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Washington, D.C., circa 1905. "Western High football boys." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative, Library of Congress. View full size.
Western High School's grand Parthenon-like building in Georgetown was only eight years old in 1905. Today it houses the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, which has no football team.
Far left has his mind (and ankles) in two places. One friend has his athletic gear and far right is camp casual. Maybe far left wishes he was both of them.
They look like they could be in college compared to high schoolers today, who all appear to be about 11 years old. Sigh. Too bad they didn't have guys like this when I was in high school!
I think the tortured look on the faces of these rough and ready football players of yore is the product of shyness. They might have been tough on the field, but they were not publicity hounds like many of today's athletes. I can't picture any of them on a Wheaties box, let alone dancing at a cotillion!
Cleats with street clothes - not a benign sign.
Wool, the sweater fabric of the day, is itchy for some and these guys are swimming in it.
experiencing slight discomfort of some sort.
I'm occasionally embarrassed by a spot on my sweater. Judging by the guy in the hat, I'm much too fastidious.
These guys looks like they could be perfect gentlemen off the field but would rip off your limbs on the field.
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