Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
BOWLS MAY HAVE A BOOM.
of the Old Game Want
Greens in the New York Parks.

From the New York Sun.
Bowling greens-although the name Of
but one has been retained in our street no.
menclature-were a feature Of the colonial
period Of New York life and the game a
very popular one The game is still played
at many of the country clubs and country
houses. but only in desultory way, and
but one club maintains a regular green in
| the metropolitan district. This is the New
Jersey Bowling Green Club. which has a
fine SHRINK green at the foot of Communi-
paw avenue Jersey City. During the
SON from May to November. the members
have many exciting games, and once year
a tournament that attracts many good play
ers from other cities. Most of the players
are Scotchmen and at the end OF the sea-
son for bowls and Quoits they take to curl
ing, but the old game has many Jealous
homebred adherents. This is the closed
season for bowls. and in view of the fact
that it is game of skill that only requires
a moderate-siZed plot of turf and that 1t
may be played by many on the one day,
the New York Scottish Society, the Sun
noted on December II. will ask the park
commissioners to lay out public green in
Central Park.
There are over 400 clubs and fully $500
regular players at bowls In Scotland and
some hundreds of clubs In England. 1t is
not played much in Ireland. In Scotland
most of the greens are municipal ones fee
of one penny being charged for a game.
much to promote interest in bowls. and,
besides the private clubs. the Londoners
have the chance to play in many of the pub
lie parks. A movement is now under way
to increase these privileges. The first greens
Were laid out on the north and south sides
of the Thames, at Dulwich Park and CHS
sold Park. London Field states:
Now the county council is prepared to
take a long step forward. Not only has it
felt its feet, but it has also been implored
by humble petitions and prayers to provide
bowling greens for the East and West End.
The residents in the neghborhood of Island
Gardens in Poplar, who urged the parks
committee to lay down green, had
strong Those who know the quarter
must welcome the councils decision.
Everything that will brighten the lives Of
the inhabitants and Tighten their cares is
of the nature Of an unmixed blessing. 1t
is good to know that the Poplarites have
asked for bowls. for there is not single
pernicious influence associated with the
game. 1t attracts no gate money, and it
raises no question of professionalism; in
deed, 1t and its winter analogue, curling,
the only purely democratic pastimes
left; and no public green will be an adjunct
o. a gin palace.
THE Poplar green is to cost f1O5 Hack
ney folk begged that green might be
formed in Victoria Park. Now they come
to think of it they must, like Give. be sur
prised at their own moderation. Having re-
gard to the size of that magnificent open
space. and the enormous population
rounding it, the council might have gone
one better than its petitioners and
agreed to construct green at each end Of
the park. Moreover, the estimated cost
is fixed at the princely sum of col. it seems
a pity the committee ~ ~ aat take their
courage into both hands and plunge des-
perately for 600. Having agreed to do SO
much for Poplar and Hackney. it was easy
to resolve that green should be laid down
at Ravenscourt Park. In Hammersmith. at
cost of f9S."
The figures regarding the cost of laying
out the Gems should interest the park com
missioners A well-laid green will last for
many seasons. A plot sixty yards square,
lined with a thick, springy turf that will
wear well, Is what must be had There
would seem to be many plots available for
greens in the parks of Manhattan and the
adjacent boroughs.