The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-26

BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.
From the Cincinnati Times.

Anticipating the time when Base Ball,
that is having such run just now all
over the country, will decline in popular ia
vor and finally run out, and knowing that
some other national game must supersede
it, we have been casting about for the proper
thing. We think We have hit it at length.
HUMBLE PEG!
There are numerous reasons why humble
Peg should be made to succeed Base Ball as
our national game, for be it known to all
foreign nations, we will have a national
game, but, as Richard III remarked with re-
gard to ''having" Queen Ann, "we'H not
keep her long"-we like change. humble
Peg is played with jackknife. The jack
knife is national emblem with us-for is
not our Brother Jonathan invariably repre-
scented holding that useful pocket utensil in
his right hand Then the game of humble
Peg originated among American school
boys, as will be seen BY reference to "Stan,
berry on humble Peg" page IT,.
We hear that humble Peg clubs have al
ready been formed in various parts of the
country; in fact, we have just received an
invitation to be present at q match game OF
humble peg, TO be played between the Jack
Knife Handle humble Peg Club" of Cos
hen, and the 'Bow Legged humble Peg
Club" of Mud Lake. for the champion jack
knife OF Ohio. 1t will be played at Goshen
on or about the coming autumn. Some OF
the most expert mumblepeggists in the
state are expected to be present. We shall
furnish full report of the game.
A National humble Peg Convention
should be held at Washington, as soon a:
sufficient number of clubs are organized
for the purpose of establishing standard rule:
and regulations for conducting the game.
Among the numerous advantages thai
may be claimed for "Mumble Peg" as pop
ular game, we may cite the following:
ANY number of persons can play it.
There is no running in the game, as il
base ball. unless some outsider runs off will
the jack-knife and the club has to ru,
after him to recover it.
1t affords exercise to the kuee-joints, a
| the player has to kneel in playing, the knee
being padded for that purpose.
There is no batting with the exception o
the cotton batting used IN padding tn
knees.
1t is exceedingly strengthening to tn,
| muscles of the arm, through the exercis
acquired in Tipping the jack-knife.
The muscles of the teeth are also strength
ened by pulling the pegs out of the grounC
| with them. We know of one player who go
SO strong in his teeth, through raising tn,
pegs, that he could lift steak with them
He assured us that il was something tina
was done cegy rare.
1t promote perseverance and industry a
| it encourages you to keep Pegging away.
Serious difficulties often arise from thu
| reckless use of knives. humble peg teaches
you to use your knife with great deal
| care, if you want to make it count.
| One great objection TO the game OF bas
ball is the liability to being injured or dis
/ abled. This cannot be urged against mum
BILE peg. Only two instances are recorde'
where accidents have occurred in the game
One man had to carry his eye in sling TO
a week or two, on account oftrying to dra,
| a peg with that member instead of with hi
| teeth, as the rules of the same provide. TIL
/ other injured his knee-pans by neglectin
his padding. He sent his pans 10 the til
| smith and had them soldered lover agar
and they are now rs good as new.
/ We trust that we have shown sufhcien
/ inducements for establishing humble Pc
as our next national game, and shall calml
i await the result.