The Minister's Strategy.
A foolish general leads his men up a hill against an entrenched foe, and then retreats in. confusion. Another general, a strategist, leads his troops around the hill, and by a flank movement, -which cuts oit the enemy from his base, forces him to abandon his position. In 1618 James I of England published his "Book of Sports," and commanded that certain games should be played in the Presbyterian churchyards every Sunday, at the close of divine service.
John Ross, minister of Blairgowrie, being a strategist, adopted a novel method of making the royal ordinance ineffective.
He was a strong, athletic man, and as his parishioners had selected football from the list of "Sunday Games," he appeared among them to joint in tbe sport. Throwing his coat on a tombstone, he exclaimed : Lie ye there, Minister o' Blair, Till I, John Ross, Get a game at the ba'.
He kicked at the ball with enthusiasm, entering thoroughly into th& game. But somehow every one of his kicks missed the ball and hit the shins of the players near him.
He apologised ; but every Sunday so ina,ny i layers limped home that the gam© was abandoned, ostensibly on account of the minister's awkward kicking. But lie did what he intended to do — kicked "Sunday games" out of his churchyard.
The Minister's Strategy.
Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 79
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