Obstacle

UR insular pride is not a pride of personal sedateness and dignity. our country and our country- men, and with reason ; but we

ridiculous fun—perhaps, we may not say, without undue vanity,

hearty think, 1f

because we have enough na ural dignity of

character to stand the strain of much tom- foolery without deterioration. Also we like to give our tomfoolery a sporting character, and have so done from the beginning. Climbing a greasy pole after a leg of mutton, eating hot hasty-pudding for a prize, and jumping in a sack, are not things which 1t 1s casy to imagine a crowd of Spaniards and Frenchmen indulging in with enjoyment. But perhaps the sporting clement 1s more acceptably incorporated with the comic In the obstacle race than in anything clse of the SOrt.

Obstacle races are of varymng sorts. Mcen may swim obstacle races in the water, may ride them on bicycles, or may run them on their own natural feet. The obstacle race is not a form of sport largely affected by the great Leadon clubs, on their sprucely-kept

T

grounds, but at country meectings, held in the handiest field, at scaside regattas, and among the diversions provided at a sporting festival organized by a larky crew of blue- jackets, the obstacle race Dbloometh and

We may be proud of

arc not above any amount of

Naces.

flourisheth exceedingly, and glorious and great 1s the congregation of guffawing spec- tators, who gather thickest at the muddy- water jump.

Nobody 1s very particular about his cos- tume at an obstacle foot race. The blue- jacket tucks up his trousers and runs on his brown skin, the yokel goes perhaps in boots, perhaps i socks, and everybody else dresses according to his fancy—this being a go-as-

you-please race of the most pronounced description. Indeed, a certain flavour of variety 1s sometimes mntroduced into the

business by competitors disguised as Mr. Sloper, a policeman, and an old lady. A vood, clear run 1s given before the first obstacle 15 reached, just to break up the crowd a little, and send them into their difhculties with plenty of mmpetus. It 1s a remarkable thing that, no matter what may happen 1n other races, there 1s always a dog about when an obstacle race is started—a dog which goes off after the runners, and barks and snaps angrily at their heels. He 1s as regular as the Derby-dog, and gets a deal more fun for his trouble. There would scem to be some affinity between stray dogs and boys, mn that one or more 1s sure to be

START.

present, when anybody comes a cropper or otherwise gets into an undignified scrape, to enjoy the agony of the sufferer and deride him. That 15 why there is always a stray dog at an obstacle race.