In our foot-ball match with Princeton this fall her eleven demonstrated one thing pretty clearly, and that is that the rules adopted at the last inter-collegiate convention to prevent the old so-called "block game" were totally unavailing when put to the test. The game employed by Princeton was entirely justifiable by the rules, and under the circumstances was, without doubt, the very safest and most reasonable method she could employ. Had Harvard been in her place she would have undoubtedly used the same means to hold her advantage. But by this method should an inferior eleven chance by accident to score any point on more powerful adversaries, they might be able to hold their opponents, and win a contest which they in no wise deserved. This kind of game, then, must be ruled out before next fall, in order to make the games won, as far as possible, by the merits of the victors, rather than by their luck. The five-yards rule has worked well, and should be continued, so the only way to make the desired reform is to affix some penalty to safety touchdowns. Against our team Columbia made ten safeties and Princeton seven, while in those contests Harvard did not make a single one; yet these safeties did not enter into the score to affect it in the slightest. Here, then, is the weak point in the rules, and here is where the reform must be made. It will be very difficult to propose any remedy which will be absolutely sure, and at the same time fair in every case.

Perhaps one of the best rules would be that if in case an eleven did not lose the ball between the successive safeties, the ball should be brought out at right angles to the goal line, from the mark of the second safety, and be given to their opponents for a down on the former's twenty-five or thirty-five yard line. This would make the kick-off after a safety almost necessary, but at the same time should this rule be put into effect, the distance from the poles and the position of the ball would probably be sufficient to prevent a goal from the field. It is to be hoped that this matter will be thoroughly discussed before time comes to take decisive action upon it.