Evening star., 1899-07-01

the utmost. But the head of the mallet
will come off at exciting stages of his game,
and great is then his grief.
At the Opening.
When the game begins at the home
hole, each player places his ball upon q
tee The tee" employed is either a
wooden spool or a little pile of dirt Then,
with several preliminary swings, each in
turn gives a mighty stroke. 1t is interest
ing to note that the boys almost never miss
the ball. Even with their rough clubs they
would probably put many an older golfer
to the blush. OF course, with these extern
porized clubs the balls can be driven but
limited distance. The holes are about 100
yards apart. One of the beys-the oldest
of them, proudly informed me that he had
covered the entire distance in one drive.
In fact, he had oyerdriven the hole. This
boy rejoices In the name of EHjah-famii-
iarly termed by the others 'Lijah He is a
ars-footed. ragged-s hirteG specimen, who
told me lie had often acted coddy. He
seemed to be much admired by the younger
players for his prowess.
Most of the boys cover the distance in
about three drives, and then a stroke or
two, or it may be three, are necessary to
put the BAH into the hole 1t is at this time
that their spirits wax warm and contro-
versy VIII arise as to whose turn 1t is. or
even as to the number of strokes that have
been taken. And now appear the ear-marks
of the noble game. The cause is different,
but ! fear the effect IS the same. Here are
70 hazards or bunkers to stir the soul to
righteous wrath-hazards from which there
is no escape save through an outpourlnE
of strong. and. OF course. effective, Ian
gUage Here the bitter words are called
forth by suspicious actions in manipulating
the ball. 1t is so easy TO stop it siyly with
ones foot, or to nurse it along or to check
it with the club.
But all is well that ends well. The scores
finally
rext hole and. so it continues day after
day-alas, it is feared Sundays not eXclud-
ed. Sometimes they drive across the street.
which constitutes the only hazard, to the
other common. Here wooden sidewalk
sometimes neatly receives beneath itself an
erring ball, to the discontinue of its
owner.
The Youthful Devotee.
The spectator must be much interested
in the efforts of the four-year-old as he
swings his heavy maIlet. One cannot help
it. He does not aim very carefully, and
some of his strokes are pretty wild but he
keeps persistently at it. His counting is a
little uncertain He calls out the strokes
with confidence until he has reached seven,
but then he is apt to become erratic.
have heard him skip to thirteen, and again
when. with help, he has reached twelve or
thirteen he will on the next stroke, with
the best intentions in the world slide back
to seven again.
He was found cnce in the hazard where
he was making a good big dirt tee. Ven
turing to express some doubt as to the
prCprety Of making a tee at such point
ne replied, with a voice full of scorn, that
you could make a tee any place you could
gst dirt enough.
And thus it is that some of its humber
deVotees play the ancient and honorable
game of golf Who knows but that from
among these very players there may in a
few years arise some mighty champion to
astonish the world with his performances
In the meantime there is at least one who
derives, If not much instruction and profit
at least much entertainment from these
daily performances. l. T. T.