New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12

ommend it, there is only club in the metro
poitan district; in fact there are so few in the
country that the United States Will not be repre-
rented At the international games which Will
take place in London in June. But the interest
in bowls is increasing in the United States. ami
there are enthusiasts who believe that il will
ipon be popular here II is in England. y
movement is now On foot to induce the author
tiles . set aside place in Central Park which
may be laid out in Kinks
In the early days Of New-York there were
bowling greens Manhattan Island. and one
historian tells Of Washingtons friends indulg-
ing in the sport beside tavern which was stu
,ted near tn southern end Of the island.
Whether this game was the old game OF bowls
or lawn skittles is not known. but bowls was
(. popular game in England a that time. il was
probably the game with which the officers killed
time on the New-Amsterdam bowling green.
Tie game was played in England far back
as the twelfth century. but under less favorable
conditions than obtain in its modern devel-
opment. During the first two centuries OF the
games existence. stones Were used instead OF
woods" and while bowls may have been played
IL alleys 10 some extent il is known that South
nmpton had bowling green early 12.@
The site Of this green outside the old city
walls, which fact is looked upon confirming
the belief that bowls a prohibited pastime
for many years. The game continued to hold its
own in England despite the edcts against it, of
which the most notable was the issued by
Henry VIII. In the seventeenth century it was
introduced into Scotland. and the Town Council
of Glasgow sat aside piece of land for bowl
ing green. 1t was transplanted across the At
lantlc in 1874, when small tract of govern
ment property was officially granted TO the Off
Gers Of the garrison of Port Royal, Nova Scotia
for q bowling green.
lanes l licensed thirty-one bowling alleys in
1GiI, and among the sports he advised his son
Prince Henry to indulge in moderately was
bowls. while he condemned football Charles
l was a keen bowler and it is related that
when he 4 captive at Caversham, near
Hep!y, he rode to nearby inn under escort,
where there a bowling green, and there
INDUCED in his fayorite game. A sign over the
inn bore this inscription:
stop. traveller. stop. IN yOnder peaceful glade
His favorite game the royal martyr played
Here stripped OF honors children. freedom. rank;
Drank from the bowl, and bowl led for what he
drank:
Sought in the bowls in vain his cares to drown
And changed a sovereign ere he lost his crown"
one of the stories in connection with the
game which is told illustrate its fascination
is to the effect that Admiral Drake when he
was warned Of the approach of the Spanish
Armada, would not take command of his fleet
Until the game of bowls in which he was taking
part finished. The bowls which the com
sion are still preserved. and in the custody
of the Town Council of Torquay More than
a hundred years after its introduction into
Scotland the first club formed in Glasgow
and this club still hourishes. Wherever Eng
Ishmen went they took the game OF bowls with