THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1880. FASHIONABLE ATHLETICS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2114, 2 December 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1880. FASHIONABLE ATHLETICS.

“ To be out of fashion is to be out of the world” is an adage believed in to a large extent not only by those who spend their time solely in the pursuit of pleasure and social distinction, but by numbers of others who are hardly aware that they are following out the maxim. And it is not alone in the matter of dress that fashion rules with a giant’s force, for in nearly all the varied lines which serve to make the life of man as varied as a kaleidoscope is its influence felt. In art, in science, in education, even in religion the fashion of the day guides the artist, the scientist, the master, and the preacher; and should these individuals dare to strike out of the beaten track they are voted behind the times, and suffer in consequence. And one of the peculiarities of this fashion is that it appears to revolve in circles, returning at certain intervals to the old point, from which it again starts to commence a new revolution. In the matter of feminine dress, hoops reappear at stated intervals, their innate hidoousness not at all interfering with the regularity of the apparition; in art, the preraphaelite style has its periodical innings; in science certain so-called improvements have their day and vanish; in education the classical and natural philosophical systems are advocated by turns; while, in religion, the student will discover cycles, in any one of which the creed of yesterday is denounced as the heresy of to-day. And this universal rule applies as strictly to athletic exercises as to anything else. The sporting world has its temporary craze in the usual unaccountable manner, a craze which falls upon it

as inevitably as does the measles on the child. At present the sporting community are suffering from a severe attack of aquatics. Trickett, Laycock, Hanlan, and Co. are the heroes ' of the hour. Cablegrams respecting the doings of these individuals are looked forward to with an interest not given to news of international diplomatic importance. Riza and Dervisch Pashas might have failed in the matter of the cession of Dulcigno, and not a tithe of the thrill would have passed through the community as did when Trickett was beaten by the Canadian sculler. And if it is asked why aquatics are in the ascendant, the sole answer that can be given is that they are at present the fashion. Their turn has come round, the aquatic dog is having his day, and the crafty propeller of the flimsy craft is pocketing the dollars. For the time being the affair is a novelty, and all else gives way for it. Every man and youth with the slightest pretentions to living up to his set must of necessity be well posted in the mysteries of the art. The sliding seat, the high and low “ feather,” the difference of style between the leading oarsmen must be as familiar as household words to everyone who would not be dubbed as hopelessly “slow.” Whether the individual in question has ever been in a racing boat is a matter of not the slightest importance; probably, if ho was placed in one he would immediately be capsized, or his bent back and cramped movements would give the spectator the impression that he was suffering from some painful internal complaint. But, this notwithstanding, he must be able to speak glibly on aquatic mysteries, or he is entirely out of the running. All this is extremely amusing to any one who has seen the fashion in athletic sports change with inevitable regularity. Twenty years ago running was the rage. Nothing was spoken of but the pace and endurance of the champions in the ten or twelve mile contests. International races were got up, and the same excitement that is now felt respecting Trickett and Laycock was then felt respecting Deerfoot, Jackson, and other professors. The amour propre of the Americans was satisfied with the fame of the first-named. Stories were told of his bringing up among his tribe on the prairies. The fact that he was on the point of scalping a hatter in the streets of Derby was looked upon as a charming episode, and altogether the runner and his friends had a very good time of it. But the fashion died out, and the more dangerous one of ballooning came in, which, however, did not last long, being principally confined to French performers. After one aeronaut and his wife had fallen into the North Sea, balloon and all, and had been hunted for miles by a fishing smack, and another had dropt out of his machine on to the curbstone in the neighborhood of London, the idea of ballooning as a popular amusement was given up, and walking took its place. Weston, O’Leary, and other professors astonished the world by walking untold distance at the Agricultural Hall, gently stimulated during the latter part of their progress by sympathizing friends. Women’s walking matches were held in America. The day of the walking machine and it friends was in the ascendant. And then, as if to prepare the way for the sculling mania, came the swimming mania. Boyton and his apparatus, looking together like an intelligent seal, floated themselves into an early grave, and Captain Webb astonished the world by out-leandering Leander. How long the present aquatic mania may last is not a matter of much importance. As long as it is now it will flourish, but it is as sure to go down shortly before something more novel, as is the present jersey in feminine attire certain to give place to another costume equally startling.