Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-02-18
POLO WITH A BIG "P."

and glorious country, has any game
been accepted by the general public
with as much favor as polo on rollers.
When time is called and the bright,
handsome fellows form in twos and
glide gracefully around the rink few
times, preparatory to taking their re-
spective positions, the audience never
fails to show its admiration and delight
by generous applause. Since the cleo
ton of Cleveland, it is safe to say that
no crowd of people has been worked up
to such pitch of excitement as that
which assembled at the Farewell Ave-
nue. Rink few evenings since to wit
ness the game of polo between the
Lakesides of Racine, and the Milwaukees
of our city. Since the Racine club was
first organized they have been petted
and babied by their towns-people, and
well they might be, for theirs is team
to be proud of, being composed of some
of the best-blooded stock that the Belle
City turns out. They say that "blood
will tell" and so it will at times, but
not necessarily in a game of polo.
Heretofore the gentle, frolcsome youths
of Racine have enjoyed the pleasure of
''doing our boys up''as the saying goes,
till they had began to consider them
selves the very cream of perfection. Of
course this naturally had tendency to
cause our boys to feel down at the
mouth, and as time went on more or
less hard words were uttered on either
side, till certain amount of cnmty
sprang up between them. They all
realized that such feelings were very I'M
becoming to gentlemen, but it had gone
too far to be stopped, and it was left to
die of its own accord. The previous
two games played between the clubs
were devoid of science, but on the con-
trary everyone pounded right and left,
and it was simply a question of en-
durance, and which side could stand
the most punishment Again the Ra-
cines came out ahead and again our
boys limped home, somewhat mangled,
but still able to be out. Those who
went to the last game expecting to
see blood flow and hear the groans of
dying gladiators were disappointed, and,
it is hoped, agreeably so. The custom
airy smuggling was entirely omitted, and
from the beginning to the close nothing
but science was displayed. The Racine
club was accompanied by something
like one hundred and fifty friends, and
when the two teams made their appear
ance upon the floor it was plain to be
seen where the aforesaid friends We're
to be located by the blood curdling war
whoop that Immediately broke the ST.
lence. The Milwaukee portion of the
audience wasn't long in waking up, and
they sent up howl that fairly lifted the
skaters off their feet. The moment
that the whistle of the referee peeled its
shrill note the excitement began. There
was one continual roar of applause from
either side. If Pugh, the hard-hitter
of the Racine club made pass at the
ball, all Racine would arise as one man,
and fairly howl the hair of of their
heads; but when Jimmy Summers
would suddenly unfold himself and stop
the ball, at the risk of having every
bone in his body broken, the boot would
as suddenly be transferred to the other
foot, and Milwaukee's safety valve
would open once more with renewed
vinegor: For about nine minutes it was
nip and tuck, each team having done
some excellent playing, but Pugh man
aged to get in his favorite stroke, and
by so doing tailed one for the Racines.
Suddenly innumerable tin horns
made their appearance in the Racine
portion of the audience, and for few
short moments it sounded as though
meeting of tish-mongers had taken
place. On the Milwaukee side of the
house, however, the case was different.
Gray-headed, dignified millionaircS, and
others just as dignifed but not so well
supplied with this worlds goods, who a
moment before had scattered that digni-
ty to the four winds by howlng till
they were black in the face, and pound
ing the complexion all off the railing
with their walking sticks, began one by
one to crawl within themselves, and
their looks showed plainly that they
were not used to so much noise, and it
made them nervous. Again Mr..
Wheeler, the gay and festive referee,
pulled the string and once more the
young athletes were in motion. There
was look of desperation on the faces
of our oys that said plainly they would
beat or burst.
For the next seven minutes the game
was so hotly contested and SO many
good points were made on both sides
that the applause arose from both sides
at once. Finally Davy Owens, by a
little science of his own, escorted the
ball around the rink few times,
guarding it as tenderly and jealousy as
he would a young lady, and then when
a good chance presented itself, passed
it to Mr.. Dickens, who was standing in
an MISUNDERSTANDING attitude,
ready to receive the precious little
charge. A quick movement on his part
sent the ball whizzing into the Racine
goal, and again there was sound of
many voices. One more goal had to be
made to decide which was winner, and
for about nine minutes and forty-five
seconds the boys galloped all over each
+, other, while Mr.. Wheeler was obliged
to play "Hop Scotch every now and
anon, when the ball would try to crawl
up the leg of his trousers.
Again Davy and the ball clasped
hands, and after little it was passed to
Dickens, who, in turn, acted his part to
perfection. Every one fully expected
that the Racine club would come Out
victorious, and when it was discovered
that our boys had gained the day, eacl
individual waukenphast, in the Milwau
kee portion of the audience came dowr
upon the floor like the proyerhial thou