The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-06-29

Monday morning to open-air exercise On the
contrary there are thousands of Americans who
are so busy that 1t Is only on a full-hedged holt
day when all business ceases absolutely that
they feel that they can take part in the loafing
OF the three summer holidays the Fourth of
July Is manifestly the ideal one for sporting
contests. Memorial Day is a little early in the
season in the face of the climatic conditions that
prevail in some sections of the country, and
then, too, many patriotic organizations and prom
lnent citizens are opposed to making use of
Decoration Day as an occasion for sports claim
Ing that 1t has a solemn, almost religious sig
nifcance that should be respected by all the peo-
pie of the community, even though they have no
relatives among the soldier dead Labor Day in
September shares with the Fourth to some ex.
tent the prestige of day of sport, but it is far
overshadowed by the July festival in point Of
number of races, games and contests.
First and foremost among the manifestations
Of the American love of sport on the glorious
Fourth must be placed Of course the vast at
tendance at games of baseball. The games on
that eventful day range all the way from "dou-
ble-header" by major league teams which in
New York or Chicago or Boston may call out an
attendance of twenty thousand fans" to the
equally spirited contest on a vacant lot where
number Of youthful ''rooters" watch a struggle
for supremacy between Red Finnegan's en-
vincibles" and Scrub" Schmidt's Red Sox Jun
iors" 1t is safe to say that the amount spent
on baseball on this one day, allowing for the
expenditure for peanuts and score cards and all
the other ncidentas, would form stack Of sill
yer dollars mountain high.
AS every person knows, the Fourth of July is
favorite occasion for picnics-particularly fam
fly picnics and neghborheod outings. and lodge
pcnics, and like excursions. And usually as
feature Of any such holiday frolic there is ball
game Perhaps the women and girls are pitted
against the men or we have such nerve-racking
battles Of the diamond as can be witnessed only
when the lawyers cross bats with the doctors,
or the married men play the single men, or the
bald-headed boys try conclusions with those that
wear boards. or the fat men essay a test Of skill
with the lean members Of the community II is
in such an environment. too that he spirit Of
sport on the Fourth provokes croquet games and
the pitching Of quoits and target practice on the
part of the picnckers who do not care for the
more strenuous exercise on a hot summer day.
Speaking of target practice with revolver and
rihe). which has gained rapidly in favor of recent
years. It may be we'll to mention that another
somewhat similar sport has come up markedly
and the Fourth of July is favorite occasion for
tournaments in communities where clubs exist
This latter pastime Is the old, yet new diversion
of archery. Just how much fun 1t is to shoot
with bow and arrow-not the familiar child's toy
but the regulation Indian weapon-can only be
appreciated by those who have tried 1t and the
fact that the sport can be enjoyed by both men
and women Of all ages is proving a big factor
In winning converts for It.
The Fourth Of July is great occasion for for.
NAL and informal golf tournaments, and some.
times these are arranged to extend over from
the Sd to the 9Th of July If the community Is a
suburban one, or rural one. or a summer resort
to which there has been a sudden influx of men
from the city. And this very fact lets you into
the secret of why the Fourth is the climax of
the season in the matter of sport at many sum-
mer resort. Under ordinary circumstances men
are scarce commodity at these vacation re-
treats but there is always a plentiful supply on