"The English Festival."

A great scheme is being planned in England, which promises to be of great interest to America and especially to Harvard. It is proposed that every four years there should be held in London an "English Festival," which should consist of contests in track events, cricket and rowing. These contests were at first to be open merely to the English colonists but it is now proposed to admit America. The action is taken in view of the splendid showing that our athletes made abroad last summer and also of our games against Lord Hawk's team of cricketers. Owing to this last proposal Mr. J. Astley Cooper, who is one of the originators of the scheme, has written a letter to the Harvard Boat Club, from which an extract follows:

ST. STEPHENS CLUB,

Westminster, London, Dec. 17, 1891.

W. C. Forbes, Esq.:

Dear Sir - The leading athletes (in England) are heartily supporting the idea and co-operating with me. The present president of the Oxford University Boat Club is particularly pressing that the Americans shall come in. I notice also that the leading Australian and South African papers heartily support this too.

It may be said that the athletic competitions proposed are already conducted singly. So they are, but only one of them is recorded at the time and then it is half forgotten under the shadow of the next event. Supposing that a great competition could be held every three or four years, and that the winner in any department could be the champion of the English speaking Race, and that all the contests could be held in a comparatively short space of time, would it not give them much greater prominence and inspire the people with a stronger desire to gain a prize for their country or their colony?

The games would have a sort of international coloring and the honor and glory of victory would count for more than they sometimes do in merely local sports. Such an institution would enable men to meet, and it would create a multitude of private interests and friendships, which would not be lost sight of or ignored whatever the course of politics might be. It would keep the feeling of kinship among those who speak the same language and have inherited the same customs. It would strengthen that healthy liking of out-door sports, which the British have alone maintained in Europe since the Greeks degenerated. It would symbolize also to some extent that great ideal of the training of a nation, the harmonious discipline of the body and of the mind.

I am, yours faithfully,

[Signed]

J. ASTLEY COOPER.The Australians and the people of South Africa have already sent their approval of the scheme, and now America's answer is looked for. The idea is to have the events competed for by representatives only of the English speaking race but of the entire race. It is proposed that the prizes should be not money but some trophy from the nation or the race to the man, which he would ever after value and which might form an ornament to his country. The Prince of Wales has been interested in the proposed scheme and shortly the whole matter will be laid before a powerful committee in London, representing the whole Empire. The month of June has been chosen as the time fitted for holding the festival and London the place as being the centre and metropolis of the English speaking nations of the world.

The objects of the originator in planning such a scheme seems to have been numerous. He states that such a "Festival" will tend to increase the good will and the good understanding of the Empire" that it will make Great Britain friendlier and will arouse a new and greater interest in her colonies. Then by admitting the United States, the bonds of the two great countries will be more closely drawn and a feeling of kinship will be engendered. Those speaking the same language but from different parts of the world will be brought together, friendship will be made; sport will be encouraged.

The plan was originated last summer but as it has only recently been decided to admit America it has not received much discussion in this country. The idea seems to have been taken from the games of the Greeks when that nation was in all its glory. The plan has been much discussed in England and has received almost universal approbation. The Oxford Boat Club has announced its intention of competing, so through this medium might be brought about the much talked of international boat race. The object of the proposers now is to have the matter talked about and discussed as widely as possible.