Behind the Line: A Story of College Life and Football

IN-FANTS

EET

ling foot-steps at this the out-set of your col-lege car-eers. A strict ad-her-ence to these PRE-CEPTS will in-sure to you the ad-mi-ra-tion of your fond par-ents, the re-spect of yo

ND, I

most charm-ing traits. There-for take off your hat to all SOPH-O-MORES,

ld-ren's attire are ex-treme-ly un-be-com-in

ar-ettes, stunts the growth and re-tards the de

p and plain, whole-some fare

bed and ea

Freshie hea

and rich food, e

has ruin-ed so many young lives. The hab-it of hold-ing these din-ners is a per-nic-ious one and must be stamp-ed out. To this end the CLASS OF 1904 will ex-e

cruel only

flect, who w

ld-ren, that you may grow up to be great and n

-nal-ly

LASS O

tis-ed by your l

each recitation hall. All the forenoon groups of staid seniors, grinning juniors and sophomores, or vexed freshmen stood in front of the placards and read the inscriptions with varied emotions. But in the afternoon a cheering mob of the "infants" marched through the college and town and tore down or effaced every pos

lf. And as for their stopping the freshman dinner, why we'll wait

an attire consisting wholly of a pair of flapping white trunks, a faded green

e figures ''05' on them, and pasting one on every soph's window," said Paul

p no end of a rum

bout these things," answered Paul. "If the

ean," suggested Neil. "

as a medium-sized man of about thirty years, with a good-looking, albeit very freckled face, and a good deal of sandy hair. The afternoon was quite warm

raversed the path and reached the steps. As he passed them and entered the build

hough he was trying to decide whether

that moment Tom Cowan came up

ding on your head in just about twenty minutes. Some eight or ten years ago he was popularly known h

, "he's the hea

untry, I guess you'll see something of him before you make the team. I dare say he c

uttered Neil, followin

ed by Devoe to such of the ne

. "And this is Fletcher, a new man," continued the captain, "and Gale, too; they're both Hillton fellows and pl

ort nod of his head and a brief "Glad to mee

hen, the coach out of hearing, t

Neil. "But he looks as though he knew his busine

h for strength, t

alter his opinion. Chest, arms, and legs were a mass of muscle, and the head coach looked as thou

ne, he rolled the pigskin in front of and slightly away from the line, and one after another the men leaped forward and flung themselves upon it, missing it at first as often as not, and rolling about on the turf as though suddenly seized with fits. Neil rather prided hi

icely, and snuggled it against his breast. To his surpris

rolled the pigskin toward him. Neil dropped on his hip, securing the ball under his right arm. Like a flash

s place trying to decide whether, if he could have his way, the coach should perish by boiling oil or by merely being drawn and quart

s when he landed. When Mills came to Neil the latter was still nursing his resentment, and his cheeks still proclaimed that fact. After the boy had dropped on the ball and had tossed it back to the coach their eyes me

lls understood. It was almost as though they shared a secret between them. Alfred Mills, head football co

ty to see what they could do with a pigskin that sped away ahead of them. By careful management it is possible in falling on a football to bring almost every porti

r knew the existence o

ng from trying to bite holes in the ground; I think they're all loos

t practised advancing the ball. They lined up in ordinary formation, and the ball was passed to one

side Neil. "On your toes and run hard. Have confidence in your quarter

the full-back had plowed ro

nter rise quickly, put your back against guard, and throw your weight there. And it's just as necessary for you to have confidence in the runner as it is for him to have faith in you. Don't fear that you'll b

that they had learned more that afternoon under Mills than they had learned durin

They say that once when he played here at half-back he got the ball on Robinson's forty yards and walked down the field and over the line for a t

ook so awfully st

--most of his weight below his waist; when a chap's that way it's hard to pull him over. I rem

n Street a window full of the first issue of the college weekly, The Erskine Purple, met their sight, and they went in a

t's quick work, isn't it? And you can read all about Livingsto

nd I'm bearing up under it

ootball schedule! Want to hear it?" Paul said he did, Neil

C.F

ULE OF

Woodby at

ter at Ce

vard at C

tham at C

University a

wden at C

le at N

mouth at

nson at Ce

t year we played her about the 1st of November, and she didn't do a thing to us. And look at the game they've got scheduled for a week before the Robins

res. He swung a note-book in one hand, and was evidently in deep thought, for he failed to see the group on the steps, and would have passed without sp

atulations," said Cowan.

will extend his as soon as he's properl

wo candidates for the freshman presidency shook h

, of course," mu

l have the satisfaction of knowing that if the fellows had chosen you you would have done much better than I shall. Ho

ffably. "I hope we will." Livingston no

llows are in for desperate

hat?" as

Why, I'm told that if the freshmen don't g

e paused with some confusion. "Who tol

way," answered Livingston.

-" He shrugged his big shoulders. Livingston, observing him shrewdly, began for the first time since intelligen

llows amused, of course, and if y

try it," said Neil war

they did--I guess they'

y do," answered Neil, "I'

s, perhaps?"

iling sweetly; "there are o

an for self-importance," Cowan said, l

ird-year sophomor

terposed, "it's all

l," said L

se," agr

was s