COACHING.
"ROME AND CARTHAGE."
This game is very popular with the school-boys of Havana, Cuba. It is a very jolly, harmless sport, and would make a good summer pastime for the boys of Northern schools when snow-ball fights are out of season.
"Rome and Carthage" is played as follows: The boys are divided into two armies, each of which chooses its leader or general. Each side must be provided with a banner. The game is played so much in Havana that the boys there have handsome flags with "Rome" or "Carthage" worked or stamped upon them, but any gay piece of flannel will do. The weapon is a soft rubber ball, each soldier being provided with one or more. These balls are very soft indeed, and will not hurt even when thrown with great force. They cost very little when bought by the quantity. When the armies are equipped, the two leaders draw lots to see which side shall man the fort. Now in this country a good fort might be made in the open field of logs and bushes. In Havana it is generally a platform built in the court-yard of the school-house, as nearly all large buildings in that city are built with an open square in the centre.
The army who defend the fort plant their banner near the centre in front, while the attacking party station themselves about thirty feet away, with their banner fastened securely in the ground. Then, at a signal from the leaders, the fight begins in earnest, and the rubber balls fly through the air in all directions. Whoever catches a ball in his hand retains it as captured ammunition, and can return fire with it; but if any soldier is so clumsy as to allow himself to be hit, he is considered dead, and must immediately leave the ranks.
Ducking and scrambling to avoid the bullets occasion a great deal of fun, and require not a little dexterity, while much skill is necessary to make true and rapid shots. No wrestling or striking with fists is allowed.
Presuming the Carthaginians to be the attacking party, they must make great efforts to capture the Roman banner by assault; and if they can successfully carry it past a line drawn about ten feet in front of the fort, the Romans are conquered, and must yield the fort to the victors and take the field themselves. If, on the other hand, the Romans can, by making a sortie, capture the Carthaginian colors, or by skillfully shooting the invaders save their own standard, they continue in possession of the fortification.