Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-14
THE day of the great football gam

THE day of the great football game
was approaching, and all Kensing-
ton was wrought up to fever pitch. On
the campus, at the eating clubs, and in
the town the talk was of but one
thing. "How are the men to-day
as Travers' leg any better" will he
be able to play?" any signs of over
training?" "Do you know what
tricks they are working up?' And SO
on-generally, be it observed, in the
form of questions-fOr at this season
of the year the inside" is very secre-
tive. and outside gossip varies in de-
tail almost with the number of speak
ers. In the absence of definite knowl-
edge the suspense was terrific. a spir-
it of nervous unrest .pervaded the uni
versity. and serious work was we'll
nigh impossible. Moreover, this spirit
affected not only the student body, but
many faculty circles as well. Instruct
ors and younger professors were I'M
der its sway, perhaps quite as much as
any under-classmen.
At THE Cloister," where four of us,
trainers of youth, live in contented
bachelorhood, the electric tension OF
the atmosphere was obvious. Our
conversation at meals and after was
always about football; lectures were
prepared without the usual care and
thought; and l fear we all spent much
time in reading the athletic columns
of the daily papers which ought right
ly TO have been devoted to original re-
search.
II don't know why it is, fellows"
said Milford, one day at dinner; "I
don't care rap about the smaller
games; l don't take interest enough in
them, even, to go down to the field
when they are played in Kensington.
But when it comes to the big ones,
get so nervous it breaks me all up; L
can't work and can't sleep for think
ing about them. The strain is fearful"
Prof. Milford has a highly strung
temperament, but we all felt that his
particular words applied to our own
cases, too. But this particular year
Milford had an added source of anxiety
in connection with the game. Guild,
the great half-back, whom everyone
looked to to secure the needed touch
down. was conditioned in Mitford's
subject. and that condition must be re-
moved before he could play in the
championship game. Milford had sent
him notice after notice, with no effect,
and he knew the students might at
tempt to take advantage of the facul-
ties sympathy with their cause, and
get around the condition in some way.
Now Milford was a most conscientious
man, and he had sworn by all that was
holy that Guild must pass his exam
nation regularly if he were to play in
the game; and yet his heart was with
the team. and he knew besides the un-
popularity he must expect to incur, if
anything he did should contribute to
the defeat of Kensington in the great
event Of the year.
what about Guild, Mit?" we asked
him one day at table. Nit looked up
with an expression of disgust, and
what he said in reply is best repre-
scented by dashes and asterisks. After
that the subject was dropped, as far
as we were concerned. But certain
things became palmer as the days
passed by and the date of the game
drew near. 1t was evident that the
Pembroke team were improving won
derfully. and would give our men .
tremendous fight. And it was also
evident that our men relied on Guild,
practically, to win the game for them.
He was champion kicker, and run
ner, and tackler, all in one.
IF Guild is knocked out during the
game we are lost" said some one at
the Cloister once. We all agreed with
The speaker in our Utmost hearts, but
as Nit was present we expressed no
opinion, and the subject was deity
changed.
It was the second day before the
game, and the team were to leave for
Pembroke the next morning. Our
anxiety could not longer be sup
pressed.
"Has Guild passed off that condi-
ton yet?" l ventured to ask Nit in
che course of the day.
ooh, go bury yourself" he an
swered, and my fears were con-
firmed With carte blanche from the
faculty as to time, Guild bad put OH
his examination till the last minute
and a failure now would be irremedi.
able. That evening we were to have
a party of guests to dinner-Mit:
friends, they were-and the talk coulo
be of nothing but the game. About
five o'clock the doorbell rang, and
party of students appeared. Nit was
out after his guests, and it fell to me
to receive the men.
we have come to see about Mr.
Guilds examination with Prof. Nit
ford" said the spokesman. They were
oil anxious and nervous, but 1 though
I detected a certain note of defianc'
in the speakers voice. L consulted
with my chums, and at last we fount
the examination paper which MI
had prepared for the occasion. Ih'
honor system is in vogue at Kensing
ton, so they were allowed to take tn
paper to Guilds room.
While we were at dinner the bel
rang at least dozen times. Th