PROPER classification of the Athletic Clubs should put the Colleges at the head of the list. Doubtless the Presidents of Princeton, or Yale, or Harvard would object to their ancient institutions being indexed as Athletic Clubs. Yet, whether their motive be educational or advertising, the colleges are making athletics as much of a pursuit as is any of the avowed athletic associations, and the facilities that are offered by them are the most complete and systematic that can be found any where. The whole body of undergraduates is imbued with the spirit of athletics, and the external form of college life is fashioned about the intercollegiate contests. It was the larger colleges that first caught the Athletic Impulse that has been a distinguishing feature of the past twenty-five years. And indeed, it may fairly be said that it has been their influence more than any

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other single cause that has been responsible for the growth of the athletic spirit that has lifted the American nose from the grindstone of business, that has developed in the American people a keenness for outdoor sports, and that has made the rising generation so big and lusty and pleasant to look upon. The intercollegiate contests have awakened the interest of thousands unconnected with the colleges that participate, and have given to athletics a tone and a favor that is undeniable. And the summer dispersion of the undergraduates, with their ducks and Madras shirts and brier pipes and brown skins, has provided a strong athletic leaven for the vacation communities.

The first evidence of the spreading of the athletic impulse outside of the colleges was the formation of the New York Athletic Club, in 1868. Before that time the Caledonian Societies used to give Athletic Games at which the canny Scots tossed the caber, ran footraces, and drank good Scotch whiskey in honor of Robbie Burns and the domestic affections. There were boat

the vicinity of New York, whose used to row to the historic Fields in Hoboken and there ize impromptu games. But there no association in existence formed ch the single purpose and definite aim of cultivating manly sports and athletic exercises, until the New York Athletic

The Boat-house.

Club called itself into being and endeavored to fashion its life upon the model of the London Athletic Club.

The first phase of existence upon which the athletic clubs entered in this country was simple enough. Track athletics in reality comprised the whole of their trade. The ideal athletic club twenty-five years ago consisted of a vacant city block, with a high board fence about it (usually let out to advertisers), a cinder track, and a set of bleachers. A boat-house with an equipment of shells, even if a long distance from the athletic field, was deemed a great luxury, while a thoroughly fur

nished gymna

sium was looked upon as the ultimate goal to ward which all the energies of the club might be directed.

Until about 1874, the athletic clubs met with only moderate success, but at that time the tide began to run very strongly toward them. And so rapid has been their development since that time, that their founders have in many instances been unable to keep up with them. Just as soon as it was discovered that athletics were in the way of a boom, with proper American spirit all hands interested set to work to make their own athletic clubs just as big as possible. The consequence was that the membership of the athletic clubs lost its distinctively athletic character. While perhaps a sporting tendency animated the whole, a great part of the "boom members were more interested in watching others exercise than in getting in the "rigor of the game themselves. Immediately the task was set for the directors to furnish attractions for this weakly athletic element, and immediately they began to reach out for the facilities of a social club, and later for the luxury of a country club. Soon it be