Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-06-30

Monday morning to open-air exercise on the
contrary there thousands of Americans who
so busy that 1t is only full-fedged holi-
day when all business ceases absolutely that
they feel that they take part in the loafng.
OF the three summer holidays the Fourth of
July s manifestly the ideal 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
tnent citizens opposed to making use of
Decoration Day as an occasion for sports, claim
ing that 1t has solemn, almost religious sig
nihcance 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 1t 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 eyentful day range all the way from "dou-
hleheader' by major league teams, which in
New York or Chicago Boston may call out an
attendance of twenty thousand fans" to the
equally spirited contest vacant lot where
number of youthful "reoters' watch a struggle
for supremacy between RED Finnegan's In
vincbies" and Scrub" Sehmidts Red Sox Jun
ors." II Is safe to say that the amount spent
on baseball, on this day. allowing for the
expenditure for peanuts and score cards and all
the other ncidentals would form a stack OF Sill
yer dollars mountain nlsn
As every person knows. the Fourth OF July ls
a favorite occasion for picnics-particularly fam-
lily picncs and neighborhood 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 p1tted
against the men or 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
baId.headed boys try conclusions with those that
wear Boards or the fat essay 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 croqnet games and
the pitching of quoits and target practice on the
part of the picnckers who do not care Tor the
more strenuous exercise on a hot summer day.
Speaking OF target practice with revolver and
rt6el which has gained rapidly in favor OF recent
years. 1t may be well to mention that anotner
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 lust how much fun Ii 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 be enjoyed by both men
and women of all ages is proving big factor
in winning converts Tor 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 II the community is a
suburban one, or rural one or summer resort
to which there has been a sudden influx of men
from the city And this very fact let's you into
the secret of why the Fourth is the climax of
the season in the matter of sport at many a
mer resort Under ordinary circumstances men
are scarce commodity at these vacation re.
treats but there Ia always plentiful supply on