The morning times., 1895-12-08
SPORTS OF TIE DIPLOMATS
December Starts the Bowling
Balls Rolling in the Clubs.
BOWLING RECEPTIONS NOW
Henry Clews and Daughter, Fred
Grant and Daughter and
Other Fine Strikers.

II racing Is the sport of kings, bowling
is the sport Of diplomats, for not foreign
official or q domestic sinecure but INDUCES
In the play Of the black balls, and scarcely
q permanent legation but has a bowling
alley or is negotiating for one.
The sport uf bowling, as now practiced
IS such heaithful one that II atunes for
the pie fever OF this country and renders
healthful those who must live within four
walls for six months of the year instead
OF upon the Bay Of Naples or padding the
waters OF the Nile. Without bowling the
Diplomatic Corps would, indeed, be lost
for pastime, ana in many respects 1t takes
the place OF bicycling when roads are thick
with snow or when boreas and the rain are
both lei loose.
The bowling belt Of the country extends
completely across it. 1t is first noticed
about this time of year, and from now on
Until summer 1t is very conspicuous. The
bellies all bowl, and the men, without ex-
ception, are up ON the strikes" and
spares" of the alley.
In Washington, where the diplomats
bowl most, there are many private bowl
.ng-alleys. Every house that has billiard
room owns bowling alley, and it is
noticed that the tables of one are deserted
Tor the long alleys OF the other.
A private bowling-aney is not a very
expensive thing to possess. Nothing like
as expensive as private bHlinrd-room.
A good billiard table, with Amazon rubber
end real ivory balls. with bone and oak
cues, costs $500 for the table alone, and as
much more for the fittings. The slab of
slate underneath the table is what makes
the heaviest of the expense, but nothing
about it is cheap. The bowling-aIley, on
the other hand, 10 merely a laid and
polished floor. It tips slightly aud has
cutters at each side, with pin pit at the
foot OF the alley.
But this is easily arranged by the dealer
in bowling alleys who supplies them at
private houses. He does nothing else for
business but make these bowling-aIeys.
and, as a great argument for the popular
lty of the alley a home, may be mentioned
the fact that three bowllng-alley dealers
n Washington have been made wealthy
lD few years.
In New York the bowling is mostly done
at the few very swell bowling clubs of the
rity. The Ladies' Berkeley Club is the
tavorite for parties of young people evenings.
But the Knickerbocker Bowling Club is the
best patronized, being presided over by Mrs.
Levi p. Morton and Mrs. ]. Hooker Ham
mersley, and is where the older members of
society and the visiting diplomats play.
The etiquette of a bowling alley consists
In more than supplying the alley and issuing
Invitations. Time waswhen people dropped
In for an hours heroic exercise at bowling
to go away and tell of 1t as they would
boast of twenty y-five-nile walk. But
that was bowling in the old days, before the
Invention of finger balls.
GILT-EDGED CLUBS.
The bowling clubs of today. and specially
rhose where the many diplomats and So
fiety leaders play, have a regular mem
sership. Their first meeting is held about
ghe middle of November. At this meeting
they decide upon the days of bowling
throughout the winter. Each member has
paid an annual membership fee of &25 and
is entitled to a certain number of invita-
lions. He receives, perhaps, twenty five
gilt-edgcd cards Of invitation, and those
he ts at liberty 10 send TO his friends- It