The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-22
THEY ALL LIKE IT
A New Fad That IL Now Popular
with Students.
Even the Stern Professors Of PhilAdei-
phia University Yield to the Fascin-
atoms OF the GAme-How
1t IL Played.

An athletic fad of recent birth but
very remarkable growth in popularity
has replaced football in the affections
students. 1t is indifferently classed
under a whole dictionary of titles,
such as hand. India and Malay wrest-
ling; out no one seems to know just
exactly what is the proper word by
which to designate the sport It was
first introduced to the college BOYS a
few months ago by an ex-Amherst stu
dent in the Engineering school, and in
very few days there was hardly a
single Undergraduate who had not
tried his hand at the game.
Not satisfied with the capture of the
affections OF the students, the hand
wrestling fad has made lis inroads
into the ranks Of the faculty itself.
Those professors who are too old or
too digniied TO take part in the fun
content themselves with being very
much interested but passive spec
tators But many Of the younger in
etructors are not proof against the
destinations of the new game, and al
most daily contests between the
Younger aud more ective members Of
the teaching corps and the students
are held IN the various halls and class
rooms
It does not take many words to de-
scribe this apparently irresistible sport,
says the Philadelphia Record. The two
contestants take a tight grip with their
right hands, each advances his right foot
TO meet the right foot of his opponent,
and then they brace themselves hard
with the left leg. At given signal
the struggle begins. the object being
to prevent your opponent from moving
yoa from Your feet, and at the same
time compel him TO shift from his posi-
ton The man who moves either foot
first is tie loser.
The rules allow one to move the foot
up and down on the toe or heel, but not
TO slide, roll or lift it from the floor.
The right hand is allowed TO touch the
floor, but not the left. as that would
serve to steady one contestant at the
expense Of the other Neither contest
ant Is allowed to use the body or head
to assist in the overthrow OF his oppo-
ueut
From the description it might be i'm.
agined that the game allowed a very
slight Development Of skill. but that is
not the case. The present university
champion Is 3 small fellow, but the way
he can topic over heavy opponents is
a lesson. lie has 4 number Of verv
clever tricks. one ~ which throws his
rival of his feet and down on his shout
ders with thud ever after TO be re
meulbered
The most amusing side Of the new
game comes from is surprising pOpu-
laritr. and the lack Of preparation re-
qUlred for a contest. Does Il professor
fad 20 plt in MS appearance on the mo-
ment, or leave the room and it is ten to
one that tac entire class viii be on foot
in an instant, and when the represent
ative Of TIE faculty returns ne will find :
the room occupied By struggling +
couples. vi the spare time between
hours - c-nF,avcd IN the same way,
frequently with q professor or SO as
part of the inter 4sted audience.
1t was only few days ago that big /
crowd gathered in the gymnasium TO |
see 6he champion Of the Engineering /
school try bis skill against W. D. os- /
good. the great halfbaek Owing to
some misU1derstan ding. Osgood did not /
appear, but. lest he should finally come, /
a very busy professor, who had taken
moment from his work TO see the fray, {
and did not wish to miss i on any &C.
count. left word that he was to be sent /
for IN case Osgood did finally arrive
II you see any university student
whose wrist or hand is painted with
iodine. and whose knuclzles are badly
skinned. you NAV place him down as
devotee Of the new game of hand