hard shot it is sometimes difficult for the umpire to decide whether the ball had gone through the goal or at the side of it. With nets properly fixed this point cannot arise. If the ball passes between the goal posts it will be stopped inside the net and disputes between awarding "a goal" or "25-yard bully" are rendered impossible.

Each club should have distinguishing colors, and its dress, rules and regulations. One club, for instance, having black skirts, red shirts, linen collars and black ties; another navy blue skirts, white shirts, linen collar with blue tie and blue cuffs, etc.

The skirts must be six inches from the ground, of light woolen material, made plainly, like a bicycling shirt. Petticoats should not be worn, for however short, they are awkward to run in; knickerbockers fastening at the knee should be substituted. The shirt or blouse, made of flannel to prevent risk of chills, must be locse (this does not necessitate untidiness), neat fitting and made after a uniform club pattern. The goal keeper and fullbacks will find sweaters or coats made in the club colors useful on cold days. Keeping comfort and play in view the hair sheuld be securely fixed; opportunities are so often lost by a player who has to continually attend to hairpins instead of the ball. The majority of players wear no head covering, but where one is worn it should be a Tam-o'-shanter, cap or soft hat; here again each club must have its regulation head gear. No hats with hard brims or hat pins are allowed.

Foot wear depends on the whim of the individual player. Some find boots and heavy shoes best, others enjoy the lightness of canvas sandshoes. As a general maxim forwards and half backs need shoes or boots easy to run in. Backs and goal keepers, since they use their feet so much in stopping the balls will find heavier boots good. Metal spikes or nails are forbidden, but the regulation "Hockey boot" will have bars or studs on the soles to prevent slipping in wet or frosty weather. Many players wear shin guards with ankle pads which prevents knocks from the ball.

Gloves are worn by some few players and they save one's

hands a little, but are apt to prevent a firm, close grip of the stick. The backs and goal keepers will find them good on a cold day.

Clubs should insist on their members playing in the regulation dress. The game cannot be successfully played or safely played in ordinary costume. From the spectacular point of view, a uniform adds greatly to the general effect of the game. Take, for instance, the match between England and Ireland. The English uniform is rose-red skirt, white blouse, red tie, a rose embroidered on the pocket of the blouse and red caps. The Irish uniform is dark green skirt, white blouse, dark green tie and a shamrock leaf on pocket of blouse and green caps. The effect of these twenty-two players working up and down the field is most attractive.

In the interest of the game it behooves hockey players to be suitably dressed. Few women will be induced to join clubs when they see their friends coming off the field presenting a generally disheveled appearance. A regular hockey costume enables one to come off as trimly as one went on and in itself is as becoming as any other dress if due attention is paid to the small details and it is kept simple and tasteful.