The morning times., 1896-11-29

cities in matters athletic, has had its las
ketball teams for six years at least, the
game first finding home at the Y. NJ.
c. A, under the direction of Prof. John
sims, then its physical instructor, and at
present holding the same position Tor the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad branch Y. NJ. c.
A, at Philadelphia. Soon aftcrward
team was organized by Prof. Maurice
Joyce, physical instructor at Carroll In
stitutc. These teams played in their own
gynnasiumS for the sake OF exercise and
never met in contest.
Three years ago the writer, seeing the
great possibilities of the game rs an in
door attraction during Season that is
always more or less dull, enlisted the ln-
tnrest Of other organizations in the game,
and they promptly organized teams and
took up the practice of the game.
As a result, the respective teams met
occasionally, and before the sea son h a been
well under why the writer organized
league of five teams, which then, as now,
WAS known as the District of Columbia
Basketball League.
STRIDE OF BASKETBALL.
From the very moment of its inception
the affair was a success. II provided
what the dull winter athletic season need
ed--an exciting and Interesting sport in
the nature Of contests; something to bring
OUT llit tAlsllHE NV W
tions and the individual members thereof;
some means by which one or the other
could show its supremacy. Promptly, al
most after the first game of regularly
scheduled series of intcrclub champion
ship contests, the interest of the public
was secured, and the capacity of the re-
spective gymna Sums WAS the Oily limit
to the attendance upon its games.
For the purpose Of keeping the size Of
the audience within bounds, as well as To
defray necessary expenses an admission fee
was charged. and this policy of conduct
ing the League series upon business prin-
CipIcs has been followed out ever since.
Now The home and visiting teams upon a
league game might divide between them
upon a percentage basis the gate receipts
from an attendance generally from 800 10
5U0 spectators, and the audience would in
several insta"ces be still larger ii the gym.
space were greater. Nearly half the spe.
tators at these games are ladies.
The game is played here under the rules
issued 10y the international committee of the
!. NJ. c. A. and adopted by the Y. NJ. c.
a. Athletic League. of North America
with certain notifications and changes
TO suit this locality. and the character OF
players. who originally took up the game
hereaboGts,
In some OF the plays il is doubtful Thames
NaiSInith. the ingenious inventor of very
t>NtA'lN si5pii ~ 'iil hliuN MS own EsiIIlt
but the changes made in the first place
were 10 add life and ginger to the game
and latterly to tone it down and ia ke away
as much as possible the tendencies to rough
playing which crcptin. and at the SAINT
time by its lively features to keep up the
roofing interest of the spectators.
When ii was found that the players fol-
the most part. were football players, who
found it difficult t"l leave OFF certain tactic,
peculiar 20 that game, the question of play
ing uniforms became difficult one TO set
tie Thcteams composed ofnon-footballm mcr
opposed The Introduction of football or base
ball suits because of their fear that tn,
wearerS would necessarily make the gam
rourher and harder against those player
wearing ordinary gymnasium clothes VIII,
would stand 1t little show, "a mi who roul,
expect but little tenderness and mere
in h quick. actife p!a Vs of their opponents
After several cont eSts, costumed n
stated, the gymnasium floors seemed hard
er than ever 10 all players, and the man
unavoidable rough plays caused much winC
ing and gnaslling of teeth. and it took but
little while for all hands to come to I'll