The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-17

It is pre-eminently a game at which elias
ticity of muscle and Iithesomeuess of
limb produce their natural and legitimate
fruits, Is a game from which the middle
aged and those who are past middle life
can derive pleasure, not the less poignant
nor the less keen than they had in the
first flush of their youth.
The length Of the drive NAV diminish
the length Of the handicap may increase
-Qaughter)-but. though the player has
to acknowledge that he no longer pos
sesses his ancient cunning though new
heroes occupy the field where once. may
be. he eXcelled, still he can go round the
old course with undiminished Joy, gain
health, gain recreation. gain pleasure,
with no less success, and in no less am
pie measure than he did in the earlier
years Of his goling career (Cheers) This
has sometimes been used as an argument
by the young. and, I will add, by the
ignorant as an argument against the mer-
its, against the pre-eminent merits. OF our
national game. 1t is no argument II Is
perfectly true that if golf Is an art which
a man might take up at his will when all
other means Of enjoyment have left him
"a pastime which he can begin with sue
cess in his old age-probably game Of
that sort could never rank in the first
class Of games; but those who think that
golf may be so described show themselves
totally ignorant of the game they are
criticising,and they have only got to car
~ out their own precepts and attempt
after middle life TO learn the great mys-
teries Of the goddess Of golf to discover
how great their mistake how fatal their
blunder has been in too long delaying
their introduction to joys which they
might have enjoyed in the fullest meas
ure had theJ begun earlier (Cheers)
There is perhaps only one other point
Of superiority on which Z need dwell to-
day. for the subject of golf IS so mex
haustible that 1 don't profess TO treat 81
completely on the present oCcas.ou. But
there is one other point which IS that, by
some happy dispensation of nature, It
seems that wherever golf can best be
played there is some Of the finest scenery
and some Of the best air likewise to be
enjoyed, and this IS true, strangely
enough, not only Of the seaside links,
where the ocean Itself supplies an object
Of perpetual and ever varying interest.
but 1t is true also Of some Of the best
inland links with which | am acquainted.
They, not less tEau their more happily
situated brethren, supply the golfer With
some Of the most lovely views in the In
tervals OF his game which 1t IS possible
to enjoy, and even the most devoted adj
VOcate Of the claims Of cricket will, (
think, hardly maintain that the ground at
Lords or al the val-Oau8hter)-- sup
plies anything Ike the views which The
golfer at North Berwick at St Andrews
or at Monhtth-tc tcheers)-may have for
the asking
SOMETIMES A LITTLE TOO POP
ULAR.
I admit that I could have wisheI that
the popularity of golf did not give one
quite 50 many opportunities Of enjoying
that scenery. / should be quite content
to have to wait less than ten minutes
at every tee in order 10 drink I'm the
beauties Of surrounding natur,-GaUgh-
ter)-but we must bear with result
which, however il iuterferes with our
oWl individual convenience. at all events.
is great and, happily. a growing ted.
mony Of the popularity which golf enjoys
and seems likely 10 enjoy. Now, if 1 have
thus given yOU an account. inadequate IL
deed but not. ] hope, wholly insufficient,
OF the merits Of the pastime, 10 cucOur-
age which We have met here today. let
me remind you only in conclusion tEat it
IS q paStlmc open to all. (CheersJ
Many excellent outdoor pleasures there
are which, from the nature Of the case
and arrange matters how you will. can
only be enjoyed to perfection by the
wealthy, or, at all events the weli-tG-do.
Golf Is Of all games the game for all
loud cheers
Think how many great cities and cen
J ters Of population there are that wou:1
give any sum for a real seaside course at
their own doors. You can no more make
a first-class course by the expenditure OF
money than you can produce a Raphael
or q Michael Angelo by some simple
means. Money, indeed. IS required, but
unless Nature cO-Operates, as size has CO.
operated at MOntheth, you may spend
what you like. and you will enc. otter all
by orly having a Copy--a good copy it
may be. useful copy II may be but stu
a coDy-of the real thing. The real thing
is now within your reach. II IS for you
and for your children for all time. II you
choose to have it. and 1 cannot douDl,
from what 1 see before me, and from
Whar ] have heard. that the result OF this
bazaar must be that that almirabIe con
summation will be fully attained
tCheers) In that hope. and in hat faith
/ now declare this bazaar open tCkeersJ