Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1911-06-30

Monday morning to open-air exercise. On the
contrary there are thousands Of Americans who
are SO busy that it is only on 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 is manifestly the ideal one for sporting
contests Memorial Day Is 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
inent 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
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
that cventful day range all the way from "dou-
bleheader" 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 a vacant lot where
number of youthful "rooters' watch struggle
for supremacy between Red Finnegans I'm
vinciblcs" and Scrub" Schmidt's RED Sox Jun
iors"' 1t is safe to say that the amount spent
on baseball this one day. allowing for the
expenditure for peanuts and score cards and all
the other incidentals would form stack Of sill
yer dollars mountain high.
AS every person knows. the Fourth Of July is
favorite occasion for picnics-particularly fam
lily picnics and neighborhood outings and lodge
picnics, and like excursions And usually as
feature Of any such holiday frolic there Is ball
game Perhaps the women and girls are pftted
against the men we have such nerve-racking
battles of the diamond can be witnessed only
when the lawyers cross bats with the doctors,
or the married men play the single hen. or the
bald-headed boys try conclusions with those that
wear boards. or the fat men essay test OF skill
with the lean members Of the community. It Is
in such an environment too. that he spirit OF
sport the Fourth provokes croquet games and
the pitching Of QuOits and target practice on the
part Of the pcnickers who do not for the
more strenuous exercise on a hot summer day.
Speaking of target practice with revolver and
rilc), which has gained rapidly In favor of recent
years, 1t 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 DID, yet new diversion
OF archery. Just how much fun 1t is to shoot
with bow and arrow-not the familiar chid'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 both men
and women of all ages is proving a big factor
in winning converts for It,
The Fourth of July is a great occasion for for
NAL and informal golf tournaments, and some.
times these arranged to extend over from
the Sd to the 9Th Of July II the community is a
suburban one. or a rural one, or summer resort
to which there has been sudden influx of men
from the city. And this very fact let's you into
the secret OF why the Fourth ID the climax Of
the season In the matter Of sport at many q sum.
mer resort Uudsr ordinary circumstances men
are scarce commodity at these vacation re-
treats but there IL always plentiful supply on