The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-01
SPORTS AT ENGLISH SCHOOLS.
The wall Came at E~tOn-Cetting Ones
FRnneIs Tubs and Packs.

WV
FanneIs Tubs And Packs.
Most Of the big English schools play eitheI
Rugby or Association football in the winter
At Eton there IL q queer survival known
~ the wall game.
n goal Is represented by an old dooi
IN the Wall, says Bdiip's MdOGsins, whilC
G mark on an elm tree does duty for the Other
goal IN object Of the game Is to got the
ball, which Ia somewhat smaller than an
ordinary Association football, into "calx,
q then to touch II against the wall without
letting IL rest on the ground.
IN player who succeeds in accomplish
ng this manoeuvre cries Got III" and then
has a shy at the goal, which, however, he
seldom hits, a. 1t IL some way Oh.
Moreover, II the ball Is touched by any
Of the opposing side the goal In disallowed
Hence the margin Of superiority between
one team and another is never marked by
any great difference IN the scoring.
The walls, or those who play on the in
side against the wall, wear padded caps,
will sacking over their shoulders, and With
knickers fastened below the Anee present a
weird spectacle.
When speaking Of costumes, Il is interest
ing to notice that at C~heltenham the mem-
bers Of the football fifteen Rave little mother
of-pearl buttons on the outside Of their
knickers, probably a survival Of the time
when football knickers were worn long and
buttoned below the knee.
At Rugby the cricket eleven wear light
blue shirts, the more faded the better, az
showing a longer possession Of the distinc-
ton. At some schools only the privileged
few are allowed to wear white fannels and
white boots. the others wearing gray-henoe
the term to get your annels.S
1t Is also interesting to notice the different
formalities which attend the giving Of colors.
AZ most schools they are given by the cap
tain who sometimes honors the recipient
by shaking hands with him: at others they
are given with the comp liments OF the
Sixth Form"
Cricket colors are given in the pavilion at
Harrow after q match. when 1t is the custom
for the boy who has received them to issue
forth wearing the black and white straw
hat which betokens his new dignity; this
nat Is lent him by one Of the members Of the
eleven; but should the tender be a monitor
and the borrower one Of the common herd,
the latter must p~erforce wear il the wrong
way round with the monitors badge at the
back OF his head.
The Easter term is invariably the worst
at school, a sort OF betwixt and between,
when regular games have stopped, and
when the weather Us generally vile. This
is the term for epidemics, mumps, measles,
chickenpox and the like, which seem, like
the swallows. to return with the spring.
At some schools football in continued we'll
into the Easter term, and, where rowing
Ia possible, house fours on fixed seats in tub
boats, or clinkers, are the order Of the day.
At other observation-disclosures and Cliff
ton, for example-no football il PLAYED after
Christmas, it's place being taken by hockey
at the former, while at the latter the school
is divided up INTO big pack. little pack. third
and fourth packs, which divisions go for
runs and paper chases. Leading up TO the
long penpole and the short penpole, or
st0eplechases. at the end Of the term. At
Eton they have a pack Of beagles, which is
far more interesting than the ordinary
schoo paperchase
OF all the pastimes at school, perhaps
none appeals less to a boy than singing, vet
the school songs are those which live longest
the memory, and which always bring
back "reminiscences Of he glad ~springtime
OF youth. House singing is quite a feature
at many schools. the various houses COM
peting against one another.
At Winchester they have commoners' or
collegers' singing to celebrate a victory,
every new boy being compelled to assist
with some vocal effort. On one day in the
term the whole school walks round
singing a Latin hymn. while the
ceremony Of Domum Ia held in Meads on
he last evening Of the summer term.