Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-09-04
MARK TWAIN AS a BOWLER.
6ewiiderins Rcsu.ss He Achieved In
His First Game.

80 - 61ENt~-
MoTe than forty years ago in san
Francisco the Office stan adjoSrned up
on conclusion OF its work It y O'Clock
in the morning to great bowling es-
tablishment where there were twelve
alleys I was invited. rather perfume
torily ana as matter OF etiquette-by
which mean that I was invited Do
lltely. but not urgently. Bot when I
difiidently declined with thanks and
explained that I knew nothing about
the game those lively young fellows
became ut cnce eager and anxious and
urgent TO have my society This fat
tered me, for 1 perceived no trap. and
L nnocently and gratefully accepted
their invitation. I was given an alley
all TO myself. The boys explained the
game 20 me. and they also explained to
me that these would be an hours MAY
and that the player who scored the
teweSt ten strikes In the hour would
have to provide oysters and beer for
the combination This disturbed me
very seriously. since It promised me
bankruptcy. and I was sorry that this
detail had been overlooked In the be-
ginning. But my pride would not NJ
low the 20 back out now. 50 I stayed
In and did what I could to Took salts
fled and glad I had come. It is not
likely that I looked as contented as I
wanted TO, vut the others looked glad
enough 20 make up for It, for they
were quite unable to hide their evil
JOY They showed me how to stand
and how 10 GtOOp and how to aim the
ball and how 70 let fly. and then the
game began.
The results were astonishing In
my ignorance I delivered the balls In
apparently cvery way except the right
one. but 10 matter-during half an
hour l never started ball down the
alley that didn't score n ten strike
every time at the other end. The 9th
ers lost their grip early and their JOY
along with Il. Now and then one OF
them got ten strike. but the occur
renee was 50 rare that il made no
show alongside OF my giant score. The
boys surrendered ut the end of the
half hour and put on their coats and
gathered around mo and IN courteous
but sufficiently definite language OK
pressed their opinion OF On experience
worn and seasoned expert who would
stoop 70 lying and deception IN order
to rob kind aud well meaning friends
who had put their trust in him under
the dciusion that he was honest and
honorable. I was not able 10 convince
them that I bad not lied. FOR now ms
chorocic- was gone. and they refused
70 attach any value to anything said
The proprietor OF the place stood 10y
for awhile saying nothing: then he
came TO uly defense. He said: 1T looks
like mystery. gentlemen, but it iSa't
mystery after it's explained. That
f is 4 grooved alley; you've Only To start
bali down 1t any way YOU please
and the groove Will do the rest: IL viii
slam the hall against the northeast
curve Of the head pin every time, and
nothing can save the ten from going
down"
II was truc. The boys made the OK
pertinent. and they found that their
was 20 art that could send bal
down that alley and fail 10 score
ten strike with &c. When I had toll,
those boys that I knew nothing abou
that game / was speaking only tn
truth. But IL was ever thus all through
my Nfc-whencver have divcrCcl
from custom and principle and uttcre,
truth the rt.le has been that III
nearer hadn't strength OF mind enough
70 believe it.-From Mark Twain
Autobiography in North American Re
I view