In the matter of athletic sports by which both exercise and enjoyment are obtained, America holds the lead. So important have exercises become to perfect the condition of the human body, that all colleges now maintain departments of athletics in which sports are systematically taught. Great rivalry is developed between the different teams of the various institutions. Probably the most popular sport in college circles of the present time is foot ball, although base ball has long been considered the national sport. Golf, of late years, has assumed a position of great prominence, and tennis, polo, lacrosse, basket-ball, rowing, running, jumping, polo-vaulting and many other sports are very enthusiastically followed in student life.

Foot Ball—Chicago University.

Foot ball is so well known that it is almost needless to describe it at length, and yet a few words may be said of the most complicated of the several games, Rugby foot ball. This game is played between opposing sides of eleven men each. These men fill positions as follows: Center rush, the man in the center of the "line;" right and left guard, men on either side of the center rush, who assist him in his work; right and left tackle, men who occupy positions to the right and left of the guards, and right and left ends, who occupy positions at the ends of the line of players, and next to the tackles. Behind the line and immediately back of the center, is the quarter-back, while near him are the right and left half-backs and behind them all the full back.

Two elevens are drawn up face to face. One of the teams, by toss-up, has secured the ball, an oval-shaped affair, of pig's skin, which encloses an inflated rubber bag. The object of the play is by a series of kicks, punts, rushes, or runs with the ball, to send it from the center of the foot ball field to the enemy's goal line. At the opposite ends of the field are sets of two high poles crossed by a central bar. These are the goal posts. When occasion presents, the ball may be kicked over this goal, thus making a score, but more generally the play is for a touchdown, that is, carrying the ball over the enemy's line and touching it down in that territory.

Numerous trick plays and formations are used to send the ball from one end of the field to the other. The play is very rough at times, because of the scrambling to prevent the ball from being put in motion. To avoid danger, the players pad their clothing and use great head guards and shin guards of leather, and nose guards of rubber. Every year many players are seriously injured at the sport, and many people decry it as brutal. The players themselves, however, its most ardent supporters, maintain it is a grand, healthful and not necessarily dangerous game. Great rivalry exists between the teams of the great universities and colleges. The great foot ball day of the year is "Thanksgiving day," when every college team in the land plays great and exciting games.

What person does not know base ball? The smallest urchin seems born to a knowledge of tossing and batting a ball. The national game is still so popular that several leagues, of many clubs each, are given good support in their public performances throughout the summer and fall months.

The favorite game to-day.

Golf has been the craze in fashionable circles of late years. This gaine consists of knocking a small gutta percha ball across specially prepared fields, called links. The course of the field is arranged with a number of holes at greater or less distances from each other. The player, using one of a set of numerous kinds of specially prepared clubs, drives the ball from hole to hole, the one who covers the course in the fewest number of strikes, winning. In order to make the sport more exacting, hazards are interposed on the links, Huge banks of earth and grass called bunkers, ponds of water, and other hindrances so that where the ball will have to be driven far and swiftly, make up these hazards.

Basket ball is a great indoor sport, played principally during the winter months. The game is to drive a large inflated ball by throwing and bouncing to the enemy's goal, which consists of a sort of basket suspended about nine feet in the air.

This game is often very exciting and nearly every college and athletic association has a team. The game is very popular in women's colleges, which have teams of great merit.

Surf bathing—New Jersey.

Water sports continue to be followed by athletes who live near bodies of water. The great Henley sculling matches on the Thames river, of late years, have been participated in by American college teams, with victory frequently perching on the American banners. Swimming also is in great vogue, and many great contests are held in different places for speed and distance. Water polo is a near adjunct of swimming. This game is played like ordinary polo, save that the ball is carried to the goal by men swimming in the water.

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EFFECT OF ELECTRICITY ON MILK AND MEAT
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© 1998, 2002 by Lynn Waterman