The Virginia enterprise., 1895-03-08
ROLLER BALL,
A Specimen of Football, but Played will,
Hands. =

Cldny anu I!SO tnOSe OI larger SrOWIut is
.rollcr ball." and clubs are now being
and some few in New York City to play
the game. Briefly it is Species Of foot
ball, but is played with the hands, and
therefore, while giving every opportunity
for activity and display, it is not so
dangerous or so rough. 1t is, however,
no girls game. = -. G~
The ground on which it is played is a
feet wide, and it is marked off with
whitewash so as to clearly define. the
outer limits. At each end are tile 0rdi-
nary football goal posts. and the ball
is Il large leather ball like a football
but perfectly round, about thirty-six
inches in diameter, and weighing twelve
1o be cke either Wb hs ct
or the legs, although if it bounds, which
is very seldom, it may be forced forward
by the Intervention of the body, from
which it will rebound. A kick of any
description counts two points against
the side kicking. Tackling between hip
and neck is allowed, and personal inter
ference by placing the body between the
"hacking" or running trip is allowed,
and only the player right at the ball
may be tackled. 1t will thus be seen
that the element Of accident (of more
serious nature than a bruise or slight
sprain) is reduced to a minimum.
Eleven players for a side is the correct
Rumber Ru but the boys Wll play any num-
for position, and then line up in the
center Of the field, each side ten yards
distant from the ball, which lies in the
very center. The word is given by the
umpire and one boy from each side
r,ishes at the ball, the others remain
motionless until the ball is touched.
These two start the play and the first
with his hand to one side, or straight
as seems best, and away 90 the rest of
the players trying to drive it, with their
hands only, to the opponents goal, or to
touch down, which*is marked the same
as in football.
The only scoring is a goal H. or a
touch down 2. The latter gives the right
arrange themselves as in football, ex-
cept that the punting side select their
two tallest men and these two hold the
ball high in the air between them, while
the most skillful player on their side
takes short run, and with his hand
knocks the ball from their hands over
the crossbar.. The game lis played in
terlnissiOn. between: each half, and it will
be found that this time will give all the
play the average player can; stand. 1t
is hustle from start to finish, not child's
play. but full of magnificent energy and
strategic expertness. ~. s%E :,
vi Fires in Japan.
Owing to the inf1ammable nature of
the shoji, or sliding screens. which d.
vide the rooms in japanese house, fires
arc Of frequent occurrence, and generally
spread vcry quickly,
Hence it is the custom for people own
ing valuables of any sort-such as fam
lily dolls, fine pottery, and even :extra
clothing-to keep it at a storage ware
house, and safe from the threat of de-
struction. There is one exception to
this. In nearly every house there is a
shelf containing the sacred shrine and
other objects !of worship: the sacred
straw ships, sncred fire drills. or the Ikai
of the members of the Household. If
fire breaks out it is the, duty of those in
the house to save, first of all, the sacred
Objects s. ;sTnt>GuU a. q 5.s.2 49,
The lamps of the gods and of the an
cestors should be filed with vegetable
oil orly-though kerosene is beginning to
he uscd-and lighted with pure fire; TINT
is. the natural fire that is in the heart of
all things, and especially the flint and
steel. ..>....-...F = .>:., ..,e.e..s.s5z >..srs
The native matchmaker in Japa1l has a
monopoly, because it is said that foreign
matches are. tipped with phosphorous
made from the. bones of dead animals,
nstfve-lnudc matches are stamped such
words hs. Fit for the use Of the August
High Temple at Saikyo," or Pure, and
fit to he used for kindfing the lamps Of
the Kami, or of the Hotoke. New York
Recorder. ''@=s% . *4<sa.& ! s1@s sa .