A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 7

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

The Olympic Games A torch, lighted at Olympia, is to be carried by relays across Europe to Berlin, signalising the opening of the Olympic Games on August 1. The origin of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece is unknown. No one, however, was allowed to take part but freemeu of pure Hellenic blood, and under no religious or civil disabilities. Barbarians (that is non-Greeks or foreigners) might be spectators, but slaves were entirely excluded until after the conquest of Greece by the Romans, when they were allowed to take part in the games. Women were not allowed to be present. Of the 24 contests, which were spread over live days, 18 were for men aud six for boys. The principal contests were foot-races, wrestling, boxing, chariot races, horse races and a contest for heralds and trumpeters. Contestants had to undergo special training for at least 10 months before the games. The only prize given to the winner of any contest was a garland of wild olive cut from a sacred olive. Also, palm branches, the common tokens of victory on other occasions, werejilaced in the victor’s hands. His name, and those of his father and his country, were then proclaimed by a herald before the representatives of assembled Greece. The most powerful States considered an Olympic victory gained by one of their citizens to confer honour upon the State to which he belonged, and a conqueror usually, had immunities aud privileges conferred upon him by his fellow-citizens. On his return home, he ■ entered the city through a breach made in the walls in a triumphal procession, his praises being celebrated in the loftiest strains of poetry. Training for the Games, ,

The .athletic contests at -the- Olympic Games* were divided into “light’’ and “heavy” or “violent.” The diet of the contestants when training-' consisted of clieese,' bread and dried figs. Fish and pastry were forbidden. The only drink was water. It has been questioned whether athletes used a meat diet. There are, however, references to pork and beef, aud those who submitted to the severest training for the “heavy” or “violent” events had to eat enormous masses of meat after . the day’s exercise. Two minae (251 b. was a small amount for an athlete. They were made to eat slowly, ■ and intellectual conversation was forbidden during meals. The aim of this excessive eating'is said to have been to acquire mass and weight, an important element in “heavy” contests like boxing and wrestling. The training for runners was directed toward diminishing the flesh. Besides the ordinary training there were warm baths, massaging, long-continued and violent movements, and the use of oils. A successful athlete continued to contend in the Games till his strength failed. In many cases, as he advanced in years, he became a trainer.

The Olympic Torch. The lighting of a torch at Olympia, and its subsequent handing on from runner to runner until a stated finishing point is reached, is the origin of our present relay race. The torch-race, as it was called, was held at< Athens and elsewhere by the ancient Greeks in honour of various deities, as well as in funeral games. The race was run at night, usually on foot; horses, however, were introduced at a 1 later date. The torch was not unlike a candlestick in appearance with a shield or guard set at the bottom of the socket. The torches are sometimes represented as formed of thin strips of wood held together by a disc, which served as a-guard to the hand from the dripping of the pitch. Some torches had a wick steeped in oil or liquid pitch, in the hollow at the top. The first runner took the torch from the altar, ran at his best speed to where his next team-mate was stationed and delivered the torch to him. Runner No. 2 carried on to No. 3, three to four, and so on until the winning post was reached. The victory fell to that team, of runners whose torch first reached the goal alight. Parliament Secret Session. Mr. Winston Churchill has suggested that Parliament should hold a secret session as was held during the Great War. In the early days it was an offence to report the proceedings of the British Parliament. Down to comparatively recent times it was the privilege of any member to call attention to the presence of strangers, and the mere fact that he exercised this privilege was sufficient to compel their with drawal. In 1875 Mr. Joseph Biggar a persistent member of the Irish Nationalist Party, called attention to the presence of strangers on an occasion when the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), the German Ambassador and other distinguished personages had come down to the House of Commons to hear a debate. After this, the ordering of strangers from the House was made a matter of vote by the House. But no definite step had been taken by the Government of the day to secure a secret session until April. 1916. when, in response to various suggestions that the House should have a “heart-to-heart” talk. Mr. Asquith rose and called the attention of the Speaker to the presence of strangers. Members unanimously supported Mr. Asquith, and the strangers, who, of course, included the Press, were ordered to leave.

Deuteronomy. Four fragments of the book of Deuteronomy, written in the second century, 8.C., have just been published. Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament), contains one of the three chief codes of Hebrew law. The title means “second law,” and is said to be due to a wrong rendering of Hebrew words, which really mean “a copy of this, law.” The Hebrew title Is “Words.” or “These are the Words.” From the seventeenth'century onward, the authorship of this book lias been the cause of considerable conjecture. Originally it was believed to be the work of Moses himself, but it is now generally regarded as being a compilation. Christ’s answers to the Tempter in the wilderness were all taken from Deuteronomy: on another occasion, after quoting from Deuteronomy, Christ said: "On these words hang’ all the law and the prophets.” Doteronomy has been described as a collection of the orations and songs of Moses, constituting his farewell to the people of Israel.