Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 284, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1912 — FOOTBALL IS AN OLD GAME [ARTICLE]

FOOTBALL IS AN OLD GAME

Huhlenberg College Team Told of Its . Ancient Origin—flayed at Least £ as Early as 750 B. C. In the small hours, thn close nf the banquet given by Allentown gridiron enthusiasts to tbe Muhlenberg football team, the players got together and elected George Bixler of Easton as captain for next year, to succeed Savacool, who will graduate in June. Bixler has been playing right end and his fleet legs and his punting ability were responsible for more than one victory this year. The feature of the banquet'was tbe address of Professor Reese? the faculty member of the Athletic association, who presented the letter and sweaters. Professor Reese declared that football is the oldest game, and the one with the widest vogue through all the world’s history. He quoted Scripture to show that the game was played at least as early as 750 B. C., during Homer’s time, and among the Spartans in Greece; then later in Rome, and finally being introduced in America in 1608. The Eskimos and' the South Sea islanders play the game. In 1315 Edward 11. of England issued' a decree abolishing the game, as did also later sovereigns of England. During the reign of Augustus in Rome he ordered the rules of the game revised because the game at the time was considered too mild. “Shakespeare, Chaucer, Addison, Izaak Walton, Cooper and others all advocated football,” continued Professor Reese, “showing that thinking men of their time thought well of the game, the same as thinking men of today think and speak well of* it. The so-called new game or new method of playing the game Is nothing but an evolution of the old, and is not new at all. Its long-continued uninterrupted history shows that it is a game of great vitality, making of its players fine physical specimens and inoculating in them not only true sportsmanship, but manliness as There is rejoicing in Allentown over news from Easton that Lafayette has put Muhlenberg on its football schedule for next year.