Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-28
NEW USE FOR FOOTBALL
Yale Instructor Applies the
 Sport to Greek Verse.


 pr. H. B. wright's Theory Is That
 Football Arouses the Same Enthu-
 siasm Tn Modern Youth That Events
 Described I'm the stIliad,s and sOd-
 yssey" Inspired In Men of Other
 Days-Hearty Response Made to His
 Plan.
 combined in the course of Greek at Yale, says New Haven dispatch to the Philadelphia Press. Nearly & hun dred poems recently written in Homer ic verse on the subject of the Yale Harvard football game were presented by members of Dr. H. B. Wright Greek classes.
 The poems are closely modelled on the "Iliad," and special attention to the use of Homeric epithet was required of the students. Instead, however, of references to swift footed Achilles and Ajax, who bore his shield like a tower,'' it was "Roraback with his back sloped like mountain" and Hong headed, red headed Rockwell
 The poems were the result of a plan of pr. H. B. Wright, instructor in Greek, to arouse the interest of the students and to familiarize them with the construction of the epic verse. His theory is that the game of football arouses the same feeling of intense enthusiasm in the modern youth that the events described in the "Iliad' and the Odyssey" inspired in the men of former times. Accordingly he made an offer of extra credit to members of his classes who would present poems along the lines laid down. The general and enthusiastic response, he says, con firms him in his theory.
 The offer was made after he had tried vainlyl to interest his classes in Greek. The language and lofty senti- ments of Homer had no effect on the majority of the students, who seemed unable to get the spirit of the poetry. Tn trying to find contemporaneous exa ample of the feeling which inspired part or the worlds greatest literature he thought of the game of, football.
 Football is real and vivid to every one of these men," he said in explain ing his idea. "It arouses the same in- tense admiration that is manifest in Homer. Rafferty, Hogan and Shevlin occupy positions almost like demigods of old in the estimation of the under graduates. They are not uniting sub- jects for heroic poetry; they have many of the qualifications strength, courage, daring and brains. The battle is one in which the strong of body, the quick of eye and the swift of foot will tri- unph. The poetry which I have read is very satisfactory and shows that the men have caught the spirit desired Many of the epithets are truly Homer ic."
 The following is a part of one of the poems handed in:l
 This Is the noble array which Rafferty.
 mighty in battle,
 Led to the glorious conflict, under the
 bonny blue banner;
 Farmer, the mighty line hitter, low
 smashing, firm as a mountain. Guarded the center back field; Metcalf the
 speedy, stood next him Holding the line at his right hand, and
 Mitchell stood hard by lais left hand. Shevlin, whom Hermes, they say, had
 given his wonderful sandals, Guarded the far right wing. strong in
 offense or defensive;
 Rockwell, the crafty, was there, close
 behind Roraback, center, Whom Bloomer, the mighty line smasher,
 and Batchelder. strong as a bullock, Aided on either side.