ETON’S WALL GAME

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1928, Page 7

ETON’S WALL GAME

A correspondent in the Eton College Chronicle refers in condemnatory terms to the famous “wall game,” and it will be interesting to see wliat effect bis letter will have on Eton opinion. He writes: “I feel very strongly that it is high time the censure of Etonian opinion wa.s directed on that aiiachronoiis bar. barit.v that goes by the optimistic name of the wall game. Now, a game as all sensible people will agree, is an opportunity for the enjoyment ol healthy exercises in friendly rivalry. 'I be wall game cannot by any extension of meaning come into, the limits ol this definition. “First, has anyone ever really enjoyed a wall game? Take off the rosetinted spectacles through which you are accustomed to view the past, you hoary veterans, and you will be bound to see that the discomfort, pain, dirt, and general unpleasantness far outweighed the animal pleasure of injuring your follow-man. “Secondly, as to exercise, six players out of 22 cannot hope to have more than one kick every five minutes, which exercise, though no douht, extremely salutary, could be taken in a quarter the time and far more beneficially in a gymnasium. The other 16 players spend most of their time being squashed into the most unnatural positions, where muscular strength can at best only prevent a sprain or fracture.

“Thirdly, it is admitted by all who have any experience of the game that one cannot play it really well without losing one’s temper, and it is indeed well nigh impossible to play the game at all without doing so. In this respect the wall game is only rivalled by the Field, which can ho relied on always to produce ill-feeling. “No, sir. This so-called game is a relic of the past contemporary with washing in cold water at the pump, and, as such fit only for those hoary veterans of the Spartan past whose joy in life is the composing of fantasies on the. theme ‘ln my day, sir. “The abolition of this game calls for some courage in the face of the tradition that now supports it, but I am convinced that such a step would in the end lead, not to the softness of modern youth prophesied and censured so often, hut to physical improvement in more useful games that do not run counter to the spirit of real sportniiuiship. “Weirc this game given up, the raison d’etre of that most dismal of Eton functions, St. Andrew’s Day, would also disappear, and no longer would misguided seekers for the unique and picturesque descend to this haunt of mists and yellow frightful ness or fog to. look sliiveringly at the backs of the college dignitaries and through the gaps at an amorphous mass of indistinguishable humanity whose only object seems to be to cover themselves and each other with gory mud. “I hope that the keepers of the Wall will not be scornful enough to let this challenge pass unheeded, but will provide some reason besides the shackles of tradition for the continued indulgence in this barbarous and antigunted sport.”