The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-05-23
HAND WRESTLING.
a New Fad That Ts Now Popular
with Students.
Evon tho Storm Professors Of q philsdeI
phia Univorsity Ylold to tho Fasoin-
attons OF tho Game-How
1t To Played.

An athletic fad of recent birth but
very remarkable growth In popularity
mas replaced football in the affections
Ct host Of University of Pennsylvan a
students. 1t Is indiffcrently classed
under q whole dictionary of titles,
such as hand, India and Malay wrest-
hngs but no one seems to know just
exactly what is the proper word by
which to designate the sport. It was
hrst introduced to tho college boys q
few months ago by IN ex-Amherst stu
dent In the Engineering school, and in
q very few days there was hardly q
single undergraduate who had not
tried his hand ut the game.
Not satisfied with the capture Of the
affections Of tho students, the hand
wrestling fad has made it's inroads
into the ranks Of the faculty itself.
Ihoso professors who are too old or
too dignified to take part in the fun
content themselves with being very
much interested but passive spec
tators. But many of the younger in
structors are not proof against tho
Vaccinations of the new game, and al
ihos1 daily contests between the
younger and more active members Of
tho teaching corps and the students
hrc held IN the various halls and class
roums.
1t does not take many words to de-
scrloe this apparently Irresistible sport,
says the Philadelphia Record. The two
contestants take tight grip with their
rlght hands, each advances his right foot
10 meet the right foot Of his opponent,
ana then they brace themselves hard
Win the left leg. At given signal
the struggle begins, the object being
10 prevent your opponent from moving
you from your feet, and at the same
time compel him to shift from his posi-
tion. Tho man who moves either foot
first is the loser.
The rules allow ono to move the foot
up ana down on the toe or heel, but not
70 slide, roll or lift 1t from the floor.
dhe right hand is allowed to touch the
hoor, 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 hend
TO assist in tho overthrow Of his oppo-
nent.
From the description 1t might be i'm
agined that the game allowed n very
slight development Of skill, but that is
not the case. The present university
champion is small fellow, but tho way
,he can topplo over heavy opponents is
- lesson. He has q number of vcry
clever tricks, ono of which throws his
rival Off his feet and down on his shoul-
ders with thud over after to be re-
membered.
The most amusing side Of the new
game comes from its surprising popu-
larity, and the lack Of preparation re-
quired for contest. Does professor
fail to put In his appearance on the mo-
anent, or leave the room, and it Is ten to
ono that the entire class will be on foot
In an instant, and when the represent
ative Of the faculty returns he will find
the room occupied by struggling
couples. All the spare time between
hours Is employed in the same way,
frequently with professor or 80 as
part of the interested audience.
1t was only few days ago that q big
orowd gathered in the gymnasium to
SEQ the champion Of the Engineering
school try his skill against W. D. o.
good, the great halfbacls. Owing to
some misunderstanding, Osgool did not
appear, but, lest he should finally come,
81 very busy professor, who had taken
,Noment from his work to see the fray,
and did not wish to miss 1t on any ao-
count, left word that he was to be sent
for in case Osgood did finally arrive.
If you SEQ any university student
whose wrist or hand Is painted with
iodine, and whose knuckles are badly
skinned, you may place him down as q
devotee of tho new game Of hand-
wrestling.