Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-12-10

"Ye Merry Game Of Football from
Ancient Times Till Now" is the title
Of an illustrated article In st. Nicholas
from the pen of N. o. Messenger. The
Greeks invented the sport, and through
the Romans it reached the Britons. In
the time of Queen Elizabeth football
was in high favor. 1t 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.
The accounts of the times speak fire.
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 it as it
was punted down the streets, over
housetops, and 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 a
to-do, 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
1858 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 1875
American universities had paid little
attention to football. 1t was Harvard
that brought the game to the United
States, and in order to have foeman
worthy of its steel taught it to Yale
"Old Eli" took gracefully to the drub.
| fHo% In 10 In he
first lesson, which was learned SO well
that for many years thereafter Har
ward had no more victories.
The Rugby game has been developed
in America mainly along the lines OF
interference and tackling. 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 i
against Harvard, who in turn took it VI
against Yale next year. Then Harvard
went one better and brought out tn,
flying wedge" which, with the ''V,
the push" and the plow," are perma
nent features of football work.
In the perfection Of football playin.
into a scientific sport from the oil
rough-and- tumble games of the past al
involved system of signals has com,
into use. The signals are made by call
ing out numbers.
There seems to be no lessening O
interest in the sport. There may be a
many as twenty thousand spectators
and the great game Of football, whicl
began with the Greeks, was carried OF
by the Romans, developed by the Brit
ish. and perfected by the Americans
seems to be indeed the king Of autumn