articles laid away telling of the modern innovations that had
displaced the older method of doing things.

After lunch the young people began to gather on the field by squads
and battalions, and it was soon quite an animated sight, with the
girls circulating around in gaily dressed bunches, and the various
candidates going through their various stunts under the personal
supervision of Mr. Leonard.

There had been more or less talk concerning the advisability of
allowing school boys to undertake such a long Marathon race. Fifteen
miles, many thought, was far too strenuous an undertaking for lads as
yet in their teens. Full-fledged athletes only run twenty miles in
all the famous long distance races, and even at that numbers of them
do not finish, the task being too much for them.

But Mr. Leonard was of a different opinion, and he had his way. One
thing, however, he did insist on. This was that each and every
candidate entering for the Marathon fetch along with him a paper
from his family physician, stating that he had undergone a rigid
examination to ascertain whether he was in the pink of condition,
and without the slightest heart trouble.

Doctor Cadmus gladly examined all the Scranton fellows free of charge,
and it was given out to the neighboring towns, from whence aspiring
runners hailed, that the lack of such a physician's certificate would
debar any candidate from the race.

Hugh, along with several other fellows, intended to take a run of
from seven to ten miles over the course that Friday afternoon. They