Evening star., 1899-07-01
GOLF AS SHE is PLAYED
Diminutive Devotees of the Sport Whose
Field is a Vacant Square.
Every Player His own Caddy-BalIs
of Penny Variety, Clubs of
Every Pattern.

Golf is bidding fair TO become the ma
tional game. At least, it now seems to rule
almost supreme in the hearts of many of
the young hopefuls of this city, who fire.
quent certain of the open commons within
it's limits. Well out in Mount Pleasant and
to the east of 14th street there stretches d
large grassy common-in fact, a vacant
square. Two sides of it are bounded by
streets. another by quite grove of oak
trees. where it is hoped that some day a
park may be established. while the fourth
side terminates in gravel pits. Near one
corner are tennis courts where white-cIad
figures rush to and fro each afternoon
They in themselves are interesting, but not
nearly so much so as certain other figures,
who constitute the subject of this sketch.
The surface of the common is very Level
this would not appeal to the heart of the
expert golfer-and grassy. The street upon
the longer side is about six feet below its
level, and upon it's opposite side, for about
15O feet, there are no houses. This isthmus
or neck leads to another common which
stretches away, one might say, Indefinitely.
Upon this first common there have been
set by certain golf players of the neighbor-
hood three holes arranged in a triangle,
and two upon the other space. These holes
are made by sinking into the ground a metal
cylinder, maze Tor the purpose. 1t is
strongly suspected that these holes have
superseded an earlier crop-if one may use
the term-formed of discarded tomato cans
These golf players used the holes early
in the season merely for practice; for the
real sport they sought the links of the
Chevy Chase Club no doubt: but now they
seem to spurn them utterly They have
fled to fairer fields, with their greater
hazards and bunkers. Their place at
once filed hy-and may pardon be granted
FOR saying it-a more interesting band a
ragged regiment of colured youths. ranging
in age from perhaps seven to fifteen years,
The field Is not entirely given over how
ever, to the darker athletes. for many a
young Saxon boy of the neighborhood min
giles good-naturedly with them One es-
pcciaiiy, who Is of the tender age of four
and half years, trudges bravely out each
afternoon.
There is here never a warning cry of
fore but the little cherub who looks out
for the life of poor Jack seems to have ex-
tended the field of his operations. At any
| rate. there have been no broken crowns
at least from golf balls.
| The golf balls are of the penny wooden
variety. such as the older golf player in
duiged in when he was young. with a long
rdbber to return them when tossed in air
The clubs or stcks-ah. how shall they be
| described? There is here no need for a
| caddy. Every player is his own eaddy.
| Here Is no microscopic examination of the
| lay of the ball to determine the best club
to use. II Is the one club, first last and
/ all the time Each is one that nature has
\ kindly afforded-a branch with a curved
| knotty end, with one or two observed ex-
| ceptions.
| Some of the boys have gone into the
| woods and dug up young saplings whose
| roots afford thick, solid ends, that may i'm.
! part a hard blow to the ball. One or two
/ of the players are the proud possessors OF
! shinney sticks. and the little four-year-old
! marches forth with a genuine crouuet mai.
| let almost as long as himself, and a heavy
croquet ball that taxes the golf holes e