PEDESTRIAN FEATS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2192, 5 March 1881, Page 3

PEDESTRIAN FEATS.

The “ Hawke’s Bay Herald, ” in a recent issue, thus discourses on “ Athletics Run to Seed,” and with some show of reason :—“ Robinson undertakes to do a hundred miles in twenty-four hours, or some such useless feat. He straightway • goes into training,’ advertises his intended feet, get a track carefully prepared, and starts on his walk with a dozen enthusiastic amateurs, two or three friends, who at intervals squirt gingerbeer over his face, and a few hundred spectators, who seem to imagine that the undertaking is one of singular merit, and worthy of the support of their half-crowns. Reports of the progress of the walking match are telegraphed to all the journals in the country, the illustrated papers devote an engraving or two to it, and Robinson becomes the idol of the muscular school. Then a dozen amateurs try to emulate the feat, and perhaps injure themselves for life by their folly. From ‘ colonial ’ contests Robinson passes to ‘ intercolonial,’ and then to ‘ international,’ and Reuter faithfully records his performances. The only practical result is the corruption of the Rnglish language by the addition of the vile word ‘ walkist.' Next, we have scullers roaming the world over, idolised, feted, and caressed if they win, and abused like pickpockets if they lose. Cricketing is next dragged from the arena of sports and made a commercial speculation. Truly, athletics have run to seed. Sport is not indulged in for sport’s sake, or from a healthy love of excelling in athletics, but it is degraded to a medium for money-making. Sport in its true sense is elevating, healthy, and necessary, but, as the ‘ professional ’ athletes of the day understand it, it is none of these, but rather degrading, demoralising, and unhealthy.”