GERMANY AND INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS.

Scattering tradition to the winds, the German universities have decided to devote less attention to the sabre and the gymnastic apparatus for exercise, and have initiated a movement to introduce athletic sports on the American plan. To arrange for this innovation the representatives of various universities and technical schools came together recently at Berlin and agreed upon a scheme to popularize field, track, and aquatic athletics by means of intercollegiate competitions. They are to be known as "German University Olympias," the first of which will take place in Leipsic in 1913.

The adoption by the conservative Germans of our methods of physical education is a glowing commendation of the American system of intercollegiate contests. It is a recognition of the effectiveness and benefits of our system, and also a reputation of those who regard intercollegiate games as an ovil influence. If the Germans, after a study characteristically profound, find that our athletic system may serve as a model for theirs, we may safely conclude that the American colleges have developed an institution from which the students and the colleges are deriving great advantages.