New-York tribune., 1884-11-27

TIIdNRSGIVING FOOTB1LL.


The familiar annual announcement OF the most
hotly contested football match ever seen" follows
closely upon the annual Thanksgiving proclama-
ton. Wo are glad to SEQ that tho customary
pbrase most hOtly contested" has not been for
gotten this year. IL is the nearest approach to
warmth known by November spectators at the
Polo Grounds. Tho "carpIng foreigner dreaded
by overscnsitiye Americans would probably have
some difficulty In understanding that the twenty
two young gentlemen zcalously brulslng ana
battorng zach othcr on the frozon ground are
engaged IN "giying thanks" He would find II
hard to reconcile tie idea of Thanksgiving with 'ho
blue noses aud chat,cring teeth OF thc lockers on.
"Truly these Americans take their pleasure sadly
ho would say and If mn Englislman, and therefore
conversant with English football. he would only
regret that his own glass abiding place shonld pre-
vent him from hitting us with n brickbat or
magazine article fully as heavy,
There were once two colleges called Columbia
and Harvard which set mp football eevcns every
season to be bowlcd down by Yale and Princeton.
The Columbia eleven. we conclude, has been
completely knocked out" to the language Of
"A period happily now past. At present Columbia
athletes nre said to obtain their exercise by carry
ing ponderous canes, yclcpt hangers mp ana
down the city streets There have been rnnors
that Harvard has actually had football team In
tho field this season Where Is IL now " Harvard
Indifference" has blottcd it from the face Of the
earth M admiiai may be q very good motto under
certain circumstances. but the Harvard mon found
abundant cause for wOudor when they were tackled
br the stawart rnshcrs OF Ynle mud Princeton.
And there was not much for Harvard stndents or
nlnmni to admire In the two scores Princeton 3G,
Harvard ! md Yale 81, llai ward oh, what tnll
was thnt!-O ilrir vas n time, ten ycnfs nco.
vhrn llntvati rnving unlcr the olmsliinned
ines Wns wnnt Us defeat Tho brst hftcons Witch
Nrufli t'nitrfsiiv nni ~ Cfnala roni srni
artir4t tet y s sitirrr NJ thrsr Hntg NJ thlhk 81
tir'd,1rs liattaih fjut'ali trar trMrrhriinF
ihat iinttaH tae tBHrBtHitte thaWrl8rshlp eintt
ioTp WeadtR3 - llaN afH NHipfsiahNaie9 WNB
W4t he iN trHH iH-ist w tlli lhe 1919 N'HHAiq
st hHmiif ~ lig hel Ri faig aNi tfNerlNN Nith
Na dsniaf 9l crimson hpfehlais' ani ~ w ipafN
samfnng oi the game Qt iopfLAiL
changG N tho rules has done aWaf with the
hab,ing aud "drihhiusn OF tho bail, formerly
rcsolei to in playing for time" aud usually
resulting IN drawn games. THIS change triples the
interest aud excitement OF the game for tho speota
tors. OF the four lrnceton Yale matches pIovious
tO 1881 threo were drawn, Princeton winning the
fOnrth In tho remarkable game of 1881, the
picked eleyens of Yale and Princeton faced each
other for over two hours. playing until halfpast
. o'clock long after twilight fell, and neither side
gained the slightest advantage. The hard-iOnght
Princeton Harvard match of tho samo year also
ended in drawn game. Such results are unsats-
factory TO earnest players and TO spectators and the
change In the rules was in the interest Of both.
For the last two years Yale has won the Champion
slip by her stronger play. This year she presents
an eleven composed of heavy and powerful men
who are spoken of a. bold and dashing players.
Yale beef" will doubtless do its best to retain the
championship Princeton will also be represented
by team of heavy weights. who are said to "pIay
together" rather better than the men of Yale
Spectators may count upon exciting succession
of brilliant rms, determined rushing prompt
"ackling," and clever passing" of the BALL Their
interest will be enhanced if they bear in mind the
essential points of somewhat complicated rules,
which are that tho players on each size must keep
behind the ball. that il cannot be thrown toward
the opponents goal and that a free kick is obtained
only when the ball is caught on the fly" or after
touching II down behind tho adverserys goal line.
The players, trust. will so conduct themselves
that no reports will bc made of throttling' and
sugging' Despite tho dubious reputation of
Yale teams in this regard. hope for such de-
mcanor under proyocation to-day that the pro-
fcssiona sluggcrs QUO OF business in this city
might DE invited to attend and see how gentlemen
bear themselves in bitterly fought athletic contests.
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