The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, October 29, 1954 Page: 4 of 10
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THRESHER
The Bice Thresher, written and edited by students of The Rice Institute, is pub*
lished weekly in Houston, Texas, except durins the summer. It is not published during
holidays and examination weeks. The views presented are those of the staff and do
not necessarily reflect administrative policies of The Rice Institute.
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lications Office (B-45) located off the Student Lounge in the basement of the Fondren
Library on the campus. News deadline is 12 noon on Monday.
MEMBER
Associated Collegiate Press Intercoltarlate Press
Editor Bill Gordon
Business Manager Tom Olcott
On Campus
with
Maxfihulmazi
(Author of "Barefoot Boy With Cheek," etc.)
FOOTBALL THROUGH THE AGES
The football frenzy is upon us. But let us, in the midst of this
pandemonium, ea1! time. Let us pause for a moment of tranquil
reflection. What is this game called football? What is its history?
Its origins? Its traditions? These are not idle questions, for when
we have the answers we win appreciate even more fully, enjoy even
more deeply, this t'r^at American game of football.
First of all, to cail football an American game is somewhat mis-
leading. True, the prame is now played almost exclusively in America,
but it comes to us from a land far away and a civilization long dead.
Football was first played in ancient Rome. Introduced by Julius
Caesar, it became one of the most popular Roman sports by the time
of Nero's reign. The eminent historian Sigafoos reports a crowd of
MMCLDDXVIII people at the Colosseum one Saturday afternoon
to see the Christians play the Lions.
With the decline of the Roman empire football fell into disuse.
The barbaric Huns and Goths preferred canasta. However, by the
Twelfth Century .A.I), football had emerged from its twilight and
risen to its rightful ;>lace in the firmament of European pastimes.
The eminent historian Sigafoos reports that the whole continent
was in the grip of wild excitement in the year 1192 when the
Crusaders, under Freddie Barbarossa, journeyed all the way to
Damascus to play the Saracens in the Fig Bowl game. The Crusaders
squeaked through, 23 to 21, on a field goal by Dick Coeur de Lion
in the closing; seconds of the game.
October 21, 1512, will ever remain a red letter day in the history
of football. On that day Leonardo da Vinci, who has often been called
"The Renaissance . Ian" because of his proficiency in a hundred arts
and sciences, was painting a picture of a Florentine lady named
Mona Lisa Schultz. "Listen, Mona baby," he said as she struck a
pose for her portrait, "I keep telling you—don't smile. Just relax and
look natural."
"But I'm not sir'ling," she replied.
"Well, what do y<m call it?" he said.
"Gee, I don't krow," said Mrs. Schultz. "It's just an expression,
kind of." \ |
"Well, cut it out," said The Renaissance Man.
"I'll try," she promised.
And try she did, but without success, for a moment later the artist
was saying to her, "Look, Mona kid, I'm not gonna ask you again.
Wipe that silly grin off your face."
"Honest to goodness, The Renaissance Man," said she to him, "it's
no grin. It's, just the way I look."
"Well, just stop it,""said Leonard testily and turned away to mix
his pigments.
When he turned back to Mona Lisa and saw the smile still on
her face, he became so enraged that he seized the nearest object —
a casava melon, as it happened — and hurled it at her with all his
strength. Showing great presence of mind, she caught the melon and
ran-wiih it^from the studio until The Renaissance Man's temper
should cool.
This was, of course, the first completed forward pass.
Another date dear to the hearts of all football fans is September 29,
1442. It was on this date, according to the eminent historian Sigafoos,
that a sixteen year 6ld lad named Christopher Columbus tried out
for the football team at Genoa Tech. He failed to make the team
because he was too light. (He weighed at that time only 12 pounds.)
And why, you ask, is this date — September 29, 1442 — so dear to
th€ hearts of all footbajj fans? Because young Golumbus was so
heartbroken at not making the team that he ran away to sea. And
if that hadn't happened, he never would have discovered America.
And if Columbus hndn't discovered America, the world never would
have discovered tobacco. And if the world hadn't discovered tobacco,
football fans never would have discovered Philip Morris — which, as
every fan knows,„ is the perfect companion to football. As Sigafoos,
the eminent historian, says, "Land's sakes, I can't even imagine
football without Philip Morris. I'd sooner go to a game without my
raccoon coat than without my neat, rich tobacco-brown snap-open
pack of mild vintage Philip Morris Cigarettes which come in regular
or king-size at prices young and old can alford. Land's sakes!"
The end of football in Europe came with the notorious "Black Sox
Scandal" of 1587, in which Ed Machiavelli, one of the Pisa mob,
paid off the University of Heidelberg Sabres to throw the champion-
ship game to the Chartres A. and M. Gophers. Ifr was a mortal blow
to football on the continent.
But the game took hold in the American colonies and thrived as it
had never thrived before. Which brings us to another date that
remains evergreen in the hearts of football lovers: December 16,1771.
Qn that date^ British packet loaded with tea sailed into Boston
harbor. The colonies had long been smarting under the English king's
tax on tea. "Taxation without representation," they called it, and
feelings ran high.
When on December 16, 1771, the British ship docked at Boston, a
semi-pro football team called the Nonpareil Tigers, coached by
Samuel (Swifty) Adams, was scrimmaging near the harbor. "Come,
lads," cried Swifty, seeing the ship. "Let's dump the tea in the ocean!"
" With many a laugh and cheer the Nonpareil Tigers followed Swifty
aboard and proceeded to dump the cargo overboard in a wild, dis-
organized and abandoned manner. "Here now!" called Swifty
sharply. "That's no way to dump tea overboard. Let's get^nto some
kind of formation."
And that, fans, is how the "T" formation was born. ' _
. . ©Mb* Shulman, 1954
This column ?s brought to you by the maker's of PHILIP MORRIS
who think you would enjoy their cigarette.
Stars To Appear
At Halloween Ball
BY JO-ANNE HICKMAN
Miss Arlyn Sinclair, of the fa-
mous Spanish dance act, Trini and
Manolo, and Mr. Larry Wayne,
formerly of KATL and now with
Station KREL, in Baytown, will be
the guest stars of the Emerson
Club Halloween Ball. The Costume
Dance and Party will be held Sat-
urday, October 30, from 8:00 to
midnight, in the Channing Hall of
the Emerson Church, Southmore
and Fannin. Miss Sinclair will per-
form exciting Spanish Gypsy
dances, and highlighting the party
will be Mr. Wayne's "spirited"
reading of a horror storp by Amer-
ica's master of classic terror, Edgar
Allen Poe. In addition, the Houston
Folk Dance Group, in colorful cos-
tumes, will provide lively diver-
sion with authentic folk dances.
All are invited, dmission isA 75c
with costume; $1.00 without cos-
tume. Stag individuals are pre-
ferred.'Tickets will be sold at the
door.
Just bring yourself! That's all
that's necessary for the L. S. A.
Halloween Party-Scavanger Hunt
tonight., Meet at Simpson's Diner,
1413 Main St. at' . 7 P. M. Rev.
Del Dolton of Saint James Luth-
eran Church will speak on "Faith
and Doubt" at the L. S. A. meet-
ing of Thursday, Nov. 4, in 311
ondren at noon.
7 o
Column No. 2, (350 lines—175 x 2)
College Papers-Fall, 1954
Owl Band To Make
Trip To Arkansas
For the first time in six years,
the Rice band will travel to Arkan-
sas November 6th for the Univer-
sity of Arkansas game. Travel
arrangements have not yet been
decided. M. H. McNeely, director,
said that if a special train for
Houston fans is chartered, the
band will travel on it. Other pos-
sibilities include traveling by air
or regular train.
• **
Radio listeners will have an op-
portunity to hear the Rice band
and glee club over radio station
KTRH at 3:00 P. M. Sunday. Re-
corded October 24 in the Fondren
Lecture Lounge, the program will
have a Homecoming theme; and
will feature such tunes* as Rice's
Honor, Fight Song, Bonnet, and
others.
O
STUDENT COUNCIL
(Continued from Page 3)
booth. This subject of student van-
dalism was continued in an indi-
rect way as Lou Israel asked for
members to try to come by the
Lounge and protect the decora-
tions that would be put up for the
dance Friday night — perhaps a
starting project for the council's
"Vigilantes."
The group felt that it might
have to miss Miss Hospitality, but
after a great deal of discussion
decided to send an Honoree if they
could "swing it" — meaning if it
wouldn't cost much.
The next and last item of dis-
cussion was initiated by Fulker-
„son's question, "What do you think
of the diagonal worn spot in front
of the library?" The group con-
sidered the spot as undesirable, and
contemplated hedge, barbed wire,
and a walkway to remedy the sit-
uation, but paid little heed to this
reported suggestion of watering
the grass there during classes. The
subject was finally referred to the
committee on Sidewalks and Other
Waterways.
The meeting ended traditional-
ly "with Bill Allen's appointing com-
mittees. Elsa Holland and Bob
Hartsfield were named to serve on
a student-faculty committee which
is to study the Honor System; Bob
Griffin, Bob Fulkerson, and Muff
Bledsoe, to the Phone Committee,
and Alice Cowan as secretary to
the Election Committee.
\ s
' :4, >-*
At Orientation
By HERB SIMONS
Dr. and Mrs. W. V. Houston's Reception at the Cohen House
last Saturday ended another very successful parent orientation
day. A large turnout of parents came in response to the letter
sent to them by the orientation committee, and judging by the
comments of several of the visitors, the parents were greatly
impressed with Rice's beautiful
campus and fine educational
facilities.
At 10:00 parents gathered in the
Fondren Lecture Lounge, where they
were welcomed to the campus by
Dr. Houston. Dean McBride sum-
marized the various activities which
were open to the students. Dr. Drew
spoke on how the Freshman teacher
helped the new students adjust to
college. Dr. Davies explained how
the Committee of Freshman Advis-
ors helped the new student in his
studies. Elsa Holland welcomed the
women to the campus, and Bill Al-
len discussed the importance" of stu-
dent government in college'. Louis
Israel discussed the long-range ad-
vantages to an individual of a col-
lege education.
After this, groups of parents scat-
tered to various corners of the cam-
pus, as junior students gave them 3.
very interesting tour of the campus.
Following dinner in the Rice Com;
rnons, the parents enjoyed watching
the Freshmen, with their red sus-
penders and beanies, march around
the stadium. Those partnts who went
to the game found it was well worth
their while, sitting through a little
rain, to see Rice defeat its arch-
rival, Texas.
Rice's exciting victory put the
Freshmen and their parents in a gay
mood at Dr. and Mrs. W. V. Hous-
ton's Reception immediately follow-
ing the game. Guests were greeted
at the door by Dean McBride and
Dean Richter. Inside the parents had
an opp<?rtunity to chat with many of
the Freshman teachers. Summing
things up, Dr. Houston commented
that he thought the parents seemed
very pleased with the whole day and
ithat they were especially happy to
see that the day's activities had been
planned by the students themselves.
Compliments were paid to Ed Har-
i-i s, Dee Dee Meek, and Bob Buck
for their skillful conduct of the
whole program.
SUDWISCHER
The Village Jeweler
JEWELRY & WATCH REPAIR
2524 Amherst Ph. LI-5561
WAGNER'S BARBER SHOP
2420-B RICE BLVD.
j'
Where First Class Hair Cutting Is Guaranteed
YOU MUST BE SATISFIED
FLAT-TOPS — CUT RIGHT
— Your Patronage Appreciated — •
All Haircuts $1.00
Texas National.
Bank
a merger of
SOUTH TEXAS NATIONAL BANK AND UNION NATIONAL BANK
I
MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORP
REIT A NEW CAR
SPECIAL LOW RATE
FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Take car oufc -anytime after 6:00 P.M. — drive
it 35 miles — return car anytime before 8:00
A.M. the next morning . . . Total charges:
$5.00 includes gasoline, oil and insurance.
Regular short trip
rate: 50c per hour
plus 7c per mile.
Bring Student Iden-
tification Card,
Drivers License, and
a $20.00 deposit.
Minimum age —19.
OFFICES IN PRINCIPAL CITIES THROUGHOUT U. S.
SAUNDERS y,
SYSTEM -
IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
704 RUSK at LQU&IANA
For further information or rowrvo-
tions — phono now. >
CApitol *
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, October 29, 1954, newspaper, October 29, 1954; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230977/m1/4/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.