Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-20
English Football.

English Football.
Our English games are, as rule,
manly and healthy, demanding courage,
endurance and fine temper; but in some
cases they can hardly be called sane To
the uninitiated onlooker the game of foot
ball is one of the most mysterious per-
formances which it is possible to contem-
plate. 1t would appear to be called
football, on the latcos non hlcendo prin-
ciple, because the ball is hardly ever
kicked. After the first e kick off" it is
seized by one of the players, who runs
with it in his arms as fast and as far as he
can. His opponents forthwith set upon
him, and, if possible, knock him down
Then there is a general struggle for the
ball. Of course, the possession of it lies
between two or three men in the centre
of the throng; but all the rest close
around them with the exception of GER
tain who, appointed for the purpose, with
hands on knees intently watch the
''scrimmage." Every one in the main
body pushes and struggles as vigorously
as may be, and the outer ones put down
their heads, and butt like goats against
their friends. There is nothing to be
seen but writhing, swaying, confused
mass of humanity from which column
of steam rises into the wintry air. At
length, those in the centre are compelled
to drop the ball, and after innumerable
kicks at each others shins, it is pushed
out Of the little forest of legs, whereupOn
one Of the outside watchers makes
snatch at it and carries it few yards,
when he is in turn set upon by his adver-
saries, and the same scene is repeated
Tiaszey.
Among the butterflies which fit gayly
about our summer flowers, there is one
in which [ was much interested last sea-
son, and which I will describe:
How did [ catch my butterfly? AS [
would advise all to do who wish for sue
cess and perfect specimen. Take with
you box; watch for nice plump cater
piller; break off the leaf you will easily
find him feeding upon; and when you
have carried him home in the box, put
him on a white paper and invert clear
plain glass tumbler quickly over him !;
feed him daily with whatever sort of leaf
you found him eating, and-you have
caught your butterfly. You can see him
through the glass, and will find it a
source OF enjoyment to watch from time
to time his great changes.
But it is of one particular kind | wish
now to tell you. The caterpillar lives
upon the common milk-weed, or Ascle-
pias, which grows by the roadside, with
pinkish clusters Of flowers in summer,
and curious bird-shaped pods in the fall.
This caterpillar (whose true name is
Danais archippus-we might call him
Archie, for short) is very pretty, and the
butterfly handsome; but the GROWING
beauty Of all is the chrysalis. 1t looks
like little green house, put together
with gold nails. It is somewhat Of the
size and shade of long, delicate pea
green acorn, and has a row Of dots half
way around what would be the saucer of
the acorn, with others about the size of a
pins head on different parts Of the chrys-
AIS, and you will say they are not like
gold, but are real gold itself.
The caterpillar, when full grown, is
about two inches long. 1t is cylindrical,
and handsomely marked with narrow
| alternating bands of black, white, and
lemon-yellow The bands are not en-
tirely even, and occasionally run into
each other. On the top of the second
ring or segment are two slender, black,
thread-like horns, and on hind ring two
more not quite as long as those near the
head. You can find it almost any day
in July or August, if you look closely
on the under side of the broad ovate-
elliptical leaves of the milk-weed.
1t was the accidental finding OF his
chrysalis, attached to a spray OF wild
carrot, that led me to study this particu,
lar species. 1t was secret to me-thls
beautiful green and gold house. 1t held
something. What, [ must know! Cut
ting the stem of the carrot, | brought
the treasure carefully into the house,
covered it with a tumbler, and for a
week it remained just the same. Then
the green began to turn light purple
and lines began to show through the
| clear case. The front showed lines like