The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-12
STRAY TOPICS
 FROM NEW YORK

New York. July i.-(Special. l-Ths good old fashioned game of croque' is still a popular sport in New York.
 The pastime is by no means confined to the side lawns of private homes, but there are actually three we'll known clubs with large memberships that de- vote themselves exclusively to the game Two of the clubs have their grounds laid out under the big shei- tering trees of Central Park the cth- CT has it's location in Brooklyn. On a pleasant day in Central Park forty of fifty players may be seen who are gen orally members of either the Union or New York Clubs. There is the great est rivalry between these two organi- zations although they never meet In competition.
 It Is purely social rivalry. The New York Club Is very exclusive be- ing made up largely of men of great wealth who hGve retired from Dusi. ness. There is scarcely a young man in either club. and it Is not uncommon to see a group of enthusiastic players not one of whom Is less than four-scor years of age The players are all dan dies. They are nicely groomed with fresh pink faces Gnd many of them are adorned with gray Dundrearies. One of the players, Mir. Purdy. has been at the game for twenty-five years.
 The father of Governor Hughes of New York is an enthusiastic player and he was a member of the %nion Club until he moved to Brooklyn whe-e he Joined the Brooklyn Croduet c<,. which has a hundred old and enthusi- astic members.
 The athletic world is greatly Inter ested in the wonderful 1000 mile re- lay race between New York and Chi- will participate, which will start from the City Hall fin New York next Wednesday morning. The great race is under the supervision of the various branches of the Young Mems Chris tian Association. and only members in good standing in that organization are eligible to compete.
 The majority of the entrants will be about fifteen years old, and no one over eighteen will be considered.
 While the direct object of the race Is to test the athletic ability of the young runners as they are turned out of the gymnasiums of the Christian Associa- ton. incidentally they are to carry a message from Mayor Mcclellan to Mayor Busse of Chicago where the race will end.
 The message is to be contained in a silver tube which will be passed along from boy to boy. Two thousand rn- ners are to be stationed over the 1000 mile route, a half a mile apart, each boy running only that distance till he delivers the silver tube to the next in line.
 It is estimated that the race will be run well within five days for the boys will run at night as well as in the day time. An automobile will accom- pany the boys making a record of each boys time for the half mile run.
 Last week the National Golf Links of America, with their principal ofiice in New York, filed articles of incorpora- ton With a capital of $70 900 and the right to lay out and maintain golf links and clubhouses. The notice at tracted little attention in itself except for the fact that among it's directors are some of New York's wealthiest men, including James StiIlman, Charles B. Mcdonald and William D. Sloane. The association however, proposes to construct the most novel and at the same time wonderful golf links in the world.
 The links will be located on Long Is- land, ninetytwo miles from the city. and will be interesting chiefly to golf ing experts. The plan of the links is to reproduce as nearly as possible fig- teen of the most noted holes from fa- nous courses in Europe. For example it is conceded among golfers that some one hole at St. Anderws in Scotland is without an equal on any links in Ameri- ca. This hole will re produced there fore, as nearly as possible, and so will fourteen other holes be selected and QnnaaA laLr kA akA lures in that no club house Is to be markable eighteen hole course will be novel but strictly American
 The club is to have other novel fea- lures in that no clubhouse is to be erected on the grounds and the links will be mainly accessible by automo- piles. As the initiation fee is to be $1.00O 1t is probable that most of the members are owners of machines. The course will be so laid out that only experts will be able to negotiate it with any degree of success. It is planned to have the links ready by next springs.
 Diamond Jim" Brady is one of the best known New Workers who passes up and down Broadway. He is well known by all theatre goers for there could not be really successful play on the Great White Way unless ''Dia-
  presence in the front row on the first night. He is the great 'first-nighter' in Manhattan and his comment on the play has much to do with it's subse- quent success or failure. But now the theatre goers are enjoying a huge joke at the expense of Diamond JIm'' who is being fmpersonated in a new play on one of the roof gardens. The noted first -nighter'' went to the play at it's opening performance and to his surprise found a good impersonation of himself on the stage as the 'sRajah of Broadway" He didn't like 1t a bit
 The real name of this famous "bouI- vardier" is James Buchanan Brady, and he lives in a palatial house on street just off Fifth ave- nue. Brady is a very wealthy man having made his money as a railroad contractor and car builder, and his love of diamonds earned for him the nickname of Diamond Jim" It is said that he owns and wears diamonds worth e600,000. When he appears at the theatre on tho first night" he fair ly spa1Sles with Hhe precious stones His fingers are adorned with the cost ly gems. he has huge diamond studs diamond cigar case and cutter. dia- mond studded waistcoat buttons and cun links; and those know him best claim that he has many more gems at home that he never wears.
 Incidentally Diamond Jim" owns a big racing stable. and boasts of two hundred suits of clothes which occupy an entire floor in his house and the care of which he entrusts to two valets.
 One by one they have been tearing down the old land marks in New York.