The Tug-of-War.

As much as four hundred years ago it was a favorite game for sailors of the British navy to "lay houlde of an goode rope's twiste" and pull against an opposing party on the broad ship's deck, of a quiet afternoon. The number of contestants was practically unlimited, and the contest was not decided till one or the other of the opposing parties had been pulled entirely over a chalk-line on the deck. Of course, after a few heaves, if one side began heaving all together, as sailor's heave a rope, the other side was bound to lose.

This game has never lost its popularity; it is still a part of all the British and American army and navy games, and, in its new form, the most eagerly awaited event on the programme of a college athletic meeting.

When the old gymnasium was in use, the tug of-war teams used to be composed of four men, who, instead of poising for a drop, as to-day, leaned all their weight upon the rope preparatory to a heave. The referee pressed the centre of the rope down upon a chalk-mark on the floor, both teams were told to "get ready," and at the word, the rope was released, and they sprang back with a jump, heaving all together. Whichever team had the most perfect system of heaves generally won, bracing their feet on the rosined floor. Tricks were constantly devised to throw the opposite team off its balance and drag them across; these pulls were said to be as exciting as the severest pulls to-day, but a much greater element of luck entered into them.

After the Hemenway gymnasium had entered on its second year, cleats were introduced for the feet, and the object became, as it is at present, to gain the most rope possible during five minutes. All the four men lay on the rope, raising with a spring, as if to get a new drop, when they heaved. In the out-door pulls, the teams burrowed holes for their feet, pulling furiously, and covered with dust.

The real science of the tug-of-war was yet to come, however. In 1882 the belt was introduced, by means of which the strain on the rope was made constant, and could be increased permanently at the will of either anchor. At present it is the object of both teams to drop as quickly as possible, the best teams giving a heave as they go down, and gaining several inches thereby. There are two ways of lying on the ropes, but all Harvard men pull with one leg across the rope, and the body resting on one side. The back is kept straight and most of the heave is made with the legs. At the word of the anchor, all three rope men "go down" for a hold, while the anchor, coming rapidly forward, makes a new knot; and all four go back with a heave. The knot is either one or two wraps, though the single wrap is much quicker to use. The double wrap is used when one team desires to hold what it has got, and does wish the knot to slip. The knot is made with the right hand and held in place by the left; if made too far from the body it is of no advantage, as all the slack is lost on the next heave. When one anchor heaves, the other goes back on his toes, bracing his heels together, and then comes forward as the other goes back, thus losing nothing. Sometimes in this way, or by a very quick heave, the other anchor is "caught" in technical parlance, that is, has the strain brought on his bent knees. His only alternative is to let out rope, or come over the cleats.

This is the history of this deservedly popular sport at Harvard, where it has had for so many years so many champions to win it honor.