The schools of the Long Island League are playing bettor all-around football than the New-Yorkers, and the teams seem to be more evenly matched. The championship is by no means a foregone conclusion, but will probably rest between St. Paul's and Pratt Institute. St. Paul's played a sharp game with the New York Military Academy recently. The latter was defeated by a score of 34-4. In the first half of the game it looked as though the visitors would have things all their own way until they lost the ball on a fumble. Hall, of St. Paul's, picked it up and made a long run, scoring a touch-down and goal. After that the visitors seemed to lose heart, and the Garden City players worked with a snap that soon set the score climbing. The best work of the home team was done by Gardiner, Hall, and Linn.
The Pratt Institute team opened the Long Island interscholastic season with a victory over Adelphi, and by a score that surprised even those who knew what a strong eleven the Institute had. The score was 66-0. Some of the best work was done by Higgins, Gribbon, and Kelley, Gribbon, especially, making a number of long runs and two touch-downs. He also kicked a difficult goal, as well as several easier ones. Brissel and Pratt put up a star game as end rushers. Pratt scored a touch-down inside of two minutes from the time play was called. In the second half Gribbon caught the ball at the kick-off, and ran almost the entire length of the field, scoring a touch-down. The backs were helped wonderfully by the excellent interference given by the line-men. Cranford was about the only Adelphian who did any good work, and the fumbling of the entire team was unpardonable.
C. S. M., Portland, Oregon.—There is no reason why, in playing intercollegiate football, the runner with the ball should not pass it before he is down, as they do in the Rugby game, unless he passes it ahead. See Rule 28 of the 1895 intercollegiate rules. The reason why the ball is not more frequently passed while a player is running with it is because the American game has become so scientific as to make such a play risky for the side in possession of the ball.
G. E. W., Bayonne, N. J.—You will find the answers to your questions in the book entitled How to Get Strong, by William Blaikie, published by Harper & Brothers, New York.
Clarence E. Abbott, Franklin, Massachusetts.—The sail you describe ought to be sufficient for the purposes you mention. The matter can best be decided by experience. A first-rate article on sail skating may be found in The Boys Book of Sports, published by the Century Co., New York.
The Graduate.
[ALL WAS NOT WELL.]
On board naval vessels marines are stationed as sentries on various parts of the upper deck. During the night they are obliged every half-hour, when the ship's bell is struck, to call out the name of their station, and then add the words, "All's well."
Some years ago the flag-ship Brooklyn was at anchor one stormy winter's night in Hampton Roads, Virginia. On the top-gallant forecastle of the frigate was stationed a German marine, whose familiarity with the English language was none too generous. For a long time he paced to and fro on the snow-covered platform, while the gale flung the big white flakes against his face, and the bitter cold numbed the hands that held the musket.
At last the sentry stood his rifle against the stay in order to beat his fingers and arms into warmth, and while engaged in that exercise the ship gave a lurch, the rifle slipped and pitched overboard. Frightened, and not knowing exactly how to report his loss, the poor fellow waited until the ship's bell sounded and it came his turn to report concerning his station. As the officer of the deck listened to catch the hail, a troubled voice floated out of the darkness forward,
"Port cathead, and all ish not very goot!"