The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-26

Written for the Sunday Journal.

Written for the Sunday Journal.
Although athletic sports in Hooser col.
leges have neither reached the degree of
perfection nor become as important q
feature of college life as in the Eastern
this phase of the subject demands our atten-
tion. One Friday afternoon. about 2
O'clock, was standing on the street COR
mex in front of the postoffice. Study was
out of the question. and / was asking my
saw a crowd Of boys coming down
the street with all the paraphernalis
necessary for a game of baseball When
they came mp / saw that our friend Will
was one of the most enthusiastic membe rs
of this amateur club. Being invited to
join them. 1t did not take me long TO answer
the question that had recently asked my
self. OF course / would go and witness the
game and help cheer if. perchance. the boys
should make good play. When we ar
rived at the scene OF action the team from
a neighbOrlnK town was there with their
following of boys to yell for them. In o
few minutes the teams have come to an
understanding and the players take their
places. This visiting team has q good rec
ord. and it shows signs Of great strength;
SO the college boys. as they take the
field, are greeted with the college yell
rs sort of stimulant. The teams prove to
be we'll matched, and after nine spirited
innings the score stands to l In favor of
the college team, and the boys who have
play ed SO we'll and have so brevely main
tanned the honor OF the school are made the
recipients OF extravaRSnt praise bystudents.
The crowd soon breaks up. but Ii passing
through the campus We come to the lawn
tennis courts. where game is being closely
contested. The score is alternating be-
tween ''duce" and advantage in" and
"duce" and advantage out" but by 6 mis-
play the server finally loses his serve.
Other players now come on the ground and
the courts are kept full till supper time.
In tho meantime the football has been
brought out and an exciting game is going
on. / approach just in time to see Will
make touch down, and win the game for
his side. Now. you may think that this is
crOwding the games in pretty close. but
you must understand that these college
athletic associations encourage ell kinds of
outdoor sports. Their members vary in
their tastes, some make baseball their
hobby. while others are enthusiastic foot
ball and tennis players, hence all these
games are going on at the same time. These
athletic associations are usually governed
by an executive COMMITTEE composed of
the Office of the ASSOCIATION and four
memD ers. On joining this ASSOCIATION the
students pay an initiation fee and then
small fee each term 20 meet current ex-
penses In order TO insure the association
against losses the players of the sew
"
if approved by the executive COMMITTEE
assume control Of their respective depart
ments, and are responsible for all loss and
breakage in their clubs. In colleges where
there is no regular gymnasium these out
door sports with few classes in calls
themes. constitute the main source of ex-
ercise. This ply steal training, which is
carried on throughout the year. is all done
with view to making Field day q success
On Monday of the week following the
ball game Will comes to me and urges me
to accompany his class on geologizlng ex-
cursion, arranged to take place the next
Saturday. Dinner is to be provided for the
entire party, go that we may spend the
whole day in the country. The place
selected for our scientific researches is
among the rocky cliffs Of Laughery. q
pretty stream some twelve miles distant.
The railroad officials have given the stu
dents special rates for this day. and just
before train time on the appointed morn
ing find myself in the midst of throng
wish to mingle with. In addition to their
specimen cases and hammers the boys are
carrying baskets. not the ordinary prim.
little three pint lunch basket, but big.
prosperous. looking baskets. with swelling
waiet bands. When the tickets are puf-
chased we have but little time to wait. and
In few minutes We are on board and
hurryiDe away TO our destination
The brakeman calls, "Lnughery Bridge"
and each one loaded with his allowance
of baskets and sporting goods. hastens of
and tho train PUSHES on, leaving the pro-
lessor and his now unruly crowd Of stu
dents alone on the banks of LauRhery.
After slowing the baskets away In the Sta