Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1914 — TENNIS IS OLDEST OF GAMES [ARTICLE]

TENNIS IS OLDEST OF GAMES

Origin Lost in. Antiquity, but Wav Played Largely in Europe During the Middle Ages. - ■ ----- Tennis is undoubtedly the oldest .of all existing ball games. Its origin is buried in antiquity, but it was played largely in Europe during the middle ages in the parks and ditches of feudal castles. The French learned the game from the Italians, the British from the French. Golf is popularly said to be a Scottish game, but there is good reason to suppose that, in the first instance, it came from Holland. Cricket, however, is essentially all British. The first mention of the game is found in a thirteenth century manuscript, and it derives its name from the Saxon word “cric,” or “cryc,” meaning “a staff." Billiards is believed to have been brought from the east by the Crusaders; though some people say that developed it from an ancient German game. Chess, however, which is the most intellectual of all games, is also the most ancient. >— . ,