Park City High School - Kalendar Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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There was a large crowd on the Morrison field. The streets were choked with vehicles, and a rough crowd of men, women and children. The Burkes had not been seated long before a tall, aris- tocratic young fellow with a long tailed coat, came along in front of them. How do you do, Mr. Bridgeman? smiled Miss Holden. Did you ever see such a crowd in your life? Yes, he replied, There's a jolly good crowd. Miss Holden, said Mrs. Burke, beaming with hospitality, just ask your friend to come up in the box and see the game with us. I'm sure there 's plenty or room. i'Thanks awfully, I shall be charmed if I shan't inconven- ience anyone. In a few minutes the young man was seated beside Miss. Holden, congratulating himself on getting to see the game free. Are you fond of foot-ball? he asked Mrs. Burke with elaborate courtesy. Dear me, I can 't say I am, except on account of the child- ren, laughed the stout lady with good humor. This is the first time Mr. Burke and I ever attended a game. But it is fun to see so many people, and all these young folks so interested. There 's that boy there she continued looking at Bobby. I just think he 'll have to take a dose of medicine if Alton don't win. Are you for Alton or Fairview, Mr. Bridgeman? I suppose I'm for Fairview since that is my old school.' ' he replied. There's Ben, exclaimed Bobby, Rah for Alton. He shook his pennant frantically. There was no question about his interest for he could hardly keep still. Miss Holden had already discovered Ben Burke, and thought he looked very handsome in his foot-ball suit. He was a young fellow of medium height, straight eye- brows and 'finely cut lips. His thick hair fell half way down his brow. He certainly was worthy of a pretty girl's attention. He was a ine figure in his white sweater with a big orange A on it. What funny baggy pants they wear. said Mrs. Burke, with interest. I declare they are quilted just like one of mofbher's silk quilts. What makes 'em so bulgy? Why they 're padded. said Bobby with some disgust at the ignorance of his mother. See his shin-guards? That's so, he won't feel a kick so much. 44

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A Touchdown Even the weather had the foot-ball craze, for never was there a more perfect day than Tuesday, November 20, when the Orange of Alton High School and the Green of Fairview Ac- ademy met to kick the skin oi a foot-ball on Morrison Field in B-. The whole town was humming with excitement over this contest of school boys. Flags and pennants flew gaily from the huge hotels on Sixth Avenue. Small boys blew horns and cars, for which brass handles discoursed inspiring music, led to the field where the battle was to be waged. Carriages could be seen draped in orange or green, while the youngsters, crazy with enthusiasm, yelled themselves hoarse, as they waved walking sticks with long streamers of ribbon in one or the other college colors fastened to them. Ben Burke was to play quarter-back for Alton. In honor of this occasion his parents had taken a box, and Cat Ben 's sug- gestionj has invited Louise Holden in from R- to see the game. The box was decorated in yellow, and the girl wore a large corsage bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums in honor of Alton. And a box behind them contained four girls with knots of green fastened in their trim tailored coats. The four that got into the Burke box were strong Alton partisans. Even old Mr. Burke and his fat good natured wife had orange ribbons modestly displayed on their persons. Bobby Burke, a ripe youth of twelve, waved a pennant of orange colored silk with a big A on it, and yelled phrases of derision when ever a Fairview color would rise above the orange. I suppose I ought to wear green, for my first cousin plays on Fairview team and he may get insulted, said Miss Holden. Oh, he won 't care for just one time, Fairview has plenty of routers any how. responded Mrs. Burke, good naturedly. At this remark Bobby cast a glance of distrust at Miss Holden, for seeming to think that any thing that wasn't a true Alton yellow, would be allowed in their company on such an occasion. But he relieved his mind by yelling at a burly negro who wore a large grin and Fairview color. 43

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Oh dear me! I do hope he won 't get kicked, replied his mother feelingly. But look at that big fellow there! what has he got on his nose? That's a nose guard, said Bobby, so he won 't get his nose broken. I guess he plays on the line. Oh! he 's a Fairview ! The game that followed was not under stood by Mrs. Burke and her husband 5 it was partially comprehended by Miss Holden, most of the points were grasped by Mr. Bridgeman, while every move in the struggle, from a field goal or a touchdown to an onside kick or a punt, was taken in by the enthusiastic Bobby. I should think it would be called head ball instead of foot- ball, commented Mrs. Burke, after watching the game for some time. Isn't it a shame how they all fall on a man just because he happens to tumble down with the ball? she added indig- nantly. A player had just been tackled and had promptly dis- appeared under a mass of men. Yes he falls best who falls last in foot-ball, said Mr. Bridgeman. Those fellows who throw themselves on the top have the pleasure of resting for a minute or two without the pressure on them that the others have. Ben's got the ball! cried Bobby, wildly. Miss Holden sat up excitedly and watched the young fellow running like a deer, and dodging with marvelous quickness the opposing players. She was getting wrought up under Bobby 's excitement. Oh dear me, they must have hurt him. There was mother- ly uneasiness in Mrs. Burkes tones, as she saw her beloved son go to the ground, still tightly clutching the ball, under the onset of a burly Fairview man. Miss Holds-n's smooth forehead took on a pucker of anxiety. All those men must be a heavy weight on one man 's back, and Ben was buried under them. A moment later a little scream broke from her, as the writhing teams struggled with each other the legs of one of the players was seen upright in the air, slowly bending backward. Apparently the player was pinned somewhere about his head, while the pressure above was bearing the rest of his body slowly back with his neck as a pivot. Oh, his neck will be broken, gasped Ben 's mother in an agonized tone. Something had happened. For suddenly the play was interrupted. The players stood around, while two or three supported a limp fellow, whose face was ashy pale, while the 45 ,7