The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22

The Great Game Of the Stone
and Broom.
Scotsmen and Americans in
"Britherly" Sport.
Medals To Be Played For Dur
ing the Winter.

The game Of curling has for upward Of $50 years
been one Of the ravorite national pasmes of Scot
land and besides the mental and moral qualities
quired In the proper practice Of the amusement 1t
is one of tho most invigorating and athletc-of all
outdoor sports. Al such it well worthy OF
couragement in this country, at least in the Sec
tons where the climate is suitable. only &C
count of Its being healthy and recuperative. but
also from the fact OF its being played at season
when it requires strong inducements to draw per-
from the hreside and out of overheated rooms.
1t is also devoid of the extraneous excitement of
gambling betting that nowadays mar SO many
of the finer features of athletic sports The origin
of the is lost in the miss rather frosts of
antiquity Although some of the terms used are
undoubtedly Of ancient Gallo, Teutonic or
Scandinavian origin. such "bonspiel," '.brough"
bunker ''colly." "crsmpit." "hack" "skip,"
''inwick." &c. this species OF sport is now unknown
in Northern Europe. Toward the close of the old or
the opening of the year the curler begins look
out for his sport. Frost in some seasons sets in
steady early rs Christmas and continues through
the months OF January. February and part OF March,
The aspect of the sky and tho direction Of the wind
are anxiously watched when the day has been fixed
for some important bonspie and gladly is the brisk
keen, frosty air of the eventful morning
welcomed by the expectant contestants. Three
days Of hard freezing is required to At
the ice for playing. Artificial curling ponds
exist in some places and have the advantage that
they are free from bias; that single nights frost
Ats them for use. while fresh coaring Of ice may
by flooding be secured each morning. These ponds
however. require considerable outlay to keep them
in good condition necessarily OF limited extent
and though excellent for private games are unit
for the ordinary bonspiels where large numbers are
engaged. Nothing can be more delightful than the
<ha
winter weather. and the recollection OF such
sions. with their memories OF battle and victory aud
perhaps. the inspiration also Of the festive
gatherings when the spiel Is over. has prompted
many local poet curler to sing honor of loved
pastime and many pleasing dtties are the result of
csaa ana ali istincons ~ ranI or .oca s;so 20
vanish before the all-absorbing interest OF the
pastime. On the icy field may be either ss
spectators or eagerly engaged In the contest,
The tenant with his jolly laird
The pastor with his flock. -fr
The game is not only exhilarating in ITSELF but the
practice Of It develops qualities in the player that
At him for the more serious battle OF hfe Sound
judgment, good mental pose prompt action in an
emergency GOODNESS pluck to ght an uphill battle
and thorough devotion to the work in hand are ali
qualifications necessary to the keen and good curer
Not few of the Scottish nobility aud gentry have
mingled in the play among the promiscuous body OF
curriers'. The late Duke OF Athoe and the Earl of Egg
linton, both presidents Of the Royal Caledonian Curl
ing Club. enthusiastic devotees OF the stone and
broom. and less were "Chrstopher NORTH
Burns and the Ettrick Shepherd" 1t il interesting
to watch how In the eager struggle OF the absorbing
sport. the passion for conquest Is tempered by
tual courtesy and friendliness, by sense OF high
honor and perfect fairness There is nothing demon.
alizng, but much that is eevatng in the practice Of
the good old Scottish game.
IN AMERICA.
The first mention of the playing OF the game OF
curling on this continent is that OF the Montreal
Club, established January. 1907. and the st. LAW
renee. when frozen over was the slippery board on
which they practised. It is asserted however, that
curling had been played at Quebec previous to that
date, but no regular club was formed SO early in
that city. The Orchard Lake Curling Club, of Pom
tac Mich. il the mither club of the United States
having been organized upward of fifty years ago.
and to this day has an unbroken and honorable
record. During the last twenty years the game Of
curling as winter pastime has rapidly spread
throughout the United States and Canada. and 30
many Americans aud other nationaities became i'm
bued with love OF the sport that it was thought
expedient to form national organization in this
country. as heretofore the curriers' had been gov
erned by the rules OF the Royal Caledonan Curling
Club. Acting in accordance with this feeling num-
Der of prominent curriers', representing clubs from
New York to Cleveland, met in this city in june
1857, and organized the Grand National Curling Club
Of America. under whose banner was soon enrolled
all the leading clubs in the States and some
OF those in Canada. The national organization has
been fortunate in having presidents men Of such
ing. Messrs. A. Dslrymple, A. Hooglsnd and John
L. Hamilton, of New York; Messrs. David Bell and
Johnston, Of Milwaukee. Wis. Mr.. Robert Gordon.
OF New York, u the patron. Mr.. James Stevens, OF
Jersey CITY, N. j.. the present president. ana Mr.
David Fouls, of Now York, the secretary. Annual
aud special meetings are held. district medals
and ANIMALS issued every year. rules gov
erning the game administered. and every
means taken to foster good feeling among
the members and bring them together by a "brith-
erly tie" In New York the PARK Commissioners
give the curriers' every facility for playing their game
in Central Park. by granting them the entire use
have also erected q house for storing the curling
stones and brooms crampits. &C.. and they direct
the ice to DO cleaned as soon practicable after
this city and seven in the Immediate vicinity--in
Yonkers. Brooklyn. Jersey City. Paterson and
IN these An thirteen clubs '' may be- found
some scientific curriers' as any in Scotland
Canada Chief among these can be mentioned Mr..
William Kellock. Mr.. James Love. Mr. John Tenn
pleton, Mr.. Alexander Dalrymple. Mr.. George Grieve
aud Mr. William Meikle. Two Of them ex-cham-
pion skips and most Of them asprants for that
this year.. 1t has been truly said that there is
royal road to knowledge so it is with curling as the
only to learn the is to practise it, and that
~ frequently as possible.
THE GAME PLAYED.
For the benefit Of those unacquainted with the
game the annexed outlines may interesting full
rink is composed of eight men. each provided with
broom and pair Of curling stones that weigh the
on the ice forms the 'tee. round which concentric
circlets drawn. the largest OF which is usually
seven feet radius Another tee Is placed on the rink
ut distance of thirtyeight yards. At one-sixth Of
the entire length OF the rink from each tee is drawn
line called the "hog score" and at four yards
behind each tee Is placed deeply indented sheet
iron. which enables the player to stand firmly when
delivering his stone. The length of the full sized
from the tee tor SO many yards Now as to pnyina
the game. "Skips' are elected, who the respec-
tive captains OF their party of four, including them
selves. Every curler should be active sweeper
The opposing men play alternately. the skips play
ing last their third acting skip when the last
stones are being played Matches either played
time for certain number OF shots.
When time four hours is about the
average. The first tour stones played by the
two leaders generally draws" that is. to lie
Within tho loot circle. Then. tho opposing
players take their turn, the shots become more
plicated difficult, such shots having then To- he
resorted to rs striking, invoking. guarding. chap
aud lie. wick and curl in, raising, chipping the win.
ner. outwicking and others. In al these good
curlcr must be an adept. skip must not only
direct his men, but encourage them to play their
best. and here his temper is sometimes sorey fried
by bad plays. whether strong. weak one-sided.
To bystander IL Is intensely amusing not only to
the kccnness and skill OF the players but also to
hear the quaint expressions used for direction.
couragement or caution. Thus an energetic skip IL
heard shouting "A canny forehan'!' 20 tor
guardP' "kil the portl "a ties high shotl
''Tak inwck af this anei" "Play to my brooml"
"Ye'ro roarin'. mani" "Come up" "Swccpi
I-a.. IA.