recollection in the thin air of his departed case of whooping-cough, for
having rescued him from the grave.
"That's queer," put in Bob, looking curiously at his old friend. "I
don't see how whoopin'-cough could save anybody's life. Do you, Jack?"
"I guess I don't," replied Jack; "but it isn't queer if it saved
Sandboys's life, because somehow or other queer things happen so often
to him that they've stopped being queer to me."
"Well, I must say," said Sandboys, with a pleased laugh at Jack's
tribute to the wondrous quality of his experiences, "if I was a-goin' to
start out to save people's lives generally I wouldn't have thought a
case o' whoopin'-cough would be of much use; but as long as I'm the
feller that has to come up here every June an' shoo the bears out o' the
hotel, I ain't never goin' to be without a spell o' whoopin'-cough along
about that time if I can help it."
"What do you mean by shooing out the bears?" asked Jack.
[Illustration]
"It's part o' my business," said Sandboys. "I told you once before about
how the bears come down from the mountains in winter and sleep here in
the hotel rooms, an' lead a reg'lar hotel life among 'emselves, until
the snow melts, when we have to drive 'em out. They climb in the windows
of the cupola generally, burrowin' down to it through the snow, an'
divide up the best rooms in the house, an' enjoy life out o' the wind
an' storm, snug 's bugs in rugs. Last June there must ha' been a hundred
of 'em here when I got here, an' one by one I got rid of 'em. Some I
smoked out; some I deceived, gettin' 'em to chase me out through the
winders, an' then doublin' back on my tracks an lockin' 'em out. Others
I gets rid of in other ways; but it's pretty hard work, an' when night
comes I'm generally pretty well tired out.
"By actual tally this June I shood a hundred an' three bears off into
the mountains. When the hundred an' third was gone I searched the house
from top to bottom to see if there was any more to be got rid of; every
blessed one of the five hundred rooms I went through, and not a bear was
left that I could see. I tell you, I was glad, because there was a
partickerlarly ugly run of 'em this year, an' they gave me a pile o'
trouble. They hadn't found much to eat in the hotel, an' they was
disapp'inted an' cross. As a matter of fact, the only things they found
in the place they could eat was three sofy cushions an' the hotel
register, which don't make a very hearty meal for a hundred an' three
bears.
[Illustration]
"All this time I was sufferin' like hooky with bad spasms of
whoopin'-cough, an' that made my work all the harder. So, as you can
guess, when I found there warn't another bear left in the house, I just
threw myself down anywhere and slept. My! how I slept! I don't suppose
anything ever slept the way I did. And then what do you suppose
happened? As I was a-lyin' there unconscious, a great big black hungry
bruin that had been hidin' in the bread-oven in the bake-kitchen, where
I didn't think of lookin' for him, came saunterin' up, lickin' his chops
with delight at the idee of havin' me raw for his dinner. I lay on,
unconscious of my danger, until he got right up close, an' then I waked
up, an' openin' my eyes, saw this great black savage thing gloatin' over
me. He was sniffin' my bang when I caught sight of him."
"Mercy!" cried Bob.
"There was no use o' askin' for mercy from him," retorted Sandboys, with
a convincing shake of his head. "He was too hungry to think o' bein'
merciful."
"'Oh lor!' says I, as I gave myself up for lost. 'This here's the end o'
me;' at which the bear looked me straight in the eye, licked his chops
again, an' was just about to take a nibble, when, 'whoop'! I had a spasm
of whoopin'. Well, I guess you boys knows what that means. There ain't
nothin' more uncanny, more terrifyin', in the whole run o' human noises
than the whoop o' the whoopin'-cough. At the first whoop the bear jumped
back ten feet. At the second he put for the door; but stopped and looked
around, hopin' he was mistaken, when I whooped a third time; and the
third did the business. That third whoop would ha' scared Indians. It
was awful. It was like a tornady runnin' through a fog-horn; an' when he
heard that, Mr. Bear started on a scoot up those hills that must have
taken him ten miles before I quit coughin'.
"An' that's why I says that when you've got to shoo bears for a livin',
an attack o' whoopin'-cough ain't the worst thing in the world to have
when you can use it. Anyhow, it saved my life from the last bear of the
season, an' I'm thankful to it."
Which Bob and Jack thought it was no less than proper that Sandboys
should be; but they didn't tell him so, for at that moment he was
summoned to find number 433's left boot, which the bootblack had left at
number 334's door, by some odd mistake.
[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT]
Lawrenceville has never started the year with so few old football men
back again in school. Nine of last year's players have not returned.
Among those who are on hand are Cadwalader and Richards, the guards.
Richards has been out for practice only about two weeks, but he is
rapidly getting into his old form. Mattis, who was disabled at full-back
last year, came out early, and was appointed temporary captain; but he
has now been forced to give up playing, owing to an injury to his knee,
and Richards has been appointed permanent captain. Righter, who was
elected to the office at the close of the season last fall, did not
return to school, and is now at Amherst College.
[Illustration: THE LAWRENCEVILLE FOOTBALL TEAM.]
Compared with those of former years, the rush-line will be light,
averaging, perhaps, between 157 and 160 pounds. Cadwalader is the
heaviest man on the team. Ross, Pinkerton, and Dana have been tried at
centre, and the last-named appears at present to be capable of the best
work in that position, although he lacks experience. Cadwalader and
Richards will of course be worth more than they were last year, both men
being extremely valuable as ground-gainers. For tackles, S. Dodds and
James are the leading candidates. Dodds played on the second team last
fall, and should become a strong player under coaching this year. James
may be looked upon as fairly sure of making his position.
As to the rest of the team, there is considerable uncertainty. At
present Little and Dudley are playing at the ends, and are as good as
four other candidates for those positions. C. Dodds, who was substitute
full-back last year, might be developed into a good end rusher, but he
is now being played at full-back and right half-back. At quarter Arrott,
who pitched for the nine last year, has been doing fairly good work, but
it seems probable that he will be superseded by De Saulles, a brother of
the '94 quarter-back now at Yale. De Saulles is quick, a sure tackler,
and, with experience and maturity, will doubtless become the equal of
his brother.
There is a large number of candidates for the half-back
positions--Willing, Wells, Kafer, Adams, and McCord. The latter two may
eventually get the positions, while Kafer, a brother of last year's
full-back, and C. Dodds may be held for the full-back positions.
Much good material will doubtless be developed, however, by the various
house teams, which are practising daily, and some men may be taken from
them for the first eleven. The games of importance played so far have
been against the Princeton scrub twice, Lawrenceville losing, 18-6 and
18-0. It should be remembered, however, that this scrub team scores
almost daily on the Princeton 'varsity. Lawrenceville has defeated the
New Jersey A.C., 8-4, and St. Paul's, Garden City, 28-0. The St. Paul's
team is considerably heavier than that of Lawrenceville, but they have
not so far developed the team-work which is such a strong feature of the
Jersey-men's game. Their men start very quickly, and their half-backs
are real sprinters, but they are not sufficiently shielded by
interference, and when they came in contact with the Lawrenceville men
they were unable to make such gains as they did against Berkeley, whom
they defeated 50-0.
A few weeks ago this Department had occasion to comment upon certain
unsportsmanlike features of athletics in Wisconsin, and called
particular attention to the fact that the Madison High-School had at one
time allowed certain members of the University of Wisconsin to play upon
its football team. It was also said at that time that the Madison
High-School was "a great boaster of championships." The latter phrase
seems to have given greater offence to the athletes at Madison H.-S.
than anything else, for the Department is in receipt of a letter from
the captain of the M.H.-S. football team, in which he admits that "we
had on our last year's team two players who were taking studies at the
U. of W.," but, he adds, "we never boast."
It is to be regretted that the Madisonians should have misunderstood the
sense in which the word "boast" was used in this Department. We never
had any intention of citing them as vainglorious. Those students at
Madison who have read, or are now reading, Homer will find the
expression "to boast" very frequently used by the old Greeks, and always
in a good and proper sense. If they will look in the Century Dictionary
they will find, among a number of definitions, the following: "Boast
(II., 2.): to glory or exult in possessing; have as a source of pride."
It was in the sense that Madison H.-S. had many championships as a
source of pride that they were spoken of in this Department as boasters
of championships. In the same sense we may very justly call Andover a
boaster of championships. Lawrenceville School is a boaster of
championships; the Oakland High-School, in California, is a boaster of a
great many championships; the Berkeley School in this city is a boaster
of championships; so, likewise, is the English High-School in Boston.
There is nothing in these statements for any schools to take offence at.
Concerning the two players of the Madison High-School team last year who
were members of the University of Wisconsin while they played as
school-boys on the school team, the captain of the Madison High-School
gives a frank and detailed statement of their connection both with the
school and with the University. He adds: "True it is they were members
of the U. of W., but they were only there on condition, and, on the
other hand, were full-fledged members of our school until their
graduation day. They were the only ones in the history of our teams that
were members of both schools at the same time. You can judge for
yourself whether or not we were justified in playing both of these men."
Any one with the slightest conception of the ethics of sport will be
able to judge of this question at once, and will unfailingly decide that
the Madison High-School was certainly not justified in any way whatever
in playing these two men. Just as soon as these students were enrolled
as members of the University, no matter if they only took fifteen
minutes' instruction a year at the University, they were disqualified
from having any connection whatsoever with High-School athletics.
In an affair of this kind there can be no half-way conditions. If you
allow such men as these on school football teams, what is to prevent
University students from taking one hour a week at the High-School in
order that they may play football on the High-School team? The latter
would be just as much a student of the High-School as the two men who
have caused Madison's athletics to suffer charges of unsportsmanship.
I feel sure that a little thought on this subject will convince the
captain of the Madison High-School football team, and all the members of
his school, that what I say is perfectly just. He has asked me to
correct the statement made in the same issue that "the Madison
High-School football team has never been defeated." I do so at once. It
has been defeated. I ought to have known at the time, from experience,
better than to write any such sentence as that.
[Illustration: J. S. BUSH,
HARTFORD HIGH-SCHOOL.
Half-back.]
[Illustration: K. A. STRONG,
HARTFORD HIGH-SCHOOL.
Half-back.]
The New Britain High-School football team, which has made such a good
record so far this year, is going to make a strong bid for the
championship of the Connecticut League. I am writing this just before
the important game with Hartford, which will have been played by the
time this week's ROUND TABLE is published; but even if New Britain
suffers defeat at the hands of Hartford, I feel sure that it will not be
without putting up a strong fight.
Towers, at centre, is aggressive on the attack, but weak in defensive
work, and does not get into the interference. Corbin, right guard, on
the other hand, gets into the interference well, but is a weak tackler.
Alling, on the other side of centre, is a sharp, aggressive player.
Flannery and McDonough are both old players, and are the best two men in
the line, invariably making their distance when the ball is given to
them. Porter, at end, is one of the best players in that position in the
Connecticut High-School League. He is very fast in getting down the
field, and breaks through the interference cleverly. Griswold, at the
other end, is a good tackler, but in other respects his playing is only
fair.
Captain Meehan, quarter-back, runs his men with good judgment, is a good
tackler, passes well as a rule, but occasionally makes costly fumbles.
Brinley, at half-back, is a green player, but a fast runner, and will do
very much better as soon as he learns to follow his interference. Fitch,
the other half-back, has this same fault, and is not much of a tackler,
but he seems to have the knack of making gains around the end.
O'Donnell, at full-back, is a fair punter, a good line-backer, and a
good tackler. He is beyond doubt the best player on the team, and plays
as well as many a college man in the same position. Take it all in all,
the New Britain team has a strong heavy line, but the half-backs run too
high, and do not pay enough attention to following their interference,
and the whole aggregation is too careless at tackling.
The star player among the Chicago High-Schools is beyond any doubt
Teetzel, of the Englewood High-School, whose portrait we published in
this Department last week. It is deeply to be deplored that any charges
of professionalism should have been brought against him, and it seems
that these should either be proved at once or entirely withdrawn and
hushed. In the recent game between Englewood and Lake View, Teetzel
proved himself a giant. At the outset it looked for a time as if Lake
View were going to have the best of the argument; they forced the ball
rapidly down the field and scored. But Englewood took a sharp brace at
this point, and had everything their own way for the rest of the
afternoon, winning, 28-6.
There have been a number of squabbles among the High-School teams of
Chicago, and most of the disputes seem from this distance to be of a
most childish nature. The true reason for all the trouble appears to be
a fear of defeat, which evidences, on the other hand, an unhealthy
desire for victory that bodes no good to the welfare of sport in that
section. I am glad to learn that the Board of Managers at the recent
League meeting decided that English High and North Division must play
out their game which was scheduled for two weeks ago but was not played.
All of the Games played in the Cook County League on October 22 were won
by large scores. North Division defeated Northwest Division, 48-0, but
the latter team was so poor that the game was devoid of interest.
Johnson made several splendid runs, one for 100 yards and another for 90
yards, both resulting in touch-downs. Friedlander showed himself as
expert, as ever as an end, although he did not have many chances. Manual
lost to Hyde Park, 42-0. Hyde Park's team-work was excellent, and the
best individual play was done by Ford, a new man at end. The other
games, of the day, at least those that were not forfeited, developed no
good men, and displayed little of interest to football enthusiasts.
Contrary to expectations, Shady Side Academy and Kiskiminetas, of the
Pittsburg Interscholastic League played their first game on October 24,
and the latter won by the large score of 20-0. To be sure, Shady Side
was handicapped by the loss of Beeman, who was unable to play, and who
is usually one of the strongest ground-gainers of the eleven; and
Arundell, their full-back, ought never to have gone on the field, while
Dravo was in about as equally poor condition.
From the start the play was mostly in S.S.A.'s territory, and a very few
moments after the ball was started Kiskiminetas had scored a touch-down
and kicked a goal. Shady Side made a desperate effort to stop the game
of their opponents, but the Saltsburgh men were a heavier lot, and sent
their interference around Humbird's end for continual gains. Their
system of interference was excellent, and Shady Side found it almost
impossible to break into it. Thus before the end of the first half the
home team had scored two touch-downs, kicking both goals.
In the second half, although S.S.A. worked hard, Kiskiminetas gained
gradually and pushed the ball slowly down the field, until McColl scored
another touch-down. The Pittsburg half-backs, even when they had the
ball, were apparently unable to advance it very far, Geer not being
hardened to the game yet, and Dravo, as already mentioned, being in poor
condition. The line also did not hold together as it should, and Kelso,
the Kiskiminetas right tackle, went through it frequently for good
gains. Toward the end of the second half, however, Shady Side made a
desperate stand and held their opponents well.
The Kiskiminetas eleven is unusually strong this year, averaging over
150 pounds. Montgomery is a wonderfully good end rusher, and prevented
any runs being made through his territory by breaking up the
interference every time and downing the runner. Kelso is a splendid
ground-gainer, and dashed seemingly at will through the Shady Side line.
McConnell did good work for the Pittsburg team, and by his fine tackling
prevented Kiskiminetas from scoring on more than one occasion. The
playing of Kirke, S.S.A., was one of the features of the game; he
repeatedly broke up the magnificent interference of the opposing eleven,
and worked hard from start to finish.
In the second half G. McConnell was put in at full-back, and it is to be
regretted that he is not heavier, for he has the making of a good
player. When he has put on a few more pounds he will make a good running
full-back or a plunging half. He is especially good at starting quickly.
The next game between these two elevens will be played on the Shady Side
Academy grounds, November 16, and should be very interesting, for
between now and then the Shady Side team ought to be able to develop
some team-work, in which at present they are slightly deficient.
HARRY LOGAN, PINE GROVE, PA.--Yes.
ALBERT CURRIER, IOWA CITY.--Rule 9 of the Football Rules of 1896
states that "A goal consists in kicking the ball in any way, except
by a punt, from the field of play over the cross-bar of the
opponents' goal." For greater detail see Lewis's _Primer of College
Football_ (Harper and Brothers, 75 cents).
"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL,
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THE GRADUATE.
* * * * *
A School of Squid.
I spent seven weeks of my vacation in Searsport, Maine. One day my
father proposed to go fishing in the bay. We got a boat and rowed
to a spot noted for cunners. Soon my father began to pull in his
line. I followed his example. When the supposed fish reached the
surface we found they were not fish, but squid. They threw water
upon us, and threw out a poisonous inklike substance, which luckily
did not hit us.
We did not take the squid into the boat, but let them drag over the
stern as we rowed ashore. We looked over the side of the boat, and
away down in the water we could see a large school of them. They
rose to about four feet from the surface. One of them grasped the
largest of the prisoners and endeavored to pull him away. The line
proved too strong, and he gave up the task.
It is very interesting to watch squid swim. When swimming forward,
the ten arms are laid in such a position as to form a point. The
caudal fin is now its propeller. When swimming backwards the caudal
fin is carefully folded over the body. Water is then forced through
the siphon, which sends the body backward. The squid's head is so
joined to the body that it appears like a pivot. The body is
covered with black specks, which are little sacs of pigment that
expand and contract. The general color is white.
WILLIAM J. PUTNAM, R.T.K.
DORCHESTER, MASS.
* * * * *
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FOR SALE EVERYWHERE.
[Illustration: BICYCLING]
This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our
maps and tours contain many valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.
There are so many questions constantly being sent in to us, asking how
to get out of New York on a wheel, that, in spite of the fact of maps
already published showing the exits from New York, it seems advisable to
give, in brief form, a description of the two or three roads which are
at all rideable.