William Dulles Jr. to James Hugh Moffatt

M. M.

November 16th, 1900.

James Hugh Moffat, Esq., 4335 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

My Dear Mr. Moffat -

Your letter was received some days ago in regard to the History of athletics, but I have been so crowded that I could not answer and have not yet looked over my files and scrap book to see what I have.

I have not the typical college scrap book and I am afraid I have very little for your use.

One thing in passing which I may be able to find again I traced a little while ago in the old "Princetonian". This referred to the origin of the base ball mask which, however, did not originate in Princeton, but I think, at Amherst.

One incident occurs to me which can possible be confirmed from some other source, which refers to the present style of playing foot ball which was adopted in place the old Association game while I was one the foot Ball Directors.

The new game was adopted ^1877^ under great pressure from Harvard and Yale, we having been continuously successful in the old game. When we started in on the new system we got rules, which, if I remember right, had 58 sections and we studied it like mathematics. There was one man, I think by name Ridgeway, who had seen the game played and who advised and led to training our fellows in the "close mass" game which is now the regular game.

James Hugh Moffat, Esq.- November 16th.- 2.-

As I remember it, we met Yale first and instead of playing with the players massed on center, after a touch down, they ^Yale men^ spread out across the field and got the ball. ^When^ It was in play and ^it^ was passed from one to another, backward of course, until some one got a chance to break through.

They beat us badly, as I remember, but next time we got the trick and spreading our line gained a victory. Subsequently, the play reverted back to what was the original type which we began with.

This is of only slight interest but if you get hold of any of the old players, I think they will confirm my statement.

I will look over what I have at home and will most gladly help you, you may be sure, if I can do anything.

Faithfully yours, William Dulles Jr.