Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-04-06
The Foot Ball. TALE OF BRITTANY.

lhc wori SOuft Is the name given IN
Brittany, one of the most delightful Prov
inces Of France, to a large ball of leather
filled with bran, something after the fashion
of football. The game of sop!e is COM
mencel by throwing the ball as high as
possible in the air, and the possession of
is afterwards contendel for by two oposing
parties; the victory belongs TO that party I
which has been able to carry it away into !
parish other than that Ia which the game
had been commenced.
When the time and place Of the Souie has
been announced, you behold, coming from
all sides, old men. women and children, ca
ger for the sight. That crowd is the indis
pensable advance guard of the combatants.
The latter afterwards in numerous bands
for the most part clothed in garments fitted
carefully and closely to the body in order
that ~ alvant lgc be afforded TO the advcr
sary by laying hold Of them, and having
besides around their waist lcathern stay
or belt buckled tightly so as to give strength
to the Joins, and SwttncSs to the race. The
step ofthc peasant is generally prccaution-
airy and that of the citizens lively, blus-
terng and bold. As soon as the soulerS
, are assembled the conditions >re proclaimed
, in loud voice, the prize which is to be
given to the victor is named, then both
parties retire back an equal distance from
certain point when the Soule is thrown up;
. the Struggle then begins.
1t takes place at first between the weak
est, the strong holding themselves aside and
| looking on with their arms crossed, encour
aging and melting their respective parts
ans, dcprccating and shooting their op-
, poncnts; but they take no share in the fray
u more than in laying from time to time their
. vigorous hands upon some group oil IN
II tcrminglcd combatants and to hurl them
' ten PAGES off over each other i'll the dust /;
= nevertheless, by degrees these prcludes be-
II , come more ardent, more vehement the
II Soule is taken and rctaken, and is already
far away from the place where it has been
u first started, the bounds of the commune
y are near; all feel it is time to Interfere
II The most impatient advances; a first blow
! is given, and Immediately cry is raised all
mingIc in the fray, press and struggle for.
/ ward one only lear amidst the loud inn
J, precautions and thrcatninS dull, heavy,
u deadly blows. Soon the,,blood flows, ant
" at that sight II sort Of tlenehc drunkenness
seized upon the SoElsurs; an instinct re
~ semhliny that of wild beasts, aWakens itscl
=, in the hearts Of these men; the thirst 0
''' murder sezcS them at the throat, pushe!
4 them on and blinds them; they become one
~ mass Of living mlttcr, above which one
u sees Il whole host Of arms rising and falling
q incesantly like slclyc hammers, pale and
= discovered figures now expose themselves
q disappear, then rise up again covered
u with blood and bruises. In proportion
IL as that strange mass is agitatcd one see,
u it melting away and diminishing, bccaus,
the most feeble fall down, and the strugyl,
is coutinueI upon their bodies. At las
"a the remaining comhatants stand face t,
- face, half dead with fatigue and suffering
|. It's then that he who has preserved thu
=, greatest strength cndeavors to escape witt
It. the soui@. Fccbly followed by his eXhaustc,
VI rivals he mas soon attained the limits o
D. the adjoining parish, an thus obtains TN
prize SO much coveted. Nevertheless, tha
III last flight is not always without danger; tn
tcnacty and perseverance, ofan enemy lul
!" of hatred and aMimosity may render u
' tdta! as Francois the SUuteUr OF IOntlN,
found it.
c This man had acquired an immcns
u reputation in these, and had made himscl
" reloutab!e among the peasants in all thu
" ncighborinG communcs. He had at home
~ hung up and ranged along the mantel o
u his chimney all the Soulss which he ha,
III gained and which he showed with as mucl
81 9 pride as the North American Indian TIN
III lps i'll his wigwam. Though indeed ag
"o had diminished his igor he still suspended
u each year some new trophy over his hearth
One single man had for long while dis
''o 1 putcl the superiority with the great souicu'
IN This vas a peasant Of kergrist, named lvO
'' Marker Francoi, broke one of this man
~ ribs at soMe which took place at Nehac
W in 1910, ami Ivon died in consequence
His son, Per Marker, succeeded to the pre-
tentons Of his futhcr without being NOR
\" fortunate, for Francois put one OF his eye
~ out at he soaic of Clcguere, and broke tw
Of his toetl! at that of Sog lcen. 81; Since the
'' Per sworc to bcavcngcl come what nig
come.
Il A souic took place at SGval, and Il,
two antagonists were present; everything
~ passed OF at first in the ordinary way
Francois remarked with surprise that Pt
IN stunned his approach during the fray, h
81 81 invain called upon him, saying Come heN
~ that may take thy othcreye.'
N' The peasant did not leply, and still re
III , manned on one side. Towards the end ,
'iI ,iI the day pontivian having been turned, fc
NV at the same instant two ironshod shoe
'S1 striking savagely against his prostra
u: no body Looking up, he perceived the lu
III trous eye of Per, which rolled frighttnll
: in its socket; but thanks to his efforts, an
~, ~, the struggles Of his friends, he was 500
'." ~. on his legs again.
~ Now the night began to fall and mo-
'li1 NJ, of the sovleus, overwhelmed with latigu
VIII VII drew off. A few, more furious and pers
. vering than he rest, still disputed amor
', 'a'. themselves the possession Of the prize
ny Francois at last profting by a geDer
W q" scramble, got possession of the soale, All
III flew across the country. They tried to 10
low him, but he gained ground and 500
lost sight Of the peasants Their cri
lcir still reached him during some minute
y n y