The Washington herald., 1918-06-20

fies and pistols are the only text
books used in the athletic curric-
ulum of Lincoln Memorial Univer-
sity. This is probably the only uni
versity in the United states which
has not been affected seriously by
the war and where the sports have
not been disrupted by the leaving
of the star athletes.
Situated as ii is far up in the
mountains near where the three
States Join hands in endless strife
Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia
where the students go to school only
when the weather permits, and du-
ties at home are not too pressing,
the college year is now. well under
way and the sporting season has
opened.
Every afternoon the rugged noun
tain men, many Of them over the
draft age, gather on the college
green to participate in the great
American game, baseball. This is
the chief game, football is unheard
of and track events are limited to
barefoot running races.
When the students came down
out of the mountains this spring
at the opening of the university
course. many of them brought with
them their shotguns, pistols and ri
fes. Others carried long hunting
knives.
The university authorities soon
informed the new students that the
II 9 ba,
they came to get '1arnin," but they
parting this bit of information in q
manner that was satisfactory to the
student body.
course of military training to the
ffggers." When this was announced
many of the students were surprised
to learn that there was a war going
on. and refused to give up their
guns. The authorities tried to get
them to use a rudely fashioned type
Of wooden rifle in military drill work.
but it was soon seen that unless
actual firearms were permitted there
would be little drill.
During the first week 1H guns
were collected from the students, and
it is doubtful whether the authori-
ties found anywhere near all of them.
II Is not an unusual occurrence for
rugged mountain boy to walk for
miles over the mountains and make
his appearance at Lincoln Memorial
at any day which suits himself and
make application for admission. No
entrance examination Is necessary.
Military drill has become the rrin-
cipal sport event this year at this
mountain college which boasts of the
name of a university. 1t is truly a
university where it Is located, even
though the students are. of grammar
school character.
Marksmanship Is the one art in
which these men excel, and We're they
to compete with other colleges in this
type of a tournament there would
be no doubt OF the championship.
Next to shooting. the mountain men
have learned 20 love baseball.
Baseball as it is played at Lincoln
Memorial Is not of the type seen at
the league parks or even in the bush
leagues. "Oyer the fence is out"
This time-honored rule is In effect.
ard proves to be the best safeguard
for the felders.
The round town" game Is the
only one known to the mountaineer.
In this game the nine men, If there
happens to be that many, play the
same positions as in organized base
ball, except that the shortstop plays
near the pitchers box. When a bat
ter is out he goes into right field to
work his way up to the plate again.
Lit US say that they advance as fol-
lows. every man moving UP one po-
sition each time an out Is made
from right field to center field. from
center t. left, from left to third
base, etc. Even the pitcher moves
along. as well. the first baseman be-
coming the boxman and the pitcher
moving up behind the bat. As soon
as another man is out the catcher Is
then retired to the batting list.
There is no record of runs kept:
In fact, making runs Is not the OBJ
jest Of the game, except for the bat
ter to make a complete round of the
bases. thereby not losing his place
in the batting order. Under this
system there Is naturally no ae-
count kept OF the number of outs
made; a runner need not worry
about dying on base. -
There Is mo- place for umpires In
this game; in fact. any person who
risked his life to act in the role Of
IN umpire would be. very foolish.
u dispute arises. and they often
DO, i Is usue ily rGuickiy settled In