HORRIBLE NAMES FOR RUGBY, ETC. 297 



called the " Rragger Wagger," little knowing the source 

 of the combination, which the word " Rugger " ought 

 to make plain to the most obtuse understanding. 



I write of that which I know beyond all doubt on this 

 point, and it ought surely not to be too late even now 

 to save football from being defiled by such names. 



I may not take interest in Association football my- 

 self, but that is nothing a vast number of my fellow- 

 countrymen do. In their interests I venture to protest 

 against the really disgraceful name of " Soccer." 



As to Rugby football, which I used to rejoice in at the 

 old school, and had my Cap there well, I like seeing 

 Rugby football now, though the rules are very different ; 

 but it comes as an awful shock to me to hear it spoken 

 of as " Rugger " especially when an innocent woman so 

 describes it. 



The football authorities ought really to take action 

 and expurgate these horrid names. There is no other 

 epithet to suit them. 



Originally the trick of such names was almost childish 

 and in that sense inoffensive. Thus one of my still 

 living contemporaries at Oxford, named Wilson, became 

 known as " Wigger " ; but surely it is not unreasonable 

 to protest against a game in which the populace is so 

 much interested being desecrated by such names as have 

 been unwittingly adopted. 



I have purposely written somewhat freely on the 

 above subject, and I do hope that, in my humble sphere, 

 I may have done something to relieve what is, no doubt, 

 a noble and splendid game from the evil incubus that 

 has been mixed up with its name. What should we 

 think if some fool proposed to call cricket " Crigger " ? 

 It would be equally correct, according to the same 



