The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-30

| by the northern tribes for purposes OF rec
reation and Is a training school to 0t the
| young warriors for tho stern realities Of
tho -warpath by quickenipg tho mind,
strengthening the body and accustoming
them to close combat. 1t was not until
1913 that the game was adopted by the
Canadians
At first IL did not attract much atten-
tion, and not until nearly 90 years after
ward did the young white men begin to
SEQ the advantages of the game. At this
timo Montreal recognized 10 as a worthy
sport. From that time the rise and devel-
opment OF tho game may bo chronicled.
Tho first properly organized club came in
TO existence in 1850 under the name of the
Montreal Lacrosse club After that a
number OF smaller clubs were organized
In various parts OF the Dominion, and it
was not long until n convention was called,
the National Lacrosse Association of Can
ada was formed, and thus firmly founded
the growth and the development Of the
game began.
a few years later the Americans brought
the game over tho border-for its good
features were nc once perceved-and the
Amateur Lacrosse Association of the
United States was formed. Bnt this as
sociation was not a success, and after q
lingering docndcnco it went to pieces, and
tho Eastern Association of Amateur La
crosse Players took It's place. This or
ganlzation had bottor luck in hanging to-
gether, but IL tcok long timo to get the
game well going. AT last the colleges took
up the sport, and number of athletic
clubs began TO bo interested. During the
past thrcc or four years people athlctically
inclined have looked npon IL with growing
favor; but it has not oven yet attained the
prominent place which 1t deserves. This
is due principally to tho fact that to be In
any degree expert at tho game one must
keep in constant training, and few have
been willing 10 devote TO practice the time
and hard work essential to preparation for
success on the field.
Now. word in description Of the game.
In somo respects 1t closely resembles asso-
citation football Tho ball, of course, 10
propelled by tho racket, or crosse" not
with tho foot. And there are no lines or
boundaries to the field of play This fact
apparently does not impress itself upon
spectators. for they frequently crowd close
behind the goals, imagining themselves
safe until rudoly awakened TO their error
bya couple Of rough and ardent players In
pursuit Of the ball.
Although the game has been greatly
modified since its adoption by the white
people, there is still room In 10 for some
rather rugged play. Tho line up differs
considerably from tho football form. There
arc IL mon on sldo--a goalkeoper, point,
cover point, thrco defense fieldors, center
fielder, thrco home fielders, an outside
home and an inside home. There Is n
thirteenth man, who acts rs captain. who
directs the attack or rallies the defense,
without being allowed to interfere with
the ball or carry lacrosse or stick The
game Is started by tho two center flelders
facing each other Tho umpire places the
ball on the ground between them and calls
play. At euch end of the field. about 100
yards apart arc tho goals-two stakes
feet high and 9 feet apart. To score, tho
ball must 60 between tho posts from the
front side. Tho sidc that succeeds in car.
rying its opponents goal tho greatest
number of times within the time agreed
on Is the winner
The sticks or lacrosse rackets used scme-
what resemble battlodoors. They are curved
like shinney sticks and have netting In
which tho hall cnn be carried In the
original Indian game the ball was never
touched with the hand. Each Indian had
two rackots and hctwccn the Noted heads
Of the raskvts, the ball was carried. II n
player secured tho ball between tho ncts of
his rackets. he tried to carry II TO the
coal or throw IL thero. or throw W. to 4.