The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29

aardiy month must elapse petore
the moleskin suits come forth from
the lockers and the lines OF lime are
painted upon school and college swards
The gridiron warriors will look the
same, but in the radical and revolu-
tionary revision Of the rules presented
for 1910 football tacticians, players
and spectators will find a new game.
Football in its time has encounter
ed many reforms, but footbalfs time
indeed Is long. Five hundred years
before the Christian era this gains
was played at Sparta under the name
OF harpaston. Those who at times
forget that nothing Is new under tho
sun will be surprised to learn that
football forty-two centuries ago was
played upon rectangular field,
marked with side lines, goal lines, and
centre line.
Two players, corresponding to modern
centre rushers, took their positions
at midfield the one with the ball stand.
ing 10, yards behind the line. AT the
signal to play the ball was passed for
ward far down the field and the game
was in action The object was to drive
the ball across the opposite goal line.
and in accomplishing this the ball might
be kicked, passed, or carried. Its pro-
gress was impeded by blocking. hold
ing. and tackling, but the play was u
prolonged and disorderly scrimmaEe
and scramble.
Use Twcnty-sevcn Players.
The players in the Augustan game
were 81, In number upon each side, or
ganized in the manner of Roman mill
itary tactics, the plan of the game be-
ing that of mimic battle There were
fifteen forwards, five defensive backs.
four halfbacks, and three fullbacks.
The playing field was IN the form of
rectangle provided with goal posts
Scoring was accomplished By kicking.
or carrying. the ball between the posts.
and two fouls, such as driving the ball
out of bounds. were equivalent to a
goal
Sides were changed after each score.
The game was called at sunset and
awarded by the six judges. three for
each side, to the team that had scor-
ed the most goals The partisans, pro-
vided with banners and horns, sat be-
hind the goal posts and paraded at the
end of the game, when custom requir-
ed the vanquished to deliver their ban
ners to the victors.
Even the most superficial antiquaIy
may find the reforms or football scat
tered throughout the entire history Of
England. 1t was frequently the sub
1ect of royal proclamations from Ed
ward II to Elizabeth. Oliver Crom-
we'll inveighed against it, and Arch
bishop Laud spoke and wrote for It
Even the poets Addison. Cowper, and
Sir Walter Scott. all of whom were
players, have contributed in their writ
ings to the science of this noble game.
schooiboy Evolves Game.
The reformation of the crude game
of their time into modern Rugby. has
Ellis. a schoolboy genius at Rugby 90
sent day football has been divided into
two leading styles of games. the first
in which the ball only may be kick
ed, and the second in which the ball
may be kicked, but also may be car
ried.
The devotees of the first of these
two games held convention Deem
Der /, 1863, at the Freemasons' Tavern
in Great Queen street, London, at which
a reformation was effected In exist
ing rules and an organization form
ed under the name of the London
Football Association. Hence the game
devised upon this occasion, in which
carrying the ball is prohibited has
since been known as the association
game"
The words soccer and "socker" by
which 1t also Is called, are merely
derivatives OF the word association"
January 26, 1871, the advocates of the
carrying principle in the second OF
these two games assembled at the Pail
Mall Restaurant in Regent street, Lon
don, and formed an organization under