The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-01
THE LATEST
IN SPORTS
Something About
the Game Of
Bowling.

the newest of Hawaifs sports will not
be untimely.
Over one hundred years ago. we are
told, Rip Van Wrinkle. while hunting
his favorite deer in the wilds of the
myth-haunted Catskir Mountains,
stumbled into a circular clearing on
a mountain top and saw what proved
TO be one of the most interesting bowl
ing games ever rolled on the Ameri-
can continent.
He was so pleased with the sport
that he took hand in it, and history
records the fact that he very distinctly
remembered the incidents of that mem
orable contest twenty years after 1t
had such a pleasing effect upon him
that he fell into a peaceful slumber
that lasted half a generation, and thus
removed the first American bowler of
song and story from a home wherein
his bitter half was the only one who
ever made a Strike"
From that time on the sport in
creased in popularity. 1t was much in
favor, however, many years before
poor Rips contest with the strong lit
tie men of the mountain, for it was
introduced into the country early in the
eighteenth century and became a fad
in New York. In 1882 a plot of ground
was leased from the city government
and laid off as a public bowling ground.
1t was then called Bowling Green, and
is still known by that name, and was
used for a public bowling ground.
where all could play. The green"
was really such, for it was sown with
grass like a. lawn and kept in fine con-
dition, as ii was an outdoor game at
that time. The balls or bowls were
made of stone, half spherical and half
oval in shape. The ball rolled in a
curved line when bowled, which seems
to have been what was most desired.
The game consisted in rolling these
stone balls at a stationary stone cone
at opposite sides of the field, two
teams bowling against each other the
same as at present.
The severity of the winter weather
prevented outdoor bowling for half the
year, and it gradually became an in
door game, being an outgrowth OF the
ancient ball-rolling and the French
eagles or loggetts, weherein six or more
conical pins made of bone were set up
after the manner of the present game,
the object being to knock these down
by means of clubs thrown by the play
erS. 4
The first regular indoor bowling
match in this country was rolled in
New York in 1910, and from that time
until 1875 the sport was very popular,
but was played in a haphaZard fashion,
there being no uniformity as to length
of alleys, sizes of balls and pins, etc.
Some loose rules were formed in 1875,
but it was not until 1895 that order was
brought out of chaos, the American
Bowling Congress was organized and
the present system Of rules was
drawn up.
Bowling is a very fashionable form
of sport now throughout the country,
and east of the Mississippi there is
hardly a hamlet small town that
does not boast of one or more alleys.
On the Pacific Coast there has been
quite a bowling boom in the past year,
and particularly in Southern Califor~
MIA.
Contrary to the belief Of many people
ignorant of bowling ''tenpins' and
"ninepins" are not the only games
rolled on the alleys. The others are
fourback, cooked hat, candle pins,
quintet, rine up and nine down, cooked
hat and feather, battle game, fiveback,
Newport game and head pin and four
back, all differing in character.
Bowling is a sport in which anyone
can become proficient with ordinary
practice, as it present no great diff
cultles A clear eye and steady nerves
are the principal qualifications.
One of the greatest experts In Ameri-
ca says concerning the game:
.Tenpins is the game of games, be-
cause it affords good physical exercise
with less exertion than the small ball
games, and, properly played, is less ia
tiguing.
What is proper bowling?
First selecting a ball that fits the
grip of your hand with a fairly tight
thumb hole and loose finger hole. TIE
next thing is to be sure on foot. Rub
ber-sole shoes should always be worn,
as slipping and sliding on the alley
absolutely loses your control of the de-
livery. The cross-alley delivery of the
ball is the most effective. Start the
ball just over the foul line about four
inches from the edge of the alley,
rolling the ball to strike the head pin
three-fourths full. Speed the ball all
you can with muscle, not with the
body, or by running to the foul line
and sliding four to six feet over II.
Remember, a slow ball well placed Is
more effective than all kinds of speed
and no control. Stand erect, facing the
pins twelve to fourteen feet from the
foul line. and look straight down the
alley. When you want to hit the head
pin never take your eyes off that sp0L
until the ball is delivered. THIS VIII
guide the ball very accurately VIII
very little practice. Get good grip
on the ball and raise for"afd an
let it swing back as you step 1oImala'
bringing the ball on an easy Pehu 60
swing and deliver on the fourth or h1th
quick step. STOPPING over enough so you
let the ball down easily -.
with some one who is better
49, han Yourself you learn more
If the game. Always get in with the
hest bowlers. and you will find you I'M
800 r,rIcu faster. Bowling is not a
FAD; ii is game that viii always
stav If one would learn properly he
,boI,1d only bowl three or four games