THE ORIGIN OF THE INTER NATIONALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 68

THE ORIGIN OF THE INTER NATIONALS.

.M the dinner given at the close of the late international match, -the chairman, U. calling upon Mr J. Deans to address th« gathering, introduced him •as being tho author of the idea of the first match between England and, Scotland in 1884. The germ of the idea, however, dates back to. 1870 where the " Sonter "—the late Mr John Hedley, of Leeds—in his notes in the first published on the game—- " The Draughts Board" (old series)—introduces it in the following humorous article:! A valued contributor sends me the following: . -ITT i "The Public Schools: "Winchester. Westminster, Shrewsbury, Ha.rrow. Rugby— Kates of their History and Traditions. By the author of " Etonians " (Blackwood arid) Sons). - ... " The roughnesses of Westminster hie. have, however, been considerably smoothed! of late years. The dormitory in old timea was like nothing known to mortal schoolboy* except Long Chamber at Eton. Tfe was all one long open room, where the whole 40 boys slept in public—the juniors in not much greater, comfort than the 'casuals' in a, modern union. The windows were continually broken, and neve, repaired but during a vacation In the winter time the atmosphere was consequently often at freezing point; and this was takers advantage of by such seniors as were givera to vigorous exercise,- to order the fags nut of bed. when a frost had set in decidedly, to pour water down the middle of the room, so a,s to procure a practical slide in the morning. The advance of science had even taught them to use boiling water, as freezing more rapidly than cold. The same floor was on one occasion converted into a». draughts board. It was chalked out into large sauares. and on each square a junior was stationed, two of the seniors standing; on adioininsr tables, played a game afc draughts with these human pieces: end when a king was made, his representative had cc carry, by wav of a crown, a small' bov upon his- shoulders.

"Very suggestive. Mr Editor. "Who shall dare to say. after reading this, that draughts is dry and uninterastinsr in theory or in' nractice? What a .capital illustration might be siven in a contest of this description of that famous simile of numerous authors that the same of draughts represents the forces of two opposing armies? Say, in an international tournament with twelve American player? displaying the Stars and' Stripes, and twelve English bearing the 'flag that's braved a thousand years.' "What? Impracticable! Why, then, say a national encounter between Scotch and English—St. Andrew and St. George—the Thistle and the Rose, with the Knight of St. Patrick to play the winners., and hurrah for the players that wear the green. Eureka! I see it all. The contest of the future rises before, my mental vision, clear and palpable. The board appears. Wyllie on 1, Martini on 32. The game opens: Colthard, 11 15; M'Kerrow, 23 10; Allen, 9 14, Wallace, 22 17; ancj Busby dashes into 6 9 and forms the ' Souter.' The. game goes merrily—two fot two; and between Kear and Kerr, TernenV makes the breeches. Surely it is! No! Yes! Bertie has gained the crown-head, and Baxter, booted and spurred, vaults upon his shoulders and represents the ' round and top of sovereignty.' Unhappy Bertie!' Better a simple .subject that perked with such a galling, dignity. There goes Wylliet moving solemnly down to ' set' Drummond.The S.D.P. seems pale and slightlj nervous. Another move has—ha! the vision fades, and now—the baseless fabric has vanished from my sight. No matter, it may become reality. Oh! to behold but one veritable tournament on this principle; only one, and the silent tomb might enfold in its cold embrace this mortal form, but canty and contented in the groves of Elysium) would wander the soul of The S.outer " To understand the full humour of the* "So liter's" prophetic vision one ough' tol know the occupations of the players named. Busby was a shoe operative, or, as thf Scotch term it, a soutar; Ternent followed the profession of a tailor, and thus ma& the " breeches"; Bertie, " The Souter ■ once explained to us, was of but smalt build; while Baxter was somewhat bulky t : get tins? on towards 18 stone, hence th* symoathetic expression on the first-namefl reaching the crown squares.—Yorkshire' Post.