Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-03

on roller skates, became very popular. Owing to the limited space of the rinks, roller polo and its OfTshout, ice polo, call but for five men on a sidc-viz, goal tend, half back, center rush, right rush and left rush. Tho game is really scientific shinney, with regulation clubs, well estab- lished rules and small cages instead of goal posts. Hundreds of towns through out the country at this time possessed roller polo teams of great merit, but the game reached its highest state of develop DIent in New England, and ice polo is still very popular in Boston, Providence and other cities. In cities farther south the lack of ice las prevented the game from securing the public favor that is its just due. Team play and adroit passing make the game 0 very scientific sport, and an expert player can perform feats that seem impossible to the uninitiated.
 As there Is usually plenty of good ice in Canada during the winter, hockey is in high favor. Like many other hCalthful and fascinating sports, it was imported from England and was first played on the ice in Montreal by club Ot McGill college students. In lSSi the winter Carniyals gave the game great impetus, and it be came so popular that in lSS6 the Canadian Hockey union was formed and q Canadian championship established. The official season begins Jan. 1 and ends the Sth of March. Seven men play on a side, and, as in shinney and ice polo, the object of the game is to drive the puck, or ball, between the goal posts Uf q rival team. The puck is cylinder of vulcaniICd rubber an inch thick and three inches in diameter. \ ball was first used, but it was such sim pie task for player to raise it into the air with his club that the moro illusiye cylinder replaced it. The goalkecper stands in front of the goal posts in order to prevent the puck from being driven be- tween them Ivy an opponent. He Is the only player permitted the use of any part of the person in stopping the puck. Di- rectly in front of him. but some distance away, is the roint who assists in guarding the goal and looks after the puck when it Is driven behind the goal posts. Some | distance in advance of the point is the cover point, and To the right and left of ! him are two forcwards. These five players are usually strong, fast skaters, and they do practically all of the offensive work of the game, while point and goalkeeper | guard the territory in the vicinity of the home goal.
 The rink is 100 yards long and 50 yards wide, and at tho beginning of play the 1 puck is placed on the ice midway between the sOAlS anu Is laCSu bE u IOE"AEN lEOIIA each team. This maneuver is called a | bully. At the word Play from the referee tho sticks arc raised, hit on the ice l simultaneously and then clapped together above the puck. When this procedure has l been repeated three times, the two players scramb for the puck until one secures it and starts it toward the rival goal. The | time of q match iS one hour. divided into two halves of 25 minutes each and with | 10 minutes intermiSsion. The side SCOT | ing the greater number of goals during the match wins tho contest Unlike ice polo, there is an of side rule, and q player must not strike the puck when he is near CT his opponents goal than the player of | his own team who has tho ball until the puck Is touched by an opponent.
 The game is easy to learn and is most 1, spirited and exciting. When a goal is | threatened, the interest reaches fever heat. and a clever play evOkes the hearty ap- plause of the spectators. Team work is a conspicuous feature of the sport, and often two forwards by passing the puck back and forth across tho rink will carry it many yards into tho cnemy's territory be- fore it leaves their possession. The sport is easily understood by the average specta- tor, but it is related that young lady new to the game once watched tho players for few minutes and then cried disgust edly: Why don't they havo sense enough to all knock in tho same direction? They could get the ball between those posts if they'd only try it that way"
 EARLE H. EATON.