In the foregoing chapter we have shown how the pastimes of running, leaping, and hurling of weights, which have always been followed by Englishmen as a means of amusement and for the display of rivalry, began rather more than a quarter of a century ago to be developed into a systematic sport, and have come at the present time to be considered, like racing and cricket, as national institutions. As regards social attention, athletic sports were probably at their zenith from 1870 to 1875, for at that time the 'masses' had not begun to appear as amateur athletes upon the running-path. So far as wide-spread popularity amongst all classes is concerned, athletics have reached a height at the present time, from which they may possibly fall, but which they can hardly exceed. As every pastime has its day, and it is possible that another age may know no more of athletic sports than the present age knows of cam-buc or the quintain, it may not be out of place at the present time to try to present to the uninitiated reader such a meeting as may be witnessed to-day, so far as the pen can avail to describe a stirring scene of life and movement. Every pursuit has its classic days - days which are vividly impressed upon the memory of those who study the sport.

One of these was the Oxford and Cambridge meeting of 1876, when M. J. Brooks, the Dark Blue President, jumped 6 ft. 2 \ in. in height, when there was scarcely a foot of standing room at Lillie Bridge, and over 1,100l. was taken from the fashionable crowd that thronged to see Young Oxford compete against Young Cambridge. Another classic day was the championship meeting of 1881, when 12,000 people went to the Amateur Championship meeting at the Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham, to see the pick of the English. Irish, and Scotch athletes meet the Americans, Myers and Merrill, for the English championship titles. Yet another such was the championship meeting of 1886, held on July 3, at the London Athletic Club grounds at Stamford Bridge - a gathering which for more reasons than one deserves to be preserved in accurate recollection.

The first event upon the programme is fixed for three o'clock, and by that time some two thousand spectators have assembled. About five or six hundred of these are at the lower end of the ground in the open walk reserved for the 'shilling public'; the remainder are near the stands and on the gravel at the head of the ground. They have paid two shillings for admission, and by a glance at them you can see that many hail from the country, and that all have come for pure sport. There may be, perhaps, a hundred ladies on the ground, but not more. The championship is a 'business' meeting, and the majority of the spectators know thoroughly the form of the men competing, and are already discussing the chances. All open betting is forbidden by the rules of the Amateur Athletic Association; but where there are sporting men, some will have their fancy, and betting there will be, but for small and often trifling amounts, and almost entirely between friend and friend. The day is a perfect day for athletics, very warm, so that men's muscles are supple and without a trace of stiffness, and with a slight breeze blowing up towards the stands, so that the times of the runners in the sprint races and hurdles are sure to be fast.

And now, before the runners come out, let us take a glance at the centre of the ground. On a large table facing the grand stand, but within the railings, are set out the handsome silver challenge cups, which each winner holds for the year of his championship only, but of which he can never obtain the absolute possession. Between the cups as they stand on the table are spread the gold, silver, and bronze medals of the Association. Each winner is to receive a small gold championship medal, which, let us hope, will remain an heirloom in his family. The second man in each race has a silver medal to keep. The bronze medals are for a different purpose, and may be regarded more as certificates of merit than as prizes. In most of the competitions, when a man is plated neither first nor second, but has done a performance which is of championship merit - for instance, has finished his half-mile under 2 min. 2 sec, or his mile under 4 min. 30 sec. - he is awarded the 'standard' medal.1 No standard medals are given for the hundred yards or hurdle races, from the difficulty of satisfactorily fixing a standard and timing men to see whether they are within the standard time.

Close by the winning post are gathered the reporters and the officials, while the rest of the greensward enclosed by the railings and cinder track is bare; for the orders are strict that none but the recognised representatives of leading papers and the officials are to be allowed inside the enclosure. There are about a dozen reporters, therefore, inside the track with the officials. The judges, who have in athletics, as well as in all other work, arduous and delicate work, are all tried men. The first on the list is A. J. Puttick, an old runner of the London Athletic Club, whose gigantic form is always to be seen at a gathering at Stamford Bridge, sometimes, as now, in a frock coat and glossy hat, and at others in that quaint sesthetico-athletic garb which marks his double character of amateur athlete and amateur violoncellist. Close by him is 'Jack' Reay, who a few years ago was champion hurdler, and the best flat race runner in the Civil Service. These two, together with G. P. Rogers, the Secretary of the London Athletic Club, and C. H. Mason, of the same club, once amateur champion at a mile and ten miles, are four of the men who have led the athletic movement in the metropolis for the last dozen years, and are, perhaps, the four best judges in London. The two last named are both on the ground to-day as members of the committee, but are not judging.

The two other judges are E. B. Holmes, one of the best of the well-tried officials of the Midland district, and H. Beardsell, of the Huddersfield Athletic and Cricket Club, whose sound sense and judgment make him as able a judge as he is a debater on the councils of the Amateur Athletic Association. Besides the judges there is a referee, who has absolute discretion to decide when judges differ; but when the judges are up to their work, as on this occasion, the referee's position is an honourable sinecure. Then there is the starter, R. Cameron, of Liverpool, well known to stand no trifling from the runners. For some years the starter at these meetings has been the professional 'Tom' Wilkinson, of Sheffield, but Wilkinson being otherwise engaged on this afternoon, the popular voice pointed out Cameron as the best starter amongst amateurs. The starter is helped by a 'marksman,' who places the men on the scratch, so that the starter may not have to move from the position he has once taken up, and may fire his pistol when he likes. The marksman of to-day is C. V. Hunter, one of the leading spirits of the Blackheath Harriers' Club, who is to be seen upon every Saturday afternoon officiating in some capacity at an athletic meeting.