The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-24
FOOTBALL IN BRITTANY.


enormous ball of leather filled with
bran, which is thrown in the air, and
fought for by the players, who are dl-
vided into parties. The victory rests
with the party that can carry off the
soule into different township from
that where the game has commenced.
This exercise is the last vestige of the
worship which the Celts paid to the
sun. =. The very word is of Celtic
origin, derived from heaul (soleiD, in
which the initial k is changed into S,
as in all the foreign words adopted by
the Romans.
This game of the soule is almost en-
tirely abandoned in Basse Bretagne. 1t
is only in the district Of Vannes, among
that warlike race that the savage GUS
tom Is to be found in all its primitive
brutality. A soule in Morbihan is not a
common amusement; it is a fiery and
dramatic game, where people fight and
strangle each other, and break necks,
game which permits q man to kill
any enemy, without losing benefit of
clergy, provided one takes care to strike
him as If by mistake. and with an I'M
lucky blow. Hence God knows what
feat soule is for the country! 1t is a
day of plenary indulgence granted to
assassination.
6 And who is there that has not some
one to kill?' as one Of the most famous
souleurs said to me one day. Besides,
in the absence of private enmities, the
hostility between parishes is of itself
sufficient; for it is always two neigh
boring and rival townships who take
sides in the soule. frequently, too,
town enters the lists against rural
population, and then the sport is en-
venomed with all the height of the
peasant against the citizen; 1t is then
no longer strife of rival parties; it is
a tournament of opinions decided by
fists and nails.
For the rest, nothing can prove
more clearly that we are making pro-
gress than the spectacle Of a soule in
Morbihan. 1t Is really strife between
town and country, in which men of
every condition take part. On that day
are seen young men of the most re-
fined habits, the most peaceable fathers
of families join themselves with arti-
sans to win the soule against the peas
ants, and to fight with their fists like
the English Milords. Whoever feels
his arm strong enough. his flesh suffi-
GENTLY tough under blows. will cast
bimse,f into tho na,ee When
tho dav and the nlaca NJ q sou1e have
baan f,xad vo, 500 old men women
and children f1ocking ia the spot from
every side. greedy Of the spectacle.
Thesa are the vanguard mar courtesy.
of tho combatants The latter next ar
rive IN numerous hands tha greater
mart dressed in clothes bound with care
around their bodies. so as to offer moth
ing to the grasp of their antagonist,
ana having round their loins a strap
tightly b,1ck1ed. to make them run the
ouicker. The gait Of the peasants is
generally wary and slow. that of the
townsfolk lively. fiery and bold. The
souleurs once assembled the conditions
or the game are proclaimed with a loud
voice. fine prize which shall be awawrd-
| al to the winner Is pointed out; then
| the two parties retire to an equal dis
lance from the certain point where the
so,,le is thrown. and the game immedi-
ately begins
|
weakest nlavers. the strong keep aloof
They look on, with crossed arms,
! throwing out to the combatants encour-
aeemeuts or misses. but they take no
part in the melee save by from time to
time bearing with the strength of
their hands upon some knot of players,
so as TO drive them ten PAGES off, to roll
in the dust. one over the other. But
little NV little. these preludes excite
them. and whip their blood up. The
soula taken and retaken, is already far
| from the place where it was launched.
The outskirts of the township are near:
All feel the time is come to interfere.
The most inpatient let's himself go; the
fret blow is given and then a cry is
raised. all ioin the fight, and push and
s+r;ke. nothing more ia heard but COM
nIaints curses threats-the rude and
5n1I sound of fsts furnishing flesh.
blood soon flows and at it's sight a
sor+ 80 frenzied in+oxication possesses