Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-17

a game make opponents closer and
dearer TO each other. or does it arouse
i'll feeling and jealousy and drive men
apart as rivals. even foes, each grudg-
ing the success of the other2 We
often hear accounts of the rivalrfes
aroused by some of our games, foot
ball especially. and very naturally so.
playd. as 1t is with Us. when men roll
on the ground attemting to disable
each other. The reverse is the case
with golf. Men become dearer friends
than ever. The oftener they meet on
the green the fonder they become Of
each other and the greater the longing
for their chum's. society. and in after
years, If separated, each warns as the
name of the other is mentioned and
ends his panegyrfc with the ever en-
trancing words. murmured with emo
ton. "Ah. we playd golf together"
Short. simple. sufficient, Golf givs US
intervals for exchange of mutual
thoughts which strengthen the ties be-
tween US. We rejoice to see that our
chums are playing well and applaud
their success Golf is a game entire
~ free from fysical struggles over
opponents-the ineradicable root of
evil in football.
Beauties of the Game.
No game givs so much of the open
air. the elixir of life, from morning till
mite With a modest bite at luncheon
mayhap il can be playd without I'M
due fatigue. even by elderly people,
and then there's the few minutes rest
and the chat at the green with your
bosom crony. No delay impairs the
game. Sit and moraliZe. drive OF at
your plesure, it's all the same.
Another special feature of the grand
game is that forgetting all other sub
iects, attention must be concentrated
upon it. This is what takes the cob
webs out of the brain. Hunger, thirst.
cold or heat, business cares. sublime
soarings-all take a back seat when
the critical moment arrives and all de-
ponds upon the last put.
was a very late convert to the noble
game of golf Well do l remember
laughing at the first attemts of some
guests to drive wee balls into wee
holes in some parts Of the park at
Skibo. One day a noted golfer and cup
winner, Mr.. Morrison. librarian. Edin-
burgh. came to me there all aglow, his
eyes sparkling. and announced In rapid
accents. painting for breth, his remark
able find. DO you know you hav
natural golf course at the bottom or
the park between the Loeb and the
Firth? Certain. no possible mistake.
What find"' And my friend awaited
my reply in an attitude which seemd
to express wonder that had not faint
ed at this startling discovery. this su-
preme gift of Providence which made
Skibo perfect, leaving nothing else to
be desired. We had to be careful not
70 shock our friend by seeming indif-
ference and did the best we could to
conceal the latent smile. This was
only eleven years ago. Morrison was
told to work it up. and Skibo links is
the result. And such Iinks-along one
side a salmon loch. seagulls nesting
upon an island in the center where
screams the wild sea-mew' as they
f1utter around; the salt firth along the
other side; scores of skylarks nesting
along the edges of the links and filling
the air with their thrills as they mount;
the carpet under our feet a variegated
rug, so brilliant the colors.
The links cost money. but we ask
ourselves what amount of money would
induce US to part with this special at
traction. which givs rarer plesure to
more of our visitors than any other one
feature of our life in the highlands.
His Own Play.
Ny nephews play and win prizes,
and upon our visits to our gifted sis
ter's Cumberland island 1 saw the eff
feet of the game upon devotees of our
family. Nevertheless l was persuad-
ed just TO try one drive or two just to
be in the fashion, then another, and,
10 and behold. before l knew 1t the
temter had ME in his tolls and be-
came not Il player of but at golf. which
/ am still and shall forever remain.
Beginning at siXty-three. what can
one expect: l try to make good bar
gains with real players. and the num-
Der Of strikes some generous souls al
low givs me a game now and then.
I'm tolerable nowadays upon the green.
but the long. straight. swinging drive
is still beyond my reach. altho l was
on the green in three twice recently.
and this inspires hopes.