It is unnecessary here for me to enlarge upon the immense advantage to be gained from the simultaneous development of physical and mental power; that subject has been so fully treated, and the beneficial results so conclusively demonstrated, by those who have studied the matter from a scientific and medical point of view, particularly in connection with the Swedish system, that any argument of mine would be out of place. I can only say that I am firmly convinced that the brain is better developed, and is more capable of sustained effort, if its growth be accompanied by a proportionate physical development than in the case of the brain over-developed without any corresponding bodily improvement.

I desire here to say a few words upon the subject of the best method of athletic training in schools. I am of course aware that superlative excellence and cases of remarkable prowess are to a great extent inborn - or to put the converse, that some boys and men, however much they practise, will never succeed in reaching the standard readily attained by born athletes. But superlative excellence in special cases is by no means that which is most to be aimed at. Innate talent for any pursuit will as a rule develop itself whatever be its surroundings, but I think at all public schools boys should be taught to run properly. There is as much difference between good running and bad running as there is between good rowing and bad rowing, and the standard of excellence will be certainly increased by a high normal standard among the average boys.

To mention one other point, it will be admitted that no boy is more likely to do harm in a school than the loafer. Ask the masters of any public school what class of boys cause them the most anxiety, or bring the least credit on a school; they will tell you the boys who loaf, and have no zest for play or work.

Numbers of boys are not strong enough to play football, or arc not successful at cricket, and cannot afford the expense of racquets. To many of these the incentive to exercise by the prospect of being able to compete in races and other athletic tests is an incalculable benefit, particularly if one or more of the masters, who have often themselves been distinguished in muscular pursuits, superintend and take an interest in their training and practice.

All boys should, in my opinion, be made to take some regular exercise of the kind best suited to them, and in the first instance under regular and careful supervision.

Attention to such a matter as this will prevent boys from being made to play games for which they are not adapted; for instance, very little practice or tuition in running would find out the boys who are unfitted for football or incapable of extreme exertion; and, again, the boys who show a turn of speed in advance of their age will develop more rapidly into high-class performers. 1 am, however, altogether opposed to any boys being made to race too long distances, particularly game and plucky boys who do not know when they are beaten. I think no boy under fourteen should run a race of greater length than half a mile; he may trot longer distances so as to strengthen the muscles of the feet, legs, and back, care being taken that he runs throughout as much as possible in good form.

Only those who have had personal experience of results have the slightest idea of the improvement made by a few lessons in the proper style of running, getting well on to the toes with a springy tread, the hips working freely, the chest out and arms well carried. I am satisfied that the growth of boys is improved, and that their lungs are strengthened, by moderate and judicious coaching.

In strong corroboration of this I would call attention to the extraordinary improvement in times and performances which has taken place during the last twenty years. This has, no doubt, been to a certain extent due to a circumstance to which I have already referred - namely, the inaccuracy of the old records both as to distances and times; but, allowing for unwarranted conclusions based on comparison, there can be little doubt that five-and-twenty years ago the number of men who in ordinary con -dition could run a mile in five minutes was exceedingly few, so much so that anything under five minutes was supposed to be good time for amateurs, whereas at the present time 4 min. 30 sec. may be taken to be below the standard of first-class performances, and, as the following pages will show, the mile has been run by undoubted amateurs under 4 min. 25 sec. The improvement in the quarter-mile is quite as remarkable, although it was more speedily attained, being due to improvement in style. Between 1865 and 1872 the standard time was reduced from 55 seconds to 50 and 51; the time of the other distances - as, for instance, half-mile and three miles - has correspondingly improved.

In the hurdles it is exceedingly difficult to make out any comparison; nor do 1 think there has been the same improvement in pace, although the number of first-class performers has increased enormously.

Probably the most remarkable instance is the im provement in jumping, both in height and length. It is not many years ago that to clear six feet was considered beyond human powers, and to cover 22 ft. 6 in. and 23 ft. little short of an impossibility, and yet both these feats have been performed by more than one athlete. I do not wish to close these observations without some reference to such contests as throwing the hammer and putting the weight: in my opinion they are contests which should be encouraged, as they afford scope to those who are unable to compete in running and jumping, and are very valuable for the development of the chest and arms.

The same arguments may also with justice be employed in favour of walking; and while on the subject of walking, I wish to call particular attention to the extraordinary feats of long-distance walking which have been performed in late years, by which I mean distances of 40 and 50 miles and upwards, which are, in my opinion, of far greater value than the so-called performances of walking eight or more miles in the hour by a mode of progression so nearly resembling a shamble or trot as to defy the most watchful of judges. I have known many instances of development of chest, lungs, and great improvement of general stamina, resulting in a vastly improved constitution, from steady walking of long distances.

I gladly take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the great services rendered to athletic pursuits by the late J. G. Chambers. Esq., of Eton and Cambridge, who for years devoted himself to initiating and maintaining contests of all kinds, and by his untiring energy and foresight did probably more than any one in modern times to maintain and improve the standard of athletics among both amateurs and professionals.

Before concluding, it is right that I should say one word upon that which may be called the moral aspect of athletics. That their practice tends to encourage self-control, self-reliance, without undue confidence, and a proper appreciation of other men's merits, there can be no doubt; moreover, they promote that spirit of good-fellowship which enables the beaten man to go up and honestly congratulate the victor who has conquered him; but, beyond this, as I have already said, the contests and gatherings offer the opportunity of making lasting friendships and connections which are often of the greatest value in after life. A reputation once earned by the boy or man in such pursuits follows him to other professions, and has more than once contributed in no small degree to early success in the work of life. To those who in the past or in the present have taken interest in athletic sports, or wish to know their history, or who feel, as I do, that they afford the opportunity of innocent and healthy pleasure, as well as of bodily development, I commend the study of these pages, compiled by one who has ample means of knowledge, and a ripe judgment with which to gauge the accuracy and authenticity of any records of the performances which he describes.

RICHARD E. WEBSTER Temple: October 1887.