Football in Niles, Michigan about 1900

I'll have to take his (i.e., Laxlon's) word for it, i.e., that's Lardner on the left and Uncle Bounce on the right.

A friend gave me a book of Lardner's short stories and I was impressed by the fact that he hails from Niles (I'm originally from Jackson). Never been to Niles, but I've seen the sign--how many times--and now maybe I'll have a reason to go.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Looks like a 15-yr-old Ring Lardner on the left. Due to the sliver of grass on its left side, Uncle Bounce's head appears to be bouncing.
Judging by some very interesting poems, fifteen years after Ring died, one of the true "loves" of his life passed away. She was also 48 yrs old and her name was Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.
R L Swihart said…
I think you're talking about the guy on the far right. Yes, I see that sliver of grass. No, what I meant (which is what the photographer, Laxlon, said) is: Uncle Bounce is on the right side of Lardner. My understanding is that he's the younger guy up front (with jersey and a thick shock of hair), not the older guy between Lardner and the other young footballer. But what do I know: He's not my Uncle Bounce.

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