Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-29
me Great FAN Game.

Jhe GteaS faIu Tame.
On thousand gridirons now the
youth OF the land Is chasing the In
flated pigskin. Base ball Is the great
national game in the spring, but when
the cooler breexes of early autumn
blow. and the doors Of school and COL
lege are opening after the long vaca-
ton, the fancy of the young man with
athletic tendencies or interests turns
very seriously toward foot ball. The
hair is allowed to grow wild and free.
the padded suit Is brought out. the
shin guard and nose protector are adj
justed, the ears are strapped on, and
with the foot ball under his arm. the
hero Of the autumn steps out to be
greeted with the thunderous applause
OF the grandstands. Even the veteran
of the Spanish-American war, who
was the popular idol few months ago.
to the detriment of the base ballist's
laurels. now joins the shouting throngs
on the sidelines Of the foot ball field.
Foot ball is our great national
autumnal game. 1t has been played
for many years, but has grown in favor
marvellously in the past decade, so
that now not only every university and
college, but the academies and high
schools and even the schools of lower
grade. support their elevens. It's ma
ture is so different from that of base
ball that, unlike the great spring sport
it has not been. and probably never
will be, played by professionals to any
considerable extent. Foot ball is de-
servedly popular. 1t has every ele-
ment of manly athletics. 1t is a rough
and rugged game, to be sure. but it
demands brain as well as Drawn. and
it trains and developes those qualities
of generalship. obedience. self control
aggressiveness, temperance. and united
action so essential to success in later
life. In vain have the opponents of
foot ball scoffed at it and magnified it's
dangers. 1t has grown in favor with
both public and players. until now in
its brief season of two months it
arouses a national interest, and the
great teams of the country and their
stars are the cynosure of millions of
eyes.
Foot ball is wholesome and virile
sport, an inspiration to the spectator
and benefit to the participant. The
boy of .puny physique, or he who is
slow of body or mind. has no place on
the gridiron, but the healthy. vigorous
youth can improve muscle and intel
lect in this as in no other game. 1t is
the element of personal combat be-
tween trained athletes that gives foot
ball it's strongest hold with the public.
The heaving struggle of line against
line, the quick formation, the sudden
dash, the desperate plunge, the bril-
liant tackle, the long punt and the
sharp signals, as yard by yard the ball
is forced down the field and over the
goal line, or the stubborn resistance as
the opponents hold their ground and
gain the ball, all arouse an enthusiasm
and excitement that no other game can
Hest of manly sports, the king of them
all.
This is the opening week of the foot
ball season in Maine, and the colleges
and preparatory schools are getting
their elevens into trim for the first
games. A few years ago, Bowdoin,
which introduced the sport in Maine,
had things SO much it's own way that
the only question of it's victories over
score it would roll up. But experience
and good coaches have advanced the
standard of the other colleges, and now
matters are more even, so that greater
interest and rivalry centers in the con-
tests between the four Maine colleges.
May the best team win; and among the
lower schools may the tangles be
Strengthened out SO that the inter-
scholastic championship may not be al
ways disputed point.
An effort is being made to check the
wholesale slaughter of elephants in
Africa. The present rate of destruc-
ton threatens to exterminate the ami