Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14
THE Q0tST OF BEAUTY
Bowling is a Fine All Round
Exercise.
DEVELOPS MUSCLE
AN ENEMY rs ALL KINDS OF
NERVOUSNESS.
A Good Beautifier Of Wrist and
Arm - Rules Of the
Game.
written for The Evening star by Katherine Morton.

Written for The Evening Star BY Katherine Morton.
Dead wood!''
"See her lofted ballr'
.Hows that for spare2
Go to one of our bowling alleys and
watch group of pretty, rosy girls rolling
the balls with such vigor that they boom
like thunder storm; hear them shout In
their excitement and enthusiasm over the
game; doesn't It look as If bowling were
better than all the medicine that ever was
put up IN bottles?
A prominent bowler. in his article on the
game for women. quotes woman. whose
Endorsement reads like a patent medicine
advertisement.
II believe that bowling has been my sal
walton. When first BECAME interested IN
the game, year ago, was Ill from work
and worry, had become nervous ana was
losing flesh every day. Now weigh twelve
pounds more than ever did, my nervous
ness is gone, and I can attend to more
business with less effort. While bowling
can throw all care aside and get a needed
relaxation Of brain, as well as physical
tone. My blood tingles, my appetite is raw
enous. and feel that it is good just to be
alive
The woman who said all this is an en-
thusiast at the game, and her statement
that it is the best exercise for women need
not be taken literally. For one thing, 1T
lacks the variety of muscle play that ten
mis- gives, and for another it is an indoor
sport; but it is splendid exercise for all
that, and 1T will keep your muscles busy on
many a rainy day when outdoor games
must be forsworn.
The girl who is about to begin bowling
may profit by the experience of this woman
champion. She says that it is a mistake to
humor oneself by beginning with light balls.
The regulation ball weighs from fourteen
to sixteen pounds, and is none too heavy
a a a m n
Once you have learned to handle the ball
it does not seem heavy. The best game is
not necessarily the most violent one; the
slow ball, carefully aimed, may win. You
will get all the physical culture you need
If you play in this way. If you can add
speed to accuracy SO much the better for
you. but you must be an expert to do this.
Your Own Ball.
A good player likes her own ball. Do not
buy one, however. until you have bowled
long enough to- know what weight suits
you best. Most women will not care to
handle one that weighs more than four
teen pounds. Sl.r
Never play but, one game a day until you
are thoroughly accustomed to the exercise.
The expert says that she has played as
many as twelve in an afternoon, and she
always plays as many as half that number.
This Is all very well for her, but 1t is too
much for the amateur Taken In moderate
doses the game viii reduce superfiuous
flesh or build up needed tissues. Be salts
fed with this knowledge and don't wear
yourself out in IAN attempt to reach the
championship at one bound. The strife of
competition is what makes all of these
sports dangerous; 1t is so hard for an am
bilious woman not to overdo them.
Any dress that gives you perfect free
dom will do for bowling. Either shirt
waist or sweater is comfortable: the
skirt must be short. A gymnasium shoe,
wi ha aala ma N a
used. There Is besides a special bowling
shoe made of leather, with horse-hide sole
and rubber tip fastened on the sole across
the ball of the foot, to prevent slipping.
There can be no true bowling in long skirts
and tight corsets.
If you are not convinced Of the physical
benefit of bowling, watch a few games and
see what they do for the players body.
Watch the powerful swing that he gives the
ball at delivery. This cannot fail to de-
velop every muscle from wrist to shoulder.
Watch the little run taken to give speed;
here is where the legs profit. Again they
are benefited when they bend for the roll
ing of the ball. Watch the trunk itself twist
and bend during the whole play; its muscles
come in for their share of the good. Diges-
ton and breathing aided, hips and
waist and chest are brought into shape
For Big and Small.
A mans rule is that a small man can
bowl just as well as large one; the same
holds true of woman. So there is moth
ing to prevent your taking up the game
IL you are In fairly good health. Choose
the proper ball and play only short time
each day. The game is especially recon-
mended for nervousness and melancholia,
as It calls for absolute concentration. While
you are playing you cannot think of any
thing but the ball and pins; you cannot even
talk; you are obliged to forget griefs and
worries. The brain Is refreshed by its rest
from the subjects of brooding.
During your early practice do not at
tempt to take any run with the ball. Be-
gin by acquiring a correct and slow de-
livery In this the ball will leave the
and there will be no jar as Its rolling be-
gins A lofted ball Is one that is deliver
ed too high. A ball that bumps the floor
before 1t is released loses accuracy. The
floor as possible without touching
When you swing the ball for delivery
remember this rl1le: Keep the thumb to
the front and the wrist rigid.
As the practice progresses the hand
and arm will become steady in the swing.
Later on you can attempt the steps of
start Little by little you can learn to
edge to the side Of the alley and develop
artistic curves.
Only One Hand.
Learn in the very beginning to lift your
ball with one hand. Remember what the
holes are made for. If you start in cIum-
silly, lifting the ball from the runway
with both hands and considering it heavy
you will have an ungraceful habit to
break up. II you make bowling grace
full it will return the compliment by maxi
ing you graceful Place the thumb and
second finger in their holes and lift the
ball lightly. Thfs, will give suppieness to
the finger muscles as well as to those of
the arm.
1t is true that, bowling. like most all
games, tends to n more or less one-sided
The left arm has one
chance, however, After you have taken
your position behind the foul line and
are facing the pins for your aim, you
rase the ball and let its weight rest In
your left hand
Throw your first ball down the center
Of the alley, having started in the center
The first lessons must teach you starting,
not speed nor ctiryes. Learn to throw a
perfectly straight ball into Ia after
getting a bead On these pins Master this
while you are still throwing from an
erect position. The STOPPING position will
come later IL 1t proves easier for you.
New Sport for Women.
Bowling is comparatively new sport
for women. but for men 1t is hundreds Of
years old. Queen Anne used to have q
great admiration for the sport. and no
fashionable gentleman during her reign