The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-23
THE GAME or TEN-PiNs.
An Ancient and Noble >port-How to Bull
and Eauip an Alley.

An Ancient and Noble Sport-How to Build
and Equip an Alley.
Bowling is an ancient and noble
sport. and at a very early period il
was favOrite pastime in England
The game was first played on the oper
ground. the turf having been shaved
close and then rolled.
1t became very popular as sport
but was used so extensively for gam
bling purposes that King Henry VIII.
prohibited it by law which was no,
repealed until 1916.
At an early date in the history OF
America it became very popular. The
open park on lower Broadway. in the
city of New York. was a great bowling
ground in early days; hence its name
of Bowling Green
In more modern times the game OF
bowls" has been modified and i'm.
proved. and is now known as ten-pins.
The implements are number of balls.
generally twenty in number, ten pins.
and an alley.
The alley is platform about fifty to
sixty-five feet long and thirty inches
in width, raised six Or eight inches
from the ground. This platform must
be made of hard wood, and be perfect.
ly even. On either side is a gutter
ten inches wide, and on one side is a
trough on posts.
The pins are set up at the farthest
end of the alley in the shape of pyra-
mid. the apex toward the bowler This
is called a frame"
During game each player has three
frames. and rolls three balls at each
frame. The object is to knock down
all the pins. and if they are all knocked
down at one rOll-which is done by
hitting the center pin in the right
way. the pins are set up again and the
bowler has the privilege of rolling
two more balls, which are called
spares" If he knocks down any
number less than ten. he rolls the
other two balls at the remaining pins
One point is scored for each pin
knocked down, and with nine balls il
is. OF course, possible to make ninety
points in three frames
The pins are made of swamp-elm
and weigh alb ut two and one-half
pounds each. The balls are of lignum
vitae. the hardest wood known. and
without grain. They weigh from one
pound to twenty, and every player has
his preference. but a medium sized
ball viii do the most execution on an
average. If a ball runs off the alley
and goes into the gutter it is called a
''pOodle."
At the opposite end of the alley is
stationed boy. whose duty it is to set
up the pins and roll back the balls tc
the players in the trough.
Ten-pins is an excellent game for all
seasons. and can be played either in.
doors or outdoors. 1t develops the
muscles of the back and arms in a
wonderful degree. and trains the eye
as well as the hand. The only draw
back to its general enjoyment is the
cost of the game.
To build and equip an alley gen.
orally costs about $500. and very few
young people could stand that out
lay. although twenty boys might
readily form bowling club and thus
diminish the expense.
Better still, they might build an
alley and reduce the cost to a trifle
especially in regions where lumber is
plentiful. The pins can be turned or
a common lathe, and any amateur car.
pcnter can lay the alley. using hare
maple, being careful to make neat
joints and Us few as possible.
The balls are the chief stumbling
blocks. not only the difficulty in max
ing them perfectly round. but in pro-
curing the proper material. There is
no perfect substitute for lignum vitae.
and metal is out of the question. The
best substitute Is maple, carefully
turned, then polished and oiled.
With reasonable care such balls
would last long time. especially if
''lofting" were strictly forbidden
'Lofting" is q trick some players
have of throwing the ball as far as
possible down the alley before allow
ing it to roll. which practice frequent
ly splits the alley or breaks the ball:
1t serves no good purpose. and is con-
trary to the rules. The ball should
roll from mark not exceeding dis
lance OF six feet from the player. :;
Like all games, this should be
played with the sauce of good nature
Or not at all. and should never be used
for gamblinr purposes 1t is a lively
and exciting game. and one that girls
can play with perfect propriety as
well as great benefit to their health
Golden Days.
His Reason for Not Going.