The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-24
Colleges and Athletic Sports


In the current number of the Atlantic
Monthly. Mr. Andrew M. F. Davis gives an
interesting account of the origin of the
games that are now common in American
colleges, and of the growth of college GYM
nasiums and competitive trials of athletic
skill. The gymnasium, with It's ladders,
bars and swinging rings, Its rowing, fencing
and sparring rooms and bowling alleys,
which to-day is an essential feature of a
thoroughly equipped college, did not make
Its appearance among college chapels, halls
and dormitories till about the year 1860, and
before that time a game at ten, pins was
among the interdcted amusements, like a
wish to a theater or circus. The ''great
American game of base ball was then
chiefly in It's rudlmentary stage of ''three
old cat" and as for lacrosse it was only
known by Schoolcraft's pictures of the game
being played by Indians, cricket was known
from stories of English schools, and lawn
tennis from reading STRUTS "Ancient Eng
lish sports and Pastimes.n A field large
enough for foot bal, base ball and lacrosse, a
cricket ground and several lawn tennis
courts is now an important adjunct to col
lege campus.
Lawn tennis was common in the 10th CEN
fury in England, and Strut describes pic
tire of game that was published in 1868.
A manuscript register Of the expenditures Of
Henry VII. has an entry of twelve-pence
'.for the kings loss at tennis.n Lacrosse,
which is now less common on this side Of
the line than it is in the Dominion, is true
native American game and was described by
Alexander Henry, who travelled in Canada
and the Indian territories between 100 and
1T76, under the name of "Baggatiway,''
called by the Capadians sic jeu de Ia
crosse" At the siege of Detroit, in May,
1853, Pontiac, as Parkman says. made 49, :, :.
this uapa ss.s.<- .-ssc. 70 cover his designs"
henry was at Mackinaw at the time of the
massacre of the garrison, on the 4th of June
in that same year, when the Indians gained
access to the fort by tossing the ball over the
pickets and then all clambering over after
1t.
Cricket clubs have not yet achieved any
such popularity here as they enjoy in Eng
land, but numerous ''elevens' are kept up
in the colleges, with good prospect of flu
ture increase. Hare and hounds assocla-
tons have also gained footing among. I'M
dergradnates. and .he result is that degrees
of speed in running are estimated about the
same as the degrees that are certified upon
sheepskinr Bicycle clubs are to be founG
also at many colleges. The main drawbacl
to bicycling among students is the cost OF the
machines, which tends to limit their use to
capitalists, newspaper editors, and other
gentlemen who ara outside of college walls
The attraction of the old game of football
among college boys probably arose from
those peculiarities which procured its sup.
preston in England by edict OF Edward III.
ard which Strut quantity describes as fol.
lows: when the exercise becomes exceed
ing violent, the players kick each others
shins without the least ceremony, and some
of them are overthrow at the hazard OF
their limbs" The game has been civilized
OF late years among the colleges, however,
and has come to depend more upon general
ship on the part of the captain and diseip-
line among the men, than upon the thick
ness of bootsoles or agility in kicking. The
progress that has been made in boating is ia
miliar to all, and it must be an unusual set
Of muscles that does not now get physical
discipline alongside of that mental and NOR
al training which is supposed to make great
and good men.