Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-04-08

ture, in one of her disagreeable moods, imag-
inc that the game Of ten pins consists simply
in throwing q certain number Of balls at Ger.
tain number of pins, and recording upon the
slate the number Of pins that may be knocked
over. Many man goes to q ten pin alley
and gazes at the players for hours, seemingly
deeply interested in the game, watching it
carefully through all its changes and fuctua-
tons, and yet his sole desire is to learn how
many pins are left standing after the apProprI.
ate number Of balls have been rolled. I Now
that man has no knowledge-not particle
of the philosophy Of ten pins. No place on
earth affords better opportunity for the study
Of character than the bowling alley.
We have sedate friend, familiar with the
windings Of that strange labarynth, the human
heart, who is passionately fond of that time
honored and manly practice, and yet fer years
he has not thrown ball. His regular even
ing haunt, for he has neither wife nor children
having long ago determined to die single
man, or live forever--is the ten pin alley
He takes his chair and watches the game--l
there be bad player at work, as there is gen.
orally, it is so much the better, for he then has
| new subject. for study. In company with
the old fellow, we visited an alley one even
ing where there was scarcely familiar face
on in his simple familiar style.
"Look at that fellow" said he shat stout
bony man, who is getting ready TO roll. A.
way goes bis ball better SHELTER, in the gut
ter before it is half way down; ball, number
two off on the other side. He has endeavored
| TO throw his third ball with more care, and
faith he made capital hit; nine pins down
| by Jove. Now there is no installing the char
| acter of that man. He has been rough and
| tumble 90 ahead fellow in this world, with
some good luck and some bad luck owing main
ly TO his carelessness. When his spirit is a.
reused though, he is mighty sure and ugly
customer, hard to get round
Here is different genius-this little fel-
low 10 black--he thinks he is going TO do
something nice he has selected the small
balls, and is preparing to send one Of them
with mighty deal Of care. Down it goes
in plaguey inefficient way. Just look at
it-he has quartered upon the head pin, and
knocked down only four! Bah that fellows
intellect is just like his balls; for though he
labor ever SO carefully, it has been so ordained
that he shall accomplish just no.hing at ALL
Nov here's mamie rolls a fine ball
watch him. He measured the alley with his
eye; at the instant the ball leaves his fingers!
How quickly that ball pursues its way. with
unerring accuracy, to the centre Of the group
Of pins. 1t will knock down every one Of
| them! o!by St. Paul! it has gone direct
ly through the centre, leaving eight pins stand
ing! Do you observe mot muscle of his
counfenance has changed! His second ball
is despatched upou its errand. 1t has struck
the head pin on the right, and instead of the
four, he has taken but two more; and this, his
last ball, will do the same on the other side.
- - a1p,i hal
properly regulated in point of speed, guided
by the eye Of master, and still they have
left four pins upright. Such my friends, is
luck! Do yon observe with how quiet and
composed countenance that man has taken
his seattle is used to it, as were the cells
used 10 skinnng, and it scarcely annoys him.
happened to know something of that persons
fortune. His game of life has been the same
as his game of ten pins-well played, but ale
ways unfortunate. He expended every cent
he had in the world, few months ago, in the
purchase Of piece of property. He conclu-
| ded the trade, paid the money, and went di-
| rec,y to the insurance Office; but before he
had paid the premium and pocketed the policy
4, an alarm OF fire was given, and in an hour his
| buildings were reduced to ashes! He bet
| five thousand dollars upon the election Of Gen.
| Harrison but before the bet was decided, the
! holder of the stake-a man supposed to be
worth hundred thousand dollars-had abb
| squatulated. He was candidate for Con-
gress, and received three thousand votes, while
his opponent received but fifteen hundred
The inspectors of the election, on examining
the votes, found that through the ca!elessness
Of the printer, single letter was lett out OF
his name in two thousand ballots, and his op-
! ponent was entitled to the certificate of elec-
ton! He married beautiful and intelligent
woman, devotedlY attached to him, few
years ago. She has presented him with three
children, all natural idiots and twelve months
ago she herself eloped with the best friend
he had in the world! He challenged the ras-
cal, and was shot through the body, just esca-
ping with his life, after six months con6ne-
ment Can you wonder that such man
should roll ball directly through the CEN
| tire Of the pins!,
Just glance at the chap now, with so good
| humored, smiling conference.-the knows
| no more about the science Of ten pins than Ju-
das Iscarriot; his bali goes numbering down
poking over the corner pin on the left just
| touching the one next to it, over it falls very
gently, taking another in its way-see them
tumble all down upon my soul. and that is
called ten strike his second ball is about
the same thrown at random, it has taken 8
the third rolled in the gutter, has Knocked
dead wood to the other side of the alley and
got the two remaining pins. Just put the fel.
| low in the middle Of the desert Of Sahara, and
1 he will find bottle Of Burgundy and a beef
steak, buried in the sand, for his dinner
Nov comes the last Of the crowd-that sal
low looking, spindle shanked customer, who
| thinks he throws the best ball Of any man iIg
creation. He has selected the largest ball
with wonderful deliberation, and with vast
deal Of parade, he has started it. Before hall
way down, he exclaims, triumphan.ly, that