ago by a donkey that was so hungry he didn't
know any better, and he isn't sure but what one of the other three was
killed by the intense cold of last winter. That, of course, spoils all
chances for picnics. Even if all the grass was left, you couldn't have
much of a picnic on eight blades, anyhow, and besides, they didn't all
grow in the same place. It must be a queer old spot, that Hoboken, and I
can't say I see how Pop ever made up his mind to go there. He says he
can't help going there, but seems to me that must be a mistake, because
a man as old as he is can generally manage to do about what he pleases.
If it wasn't that we were going the long way, I kind of think I'd ask
Pop to leave me home, and ask your Pop if he wouldn't take care of me
this summer. You know what I mean about the long way, I suppose? You
Boston boys generally do know all about everything; but in case you
don't, I'll tell you that there's two ways of getting there. One way
takes about ten minutes, and the other way takes three months. We're
going the three-months way. You get on a ferry-boat to go the short way,
but it takes an ocean steamer about two blocks long and a fog-horn on it
to take you the long way. We're to get aboard of the steamer _New York_,
go across to a place called Southhampton, where we take the cars for
London. You've heard about London, I guess. Pop says it's the Boston of
Europe, and the people there speak the same language; and I guess he is
right, because he knows a man that's been there, and saw the Queen.
After that we're going over to Paris, where Napolean Bonaparte lived,
and Pop says he'll show me lots of fine things there, and maybe, if he's
got time, will teach me how to speak French; and when I come back I'll
teach you how to speak it; and then if we ever have any secrets, we can
talk 'em right out loud before the girls, and they'll never know what
we're talking about.
[Illustration]
The next station we stop at will be Geneva. That's in Switzerland, and
it's where they make watches. And while we're in Switzerland Pop's going
to show me every Alp he can find, and he says if I behave myself he'll
get me some snow and let me make a snowball in midsummer. Just think of
that! Snowballs in winter is fun, but in July! My! Eh? I'm going to try
to get him to let me have a sled, and go coasting down one of the
glaziers, and if he does I'll tell you all about it; and maybe we'll get
some skates and skate up Mount Blank on 'em. Talk about your views!
Mount Blank is more'n twice as high as Mount Washington, and snow and
ice most all the way. Just think of the bully slide it'll be coming
down!
[Illustration]
Then we're going to go over the Alps in a train that runs through
tunnels that jirates like a corkscrew. You go in at the foot of the
hill, and sort of meander around inside the mountain until you come out
on top, and when you get over finally you're in Italy. There we're going
over a few lakes and end up at Milan, after which we're going to Venice.
That'll be fine. Venice is built right out in the ocean, and if you're
in a hurry to get across the street you've got to row over or swim. My
bathing-suit'll come in handy there.
After Venice we're going to Genoa, where Christopher Columbus was born,
and from there we go by another steamer through the Mediterranean sea,
which Uncle Joe says is made of blewing, to Gibraltar; on from there to
those Azores Islands, where the stamps you swapped for my paper pencil
came from, and that's the last stop till we get to Hoboken.
I thought I'd write and let you know about this so you'd know why I
didn't turn up at the White Mountains. I'll miss you like everything,
but I'll miss you less if you'll write to me once a week and tell me all
that's going on. I'll write to you, and maybe, after all, we'll get some
fun out of it. If Sandboys is at the hotel this summer with any of his
stories about bears and things, please let me know all he tells you, and
whenever I see anything exciting I'll tell you.
Good-by for the present.
Affectionately yours, BOB.
[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS]
To become a successful broad-jumper the athlete must, to a certain
extent, combine the skill of the sprinter, the high-jumper, and the
hurdler, for the event now under discussion is a sort of combination of
the other three. Like every other athletic feat, this one requires
systematic work both of the body and the head, and persistent,
continuous effort before any kind of form can be developed.
THE RUNNING BROAD JUMP.
From instantaneous photographs taken of Robert F. Lyons.
[Illustration: 1.]
[Illustration: 2.]
[Illustration: 3.]
[Illustration: 4.]
[Illustration: 5.]
[Illustration: 6.]
The first difficulty for the novice to overcome is the laying out of his
run and the arrangement of his take-off. These details are both of the
highest importance, for although he may be a good sprinter and a good
jumper, these two qualities are nullified if the take-off is uncertain.
The run differs with almost every individual, each athlete must
determine this for himself by experiment. It is necessary to lay out two
marks on the cinder track; the first one must be a given number of
strides this side of the take-off, and the second at a distance further
back, to suit the taste of the jumper. Bloss, for instance, counts back
nine strides from the take-off to his first mark, and then goes back a
dozen strides further. Lyons, whose jump is illustrated by the pictures
above, goes back only eight strides from the take-off for his first
mark, and about a hundred and five feet to the start of his run. Let us
call, for convenience, the mark nearest the take-off the first mark, and
the other the second mark. These have been laid out so that the jumper
may feel certain that if his jumping foot, whether it be the right or
the left, strikes fairly upon the first it will also come squarely upon
the take-off, and the jump will be a good one.
It sometimes happens in contests that the conditions of the wind or of
the track will be such that these marks will have to be slightly
altered; and every athlete should be careful to examine the runway
before his event is called, so as to be able to fix the points that he
must depend upon for his success.
The position for the start of the broad jump is the same as that which
used to be taken by sprinters a few years ago, before the present
leaning-over method was adopted, and is illustrated by the first
picture. The jumping foot, in this case the right foot, is on the
starting mark, with the other slightly in advance. The sprinter starts
down the track, measuring his strides carefully so as to come properly
upon the first mark, and then he sprints at his greatest speed down the
track to the take-off. If he has measured his distances correctly, he
will land, as is shown in No. 3, with his jumping foot squarely upon the
take-off. If he feels that he has gotten out of his stride, it is better
not to make the jump at all, but to stop, for over-stepping the mark by
a few inches will ruin the jump, and under-reaching the mark will
detract just that much from the measure of his effort.
The act of the jump itself is where the greatest effort of muscle and
nerve is required. Just before coming to the take-off, say at the last
step, the athlete should gather himself together and crouch as low as
his great speed will permit, and bring his jumping foot down as hard as
possible upon the take-off, at the same time throwing his hands forward
and upward. Bringing down the foot with such power serves to throw the
body into the air, and this movement is aided by the lifting of the
arms. The hardest strain comes on the back muscles, just as in
high-jumping. The eyes should be fixed on some distant high point rather
than on the ground where the jump will probably end. This seems to give
a better "aim," and in many cases adds an inch or so to the distance.
The fourth picture shows the jumper just after he has left the take-off.
The next sees him well on his way, with his legs curled up close under
the chin, and his arms reaching out far forward, so as to throw the
balance as much as possible in that direction.
As he comes down the jumper should hold his feet as far forward as he
can, in order to gain every inch that is to be had, and he should also
keep his head and arms forward, so as not to lose his equilibrium and
fall backward, thus making his jump void. The last picture shows the
correct attitude for the end of the flight through the air, the feet
being well ahead of the trunk, but the arms and the head held so far
forward that they will bring the body along, too, as soon as the feet
dig into the soft earth below. The feet should be kept well together on
landing in the jumping-box, and a good broad-jumper will never allow
himself to fall forward on his hands, but will always resume his erect
position, and walk out of the soft earth, instead of rolling out.
Training for broad-jumping consists mostly of hard practice in sprinting
short distances--say, from seventy-five to a hundred yards. This is to
acquire the highest speed for the runway. High-jumping should also be
practised, but the athlete should not attempt to become proficient in
the number of inches he can clear, but rather in the form with which he
covers a reasonable height. A spin now and then over the hurdles will
also do a great deal toward improving a broad-jumper's form. After the
athlete has become more or less a master of his event, he will find that
half a dozen jumps, two or three times a week, will be enough to keep
him in practice, and I should advise him by all means to rest for three
or four days before going into a contest. When the time for jumping at a
field-meeting arrives, never try to do the best work on the first jump.
Be satisfied to make your marks well and to catch the take-off squarely.
Do your very best on the second jump. Before making the first try,
however, take a spin around the track, and make one or two small short
jumps on the grass, so as to be thoroughly limbered up; otherwise, if
you have not softened your muscles, you might injure yourself on your
first attempt, and be laid up, as a result, for weeks.
The scheme for holding a large in-door interscholastic track-athletic
meeting, which has been under discussion for some weeks past by the
directors of the New Manhattan Athletic Club, has finally taken definite
shape, and the games are to be given in the Madison Square Garden on the
evening of March 28th. The New Manhattan Athletic Club, as is well
known, has recently come under a new management, and I have been led to
believe that, in the future, the much-tarnished cherry diamond will be
polished up and made to stand for purity in amateur sport, as
prominently as it was once degraded into representing exactly the other
extreme. There is every reason to believe that such will be the case, if
we may judge by the characters of the men at present in control.
These moving spirits have very wisely decided that the best way to
achieve prominence in the field of amateur sport is not to gather in the
reigning lights of the present, but to educate and bring forward their
own men. It may take a number of years to do this, but once it is
accomplished success will have been worthy of the effort. The plan is to
recruit membership from the young athletes of to-day, who are to become
the ruling athletes of the future. With this object in view the new club
will take the greatest interest in all school sports, and will strive to
assist school athletes in every possible way. The first step will be
this large in-door meeting, open to all the schools of the country.
The meeting will be held for the benefit of the schools, not for the
glorification of the club, and although the latter is to take entire
charge of the business end of the enterprise, the schools are to control
the rest. The plans, as yet, are not wholly completed, but doubtless
they will be in a few days.
What is determined thus far, however, is that the meeting will be held
at the Madison Square Garden on March 28th, beginning at eight o'clock
in the evening. The events will be 75-yard dash, 220-yard dash, 440-yard
run, 880-yard run, 1-mile run, 1-mile walk, 75 yards over the low
hurdles, running high jump, putting the 12-pound shot, pole vault, and a
relay race. There will probably also be a relay race for college teams.
The entrance fee for each event will be fifty cents, and the entries
will close on March 21st. The events will be open to the school-boy
athletes of the United States, the eligibility of contestants to be
governed by the rules of the N.Y.I.S.A.A. (Here is the first occasion
where the importance of a National Association is made evident. If the
constitution of the N.I.S.A.A.A. were only completed now so as to cover
in-door as well as out-door contests, the rules of the general body
would have been adopted for the N.M.A.C. games!) The New York
association has been amending its laws within the past few weeks, and it
is too late at the present writing for me to make sure that the
eligibility rules have not been changed with the others. For the
benefit, however, of members of other associations who will enter these
games in March, this Department will publish next week the regulations
that are to govern the entries.
It is the plan at present to invite teams and individuals from every
school near enough to this city to send delegates. It is expected that
the Boston and Philadelphia schools will send large delegations, for
this is practically the first in-door meeting, open to all schools, that
has ever been held on such a scale. The relay races will no doubt prove
exciting, and it will be interesting to compare the work done by the
school and college teams.
The feature of this scheme which should particularly appeal to those of
us who are clamoring for a diminution of the evils of athletics is that
the entire business management of the affair is taken completely out of
the hands of the students. If this might only always be so!
Of minor in-door games there will be plenty in the next six weeks. The
Barnard games are to be held next Saturday, the 8th, in the Eighth
Regiment Armory, and promise to be well attended. Moore and Washburn
ought to be heard from in the runs, and the latter has also been doing
some good work over the hurdles. Wilson, who surprised the know-alls in
the junior events last spring, is another Barnard man that will be well
up in the front, although Leech of Cutler's will make him do his best.
Freshman relay teams have been invited to compete from the neighboring
colleges, and a number of acceptances have already been received.
Relay races are about the most interesting contests to put on an in-door
programme, and I am glad to see that the event is coming into such wide
popularity. There is a greater element of interest in such a race
because it involves team-work, and team-work is always more attractive
than individual work. And then again, where a solid body of supporters
are encouraging one team, while similar crowds are urging on another,
the enthusiasm and rivalry reach a far more inspiriting level than in
any other case.
These races also afford an opportunity for smaller schools, that have
not any particularly able athletes, to send representatives in the form
of a relay team, and such a team from a small school, if well trained,
stands as good a chance of success as the runners from any larger
institution, because success depends upon team-work. If relay races
become fixed events on the in-door card, it is probable that the country
schools--such as Lawrenceville, the Hill, and others--will eventually
regularly enter a team at one or more of the winter meetings here. I
think it very probable, from information already at hand, they will send
teams to the new Manhattan Athletic Club meeting in March.
A number of school papers, in referring editorially to the National
Interscholastic A. A. A., speak of it as the "International"
Association. Now there is nothing international about the new
organization, and many persons are liable to be led into a misconception
of the Association's objects if this term is continually mis-applied to
it. The N. I. S. A. A. A. is a purely American affair, and has been
organized for the purpose of encouraging and promoting amateur sport in
the schools of this country alone. That, as we all know, is a big enough
undertaking in itself. The other nations will have to take care of
themselves!
That the National Association is to be a power for good, there can be
little doubt. Its rules will be of the most stringent kind, and the fact
that the majority of interscholastic leagues now in existence are
hastening to join the larger body shows pretty conclusively that they
appreciate the value of a strong governing head. Another result of the
new venture is the organization of additional school leagues. I spoke
last week of the coalition newly made by Lawrenceville, the Hill School,
and Hotchkiss Academy. A call has now been issued for a convention of
the New Jersey schools, for the purpose of forming an association in
that section. The convention is to be held at the High-School, West
Fifth Street, Plainfield, New Jersey, February 8th, at 10 o'clock in the
morning.
THE GRADUATE.
[Illustration: STAMPS]
This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin
collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question
on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address
Editor Stamp Department.
An accumulation of answers to correspondents makes it impossible to
illustrate the remainder of the rare Confederate Locals in this issue. I
shall try to finish the list next week. Meanwhile, I advise all readers
of the ROUND TABLE in the Southern States to look over any
correspondence of the year 1861.
A correspondent sent me some Cape of Good Hope stamps to pass on, all of
which proved to be counterfeits. By mistake these stamps were returned
to another correspondent. Will the receiver kindly return the stamps to
the Editor of this Department, in care of Harper & Brothers?
H. S. RIEDERER.--All coins made in Philadelphia are without any
special mint mark. Of the other mints the marks on coins are as
follows: O. for New Orleans; D. for Dahlonega; C. for Carolina;
C.C. for Carson City; S. for San Francisco.
R. W. L.--Dealers ask from $27 to $30 for a complete set of
Columbian stamps unused, and pay from $23 to $26 for the same, if
in good condition, well centred, original gum, etc.
M. F. EASTON.--The green Centennial envelope is sold for 25c.
C. R. BRAGDAN.--Many firms in England have all their stamps
perforated with their initials to prevent theft. This perforation
destroys the value of the stamp, whether used or unused, except for
postal service, and identifies the owner of the stamps. Russian
coins are not collected in this country.
A. CARRIER.--A Columbian dollar stamp with holes punched in the
same has little value. Collectors want whole stamps or none.
W. P.--The $5 gold coin is a common date. It is worth face only.
G. M. KELLEY.--See ROUND TABLE of December 17, 1895, for the value
of U.S. cents.
R. BENNETT.--"The Union" is a token, not a coin. It has no value.
The 3c. U. S. purple stamp, used, is worth 1c.
H. M. BALDWIN.--U.S. coins so badly worn that the date can not be
read have no premium.
S. J. DAYTON.--If the 3c. coin is in "mint" condition--that is,
practically just as it came from the mint, not in the least worn,
dealers in coins may pay half the catalogue value. It is not rare
in ordinary good condition.
H. W. TICKNOR.--See answers to S. J. Dayton and H. S. Riederer.
E. C. WOOD.--I do not recognize any variety from your description.
Probably you mean the 1890 and 1894 U.S. stamps. The last named are
printed from the 1890 plates, with the addition of a triangle on
the upper left and upper right corners.
PHILATUS.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
[Illustration: Royal Baking Powder]
Arnold
Constable & Co
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Jackets,
Wraps,
Costumes.
_The balance of our Winter Stock at large reduction from original cost.
This is a good opportunity to purchase seasonable and useful garments
for very little money._
* * * * *
Broadway & 19th st.
NEW YORK.
_After the beady, sparkling draughty,--who wants the dregs?--The DE LONG
Patent Hook and Eye is the original._
_See that_
_hump?_
[Illustration]
_Richardson_
_& De Long Bros.,_
_Philadelphia._
CARDS
FOR 1896. 50 Sample Styles AND LIST OF 400 PREMIUM ARTICLES FREE.
HAVERFIELD PUB. CO., Cadiz, Ohio.
[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water]
[Illustration: BICYCLING]
This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our
maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.
[Illustration: Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.]
This week we give the last stage of the journey from Philadelphia or New
York to Washington. Taking up the route from Cooksville, the run into
Washington to the Capitol is between thirty-two and thirty-three miles.
On leaving the cross-roads in the centre of the town, run south to
Glenwood, thence direct to Roxbury Mills, straight on through the
village to Unity, keeping always on the main road to Brookville. The
distance is about ten miles over a road that is not of the best, and has
some pretty bad places. It is, in the main, sandy loam, and the rider
should keep in mind that he is to avoid coasting down most of the hills,
and, in fact, will do well to only ride down the hills where he can see
the bottom, as there are one or two which it would be as well to avoid,
in view of the sharp turns and disagreeable lay of the land at the
bottom. From Brookville to Olney, and then on to Norbeck, is a clear
road and in much better condition, being a regular turnpike
thoroughfare. It is difficult to miss the way, in spite of one or two
forks between Olney and Norbeck. The road is in much better condition,
and improves between Wheaton and Sligo, which is just on the Maryland
side of the line between Maryland and the District of Columbia. About
half a mile out of Sligo take the right fork and cross the railroad,
which at this point runs along the Maryland line. Immediately upon
crossing you are in the District of Columbia, and from here into
Washington the road is in admirable condition. It is about five miles
from Wheaton to the District of Columbia line, and a good five miles
further into the city of Washington. The route lies through Brightwood
on by a straight pike road through Pleasant Plains into the city, where
the Arlington is perhaps the best hotel for a cyclist's purpose.
It should be noted that all the rides in the vicinity of Washington,
especially on the Virginia side, but to a certain extent on the north as
well as the south, are apt to be very bad during wet weather. The clay
formation of the ground forms a soft mud during a rainy period, which,
if it does not make bicycling impossible, makes it most disagreeable and
unsatisfactory in every way. This is especially true if you take the run
from Washington to Mount Vernon, the best route for which being on the
Virginia side. Here it is almost impossible to get along after much
rain. This route, however, should be taken, as Mount Vernon, being one
of the important places in the vicinity of Washington, should
unquestionably be visited. To take this route, cross the river by the
bridge to Jackson City, and from this point it is easy to find the road,
which is fourteen miles down the river on the Virginia side.
This completes the continuous journey from Philadelphia to Washington,
and the reader of this Department can easily fill out the entire journey
from New York to Washington by looking up the maps already published in
the ROUND TABLE. By taking these and studying them out carefully, it
will be seen that the journey can be laid out in stages of whatever
length is most suitable for the particular rider who is considering
them. As we have published them, they are in short stages of between
thirty and forty miles, and ordinarily good riding. He could take two of
these stages a day, which would divide the journey from New York into
half, and at a pinch he could make the run from New York to Philadelphia
in one day, though that is a rather long ride for even the best; but by
taking two days to reach Philadelphia, and four, or even three, to make
the run from Philadelphia to Washington, not much time is taken,
although the route from Philadelphia to Washington which we have given
will require more than that amount.
[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB]