The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

40 YOUNGSTERS S
WILL SAIL FOR
AUSTRALIA
Columbia Park Boys Club Afh.
Iefes TO Play Games on
Tour of AnfipOdeS

There is great excitement among the
members of the Columbia park boys
club, for on May 81 20 Of the young
sters. ranging in age from II to Is
years. all the pick Of the clubs best
musicians, singers and athletes, In
charge OF Leader Sidney S. Peixotto,
will take the steamer Mariposa, bound
for New Zealand and Australia via Ia
hiti, wellington is TO be the first stop
and three weeks viii be spent touring
the two New Zealand islands. playing
football, baseball and basket ball
against the public and private schools
OF the colonies.
The 40 boys make up military band
OF the same number of pieces, which
has been playing together for many
years. Many Of these little musicians
are sweet voiced singers and clever en-
tertainers and all in all they give an
evenings entertainment that can not De
rivaled anywhere. The funds derived
from the entertainments all go to the
organization and will be used 20 defray
the travelling expenses.
Victorian football. the Australian ma
tfonal game, will be played by the club
The boys received their first coaching in
this game many months ago from
Charles Lyman. well known Austria
Han expert at the game, who spent
some time here. Pat O'Dea is now act
ing as coach and is putting on the fin
fishing touches. This game, which is
played with Is men on a team. is more,
Ike our basket ball than anything else.
II is open, no tackling of any kind is
INDUCED in and the players are kept
running up and down the field con-
stantly. -Four halves are played Of 20
minutes each. with q 5 minute rest
after the first. 15 minutes after the sec
ond and minutes after the third. A
rugby ball is used. All the school boys
in Australia play #. Besides playing
the Victorian football, the club will en-
deavor TO get the Australian youths to
take UP baseball and basket ball, two
branches Of sport in which the Colum-
bia park boys are expert.
The first stop IN Australia will be
Melbourne, where the boys will be the
guests of the New South Wales football
association for one month. Leaving
Melbourne, Sydney Will be the next
stop and the boys will be guests of the
Victorian football association. There
they must expect some of their hardest
games, for 1t is the very stronghold of
the Victorian game. A month will also
be spent there. Perth. in western Aus
tralia, will be the next place to receive
the boys, and they will be guests of the
Young Australian league. an organfza-
ton almost similar in its purpose as
the Columbia park club. The officers
Of this league are: Patron. Hon. Min
lister OF Education; president John
Tucker; treasurer. Hon. Sir Walter
James, K. c.; entertainment secretary,
T. w. Cecil; assistant secretaries, A. A.
Moffat and l.. B. Oates. The objects of
this organization. which has now been
organized FIVE years, is to create ma
tional interest among the youths of
Australia. Every year since it was
founded tours have been taken to diff
ferent parts OF the colonies. When the
American fleet visited Sydney the
league brought 455 boys to view the
celebration. There is no doubt that as
the guests of this league for one whole
month, the local boys will be in their
element.
It is more than likely that Manila
and Hongkong and Yokohoma will also
be Included in the itinerary and en-
tertainments given in these places will
surely draw well and pay. The entire
trip viii consume at least six months
and will prove an educational lesson TO
the youngsters that will never be for
gotten With but few exceptions all
these boys are attendants of the local
public schools. and Peixotto has an
piled 10 the board of education for
sanctioning the trip.
In the meantime those of the club
who are left at home viii also be taken
care OF, and the clubs second band
also OF 20 pieces. viii leave about the
first OF June for a hike to Los Angeles
Eustace NJ. Peixotto and George Schlit-
ter viii lead this contingent on its trip
and the usual concerts and entertain
ments will be given along the line.