The Washington herald., 1908-02-08

To some 100000 souls scattered through
out the United States. Cincinnati will be
the most important spot on the map be-
ginning to-day and running for sixteen
days The occasion is the annual meet
ing Of the American Bowling Congress
and the great international bowling tour
nament- The strike ard the spare viii
take the place of every other sort Of
score and the merry lignum vitae racing
down the alley will be as eagerly watched
as the horse race is watched at other sea-
sons Of the year, or the baseball game on
championship day This meeting Of the
American Bowling Congress and its ac-
companying International tournament viii
be unique in several ways.
It win be the largest tournament Of
bowlers ever held, II being expected that
more than 800 teams Of five men each viii
participate and that the others who will
take part viii bring the total up close 10
1900 people. Il VIII also be the first inter-
national tournament at which women
have contested for bowling honors. There
will be eighteen alleys. and one Of the
largest armOries in Cincinnati will house
the congress and the tournament One
of the greatest questions that will have
10 be solved is how the bowlers are to
keep their trousers up The Bowling
Congress has promulgated a rule which
prohibits suspenders. and which requires
white shirts. in order TO present uni
form appearance. Not even white sus-
penders viii be tolerated. so that all that
remains Is "a invoke the rusty nail or the
old reliable safety pin AS there is some
S35 000 up, it viii readily be seen that
there will be enough prize money to make
il worth while for team 10 do its best.
The tournament viii be formally opened
b. President Garry Hermann, Of
the American Bowling Congress, who will
roll q silver-covered ball down the alley
as the opening ball Whether it goes into
the gutter or not before 1t reaches the
pins il will open the tournament. This
ban was presented to Hermann by
Billy" Thompson. whose name is known
wherever tenpins are rolled.
One Of the features Of the tournament
VIII he the entertaining. Cincinnati has
q heavy German population. and bowling
Is a favorite game with these people. Just
as hospitality is a distinguishing trait, so
nothing viii be left undOne 10 give the
bowlers the time Of their lives. The lead
ing man on each team viii be presented
with g.. and as team completes its
score It will be taken to the rathskelieT.
where a luncheon and drinks. not exceed
ing 81 To the man. will be served by the
local committee
Il is estimated that there are some
$4,000 bowlers in the United States and
about 40000 pairs Of alleys. New York is
one Of the great bowling centers of the
world, and a weekly paper devoted eX-
clusively 70 the interests Of Greater New
York bowlers is published. Wisconsin is
probably the leading bowling State in the
Union, although number Of other States
have long lists of good bowlers. Wiscon-
sin is the only State where the pony"
game is rolled to any extent. There are
q good many variations Of the game of
tenpins. there being a game of ninepins,
another called cooked hat. another cooked
hat and feather. and many others. Be
'fore the organization Of the American
leNM INK AAliE FEH atf 4Nahf tl4Eif NfAE az
most as many rules as there were cities
in which bowling was popular. Further
more. the Eastern bowlers used the ball
with the finger holes. while those in the
West made use OF the plain ball. The
great work of the congress was TO estab-
nsh uniformity in rule and practice. and
success has attended its efforts
There viii be a number of cities which
viii seek 10 have the next congress meet
with them. and already politics is being
played for the position of president of
the congress for the next term. Among
those who are candidates for the place is
Ed Meyers. of Washington. who is the
dean of Washington bOwlers.
Bowling originated early in the Middle
Ages.
tt was then an outdoor sport Balls
were made Of stone and were one-half
spherical and the other half oval-shaped.
thus giving the bali the desired curve.
A cone. corresponding 10 the stake in the
game Of hoTseshoes. was used. This WAS
rolled al by the various players. and the
man who could come out of the round
with his ball nearest the cone was the
winner 1t was as lawful for the players
20 try to Knock the other balls away from
the cone as it was for them TO try to get
close To the cone. The stone ball was
finally succeeded by the lignum vitae ball,
the difference in the weight of the heart
and sap wood in the ball usually sufficing
to give the curve, though often the one
side Of the ball was loaded with lead.
The cone was finally succeeded by the
Jack. which was a smaller ball to be
rolled at.
As we have tennis courts and croqUet
grounds to-day, they had bowling greens
then, and # is to this that We owe the
heautifuf name Of = dozen towns in the