Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-12-27

eye Merry Game of Football from
of al illustrated article In St. Nicholas
from the pen of n. o. Messenger, The
Greeks invented the sport, and through
the Romans 1t reached the Britons. In
the time of Queen Elizabeth football
was In high favor, II was played In
the city streets, on the commons, and In
country lanes. There was not much
rule or order to the game, the object
being merely to put the ball into the
enemy's goal, by fair means or by foul
The goals might be mile apart, with
bitches and hedges and highroads be-
tween. The players struggled In ear
nest, and broken bones were no rarity
In the rush that followed.
This was probably the toughest and
most brutal period in footballs history.
quently of accidents, and too often
there were fatal Incidents in the play
ing of the game.
Shrove Tuesday was football day In
those times, and then the whole popu-
lace went football mad. Every one
turned out to kick the ball. There was
one grand scramble to reach 1t as 1t
was punted down the streets, over
housetops, aud across commons. The
merchants barred shop windows and
doors as the merry crowds surged
through the streets, for scant heed was
given to any obstacle that stood In the
way of the pursuit of the ball. Some
times two or more crowds, In chase Of
the flying pigskin, fell foul of one an
others course, and then there was q
TODD, and the strongest held the right
of way, perhaps carrying off both balls,
and causing the other crowd to join In
their pursuit.
With the year 1900 the game began
to be adopted by English schools and
universities as the leading sport. In
1868 an association was formed, and 1t
was made scientific sport. At this time
the game was played differently by diff
ferent, universities. Rugby permitted
carrying the ball, holding runners,
charging and tackling, while Harrow
and Winchester only allowed kicking.
In 1871 the Rugby Union was formed,
and rules laid down. Prior to 1878
American universities had paid little
attention to football. 1t was Harvard
that brought the game to the United
States, and In order to have a foeman
worthy Of Its steel taught it to Yale.
"Old. Eli" took gracefully to the drub-
bling that was involved In learning the
first lesson, which was learned so we'll
that for many years thereafter Har-
yard had no more victories.
The Rugby game has been developed
In America mainly along the lines Of
Interference and taclling. The Yankees
were quick to perceive advantages
which could be gained In this direction
and put them into play. In 1886 Prince
ton introduced the wedge" using it
against Harvard, who in turn took it up
against Yale next year. Then Harvard
went one better and brought out the
flying wedge" which, with the ~"
the push" and the plow," are perma-
nent features of football work.
In the perfection of football playing
into scientific sport from the old
rough and-tumble games of the past an
involved system Of signals has come
into use. The signals are made by call
ing out numbers.
There seems to be no lessening of
interest in the sport. There may be as
many as twenty thousand spectators,
and the great game of football, which
began with the Greeks, was carried on
by the Romans, developed by the Brit
ish, and perfected by the Americans.
seems to be indeed the king Of autumn
sports.