The writing of this article was brought about by reading a book on "Physical Exercise," published by Wood, a noted general athlete, in 1867. It contained a compendium of records which included those of all general athletes, and still more, of running horses, balooning and locomotive racing. These records, some of which are of a most startling and extraordnary nature we have made a bouquet of; and that leads the way to a little talk about records in general.

In 1867 athletics did not begin to have the prominence in American life that they have hell since. There were no great athletic clubs - as we look at them to-day - few if any cinder paths, no good stop watches, and no accredited timers. How are we to wonder, then, that all sorts of unreliable and preposterous records were accepted as good, on the word of half a dozen interested "sports?" Read, for instance, these gems of the collection mentioned above, which after all is a very incomplete one:

RUNNING: - 100 yds; 9 sec., by Seward, in England.

One mile; with four separate starts, 15 min., between each, in 3 min. 52 sec. by Westhall, in England.

Five miles; 24 min. 57 sec., by Wm. Jackson, better known as "the American Deer," in England.

Twenty-one miles; 1 hour and 59 min. by Westhall, in England.

JUMPING: - 29 feet 7 inches, in one running jump, by Howard Chester in England.

Standing jump; 12 ft., 5 inches, by Norman Bortles.

LIFTING: - 2737 1-2 lbs., by Ambrose A. Butts of Ohio.

HORSE RUNNING: - It is said that a horse named "Firetail" in 1772, ran a mile in 1 min. 4 sec.

It is also said that "Flying Childers" ran 1-2 mile in 20 sec. His stride or leap was measured and found to be a trifle over thirty feet. He was never known to cover less that 25 ft. at every stride.

"Eclipse" ran a mile in 1 min. in 1741 in Ire and.

In 1786 Mr. Hull's "Quibble" ran 23 miles upon the Newmarket Course or Flat, in 57 min. 10 sec.

In 1831, Geo. Osbaldston performed the most wonderful feat of riding two hundred miles in 8 hours, 39 min. using 28 horses.

SAILING VESSELS: - The "Flying Scud" made 460 miles in 24 hours.