The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-26
THE OH BoWLINe eREEN.


" ~
ThS old bowling grosni ThSr0 h . chosry
medieval ring ini thu words, uks the soft
chimes from the belfry Of some drowsyo VI
Belgian city. Tho old bowling green asso-
oiAtsa ITSELF with the merry England o. oar
romantic ~Ranciss; with the England OF
chivalry when might wa right and the
outlaws betook themselves 10 the merry
greenwood; with the England OF the Tudcrs
when Henry VIII. prescribed Q national
game because u troubled anxious ofbcials
IN his war Once and interfered with the
practice Of archery; with tho England Of
the Stuarts and the England Of tho Con-
monwealth, for bowls were one Of tho rare
indulgsnoas which all but Purltans Of the
s~trictest sect did not care 10 deny them
solves Bowta fioCfiskSd Under tho BtuArts.
for Hcnry's Arbitrary statute waS nsver
anything more than . dead tstter. Tho
strong willed Tudors always backed out
when they saw thsy ware setting up b
backs Of the people. An the Same, bowls
were illegal till his act was repealed by .
Victorian Parliament. And there u the
memorable Aneodots Of q fragrant breach
Of the law when Franks Drake and rugsed
old John Hawkins leisuredy played out their
game at Plymouth whom the fnytncibls
Armada hid been slghted In tho Channel
and the ships that we're. to shatter Il wsre
standing out to sea. The origin Of tho game
is lost In historical mists, though the dry
Asdusts tell Us il came over with the Romans.
But Butler In his -Anatomie OF Melancholis,'
writing ON the eve OF tho civil wars. counts
IL with kselplns, quoits and football among
the oommon r~ecrestions Of tho country folk.
Not that the game was q MONOPOLY OF the
xR.lAau uanUU whan hA naaaad hta DTQ-
COMO ordinance with It's penalties, sx-
pressly exempted the mobiles and the knights.
Then there were bowling greens every
where-at the castle and fortified hall. in
the burgh and the village. The knight
threw OF his armor for . loose bowiipg suit
and relaxed ON the green beyond the moat
and before the bsrbican. The game vas
! one OF the few recreations permitted to
&ustere coistsr life. and We can conceive
the zsst with which the young ahavelings
broke away from Illuminating manuscripts
or less engrossing occupations. Tho mitred
abbot could lay aside his dignity for tho
nonce, taking the gentle exercise that gave
an appetite Tor he rsfectory. II hs were
an enthusiast the smooth green wa almost
an much his care as tho fshponds with the
carp and eels, regularly fed and fAttened
Will NuAC1SA0n - ~ ~
game betting the grave and the sober II
has been in favor from time immemorial
with college dons, and q delightful green
that fingers in the memory is under the
secular trees Of a secluded Cambridge COL
lege. On that green I have had many a
pleasant afternoon with two OF tho most
renowned Of Alpine climbers.
For bowls, which may be elastioally
| -l...l 18th af1hk aiw four mr. n anoaYpla .
Is an eminently sociable game. The ool =
pany Is clustered together and probably
made up Of old cronies. For some reason
it went out Of fashion in tho reign Of Anne,
and though it began to gain favor again
under the Georges IL was chiefly relegated
to the country. The country gentry were
conservative, as were the High Tory parsons.
A Squire Western would como in
| for his midday dinner after a long and
early morning with the barriers. He and
his friends, who had been a-huntin' Of the
hare, dined heavily and drank deeply Of the
old October. How long they might have
sat over tho faeons and clay pipes heaven
only knows, but the bowling green b&sk-
ing In sunshine, broken by Pickering shad-
ows, tempted them irresistibly onco the
lawn, and II there had been sorely needed
| JcmD6TAuCo bOClDJlCS IN bHN1C naIA UAAuA~
ing days, unqueetionably the bowling green
would have been their best ally. The par
son played With the church ~ardens IN ehe
rectory garden, md preached bowls to his
parishioners when he desired to draw them
away from the beer shop. 1t is strange that
Goldsmith should lave forgotten them
when he painted his model vicar before the
financial collapse Of DIR. Primrose. But
Goldsmith came from Ireland. and there tho
game was never in great favor.
The proverb Of -all will 60 well II bowls
run right argues for the universal popu-
iarity. Hardly one Of the old country and
coaching inns but had its bowling green;
in many Of them. nov either abandoned or
fallen on evil times. you will still see the
traces OF the circling turf anIos. These
inns, like Demas, were double faced. The
front looked out on the broad market place
and the busy world; the flying coaches
pulled UP before the door; one siIken coated
relay was coming up from the yard while
the smoking team Of the last stage were
Gathering down over the cobblestones.
The hind boot Of the coach had hardly van
ished round the corner before a post chaise
ratified up to the door to the shout Of First
pair outl' To the front all was scurry; to
the back all was peace in a rural paradise.
There was the trim old garden. gorgeous
and fragrant with old fashioned howers
and seQuestered among tall close clipped
yew hedges. scuIptured probably into
shapes OF apes or peaoooks and other bur-
lesques Of animated nature. These green's
with the attractions Of cuisine and cellar
have often tempted the traveller who only
sought repose for "a night to defer his de-
parture indefinitely. The players we're
merry and in high good humor; Refreshments
in droughty weather were easily obtained.
NOR was il much Of q drawback that behind
the yew hedge and the wan Of brick beyond
was the good dry skittle alley, devoted TO
the profanum vulgus and ~patronised by
| ostler and postboy. Common tastes and
sympathies make all the world akin.