THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7971, 23 February 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1906.

In the latest number of the Nineteenth Century Magazine, -there appears an interesting article on "New Zealand Football," written while the "All-Blacks" were making their famous tour. The writer remarks that time was when the British athlete had uo equal ia the whole world. But in the last 25 years the men of the "younger nations," among whom the people of the United Sates must be included, have taught him many an unexpected lesson, and, except in the matter of long-distance running, be can no longer boast of his world wide m.premaoy. Iu physique, natural aptitude for all kinds of games, and in the qualities colleotively described as "bottom spirit" by criti-

oal followers of eighteenth-century athletics (see Captain Godfrey's "Art of the Sword" as worthy a work of art as Nyreu's "Chronicle of the Old flanibledon Cricketers") he is at least as good as auy of his pupils. But it is not to be denied that some of them have bruught a keener and more subtle intelligence to tear ou the development of their favourite pastimes. ***** In fipriuting, jumping and hammerthrowing, for exatuplo American athletes are ouperior to ours, not only because their methods of training are more thorough and scientific, but also, because they have invented new devices—for example, the curious twist of the body, which enables the high-jumper to | add from two to throe inches to bis record. Even if the American college institution of the free "traiong table I '—a seat at which is equivalent to a scholarship for athletics—became established at Oxford and Cambridge, our picked men would etill be slightly inferior to their American rivals in these leas trying contests. Again, the art of bowling has been greatly advanced b"* the Australian cricketers. They have taught our profesaionalsjthe advantage of persistent changes, and the deadly device of "swe-viag"—first practised by Mr P. R. Spofforth—lis really an Australian invention, though it has been accredited to Hirs.t and other English worthies. Mr Armstrong's plan of bowling outside the leg stump, with six or seven fielders out on that side, was the chief cricketing novelty of last season. It is justified from the scientific point of view by the faot that only balls pitohing on the on-side are likely to pass through the "blind spot" of the batsman's vision. ■/ * * * * * No doubt the time will oome when South African cricketers, who are rapidly improving, will have something to teaoh us. From Canada we have received tuition in lacrosse andalao in ourling, as evM-y Scottish practitioner of the game very well knows. But, after all, New Zealand has given us the most conclusive object-lesson in the art and soience of playing a cooperative game. It is not too much lo say that the New Zealand team have revolutionised the theory and praotiae of Rugby Union football. An account of the steps by which they attained their triumphant style is an interesting study in the evolution of a really fine pastime of co-operatire skill.