Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-07-06
THE BATTLE OF AIKEN
BY Gouvrnsur Morris Golfers

AT the Palmetto Golf club one bright,
warm day In January they held a tour
nament which come to be known rs the
Battle or Aiken. Colonel Bogey, how
ever. was provided with q stick cleft at
one end and pointed at h Their. In
n cleft was stuck a square of. white
on which was printed the
contestants name, Colonel Bogey's
record FOR the course, the contestants
handicap. n the sum of these two.
Thus:
A. 3. Smith.
7S+9-H
And the winner was to be he who
Travelled farthest around the links in
h number OF strokes allotted to him.
Old Major Jennings did not UNDER
stand. and Jimmy Traquair, the pro-
fessional. explained.
% you know what the DOGGY for
h course Isl" said he. It's 70. Do you
know what your handicap IL? It's 60"
Old Major Jennings WINGED slightly.
His handicap had seemed quite
adequate to him.
"Well2" he said.
Well" said Jimmie. who ever temp
cred his speech to his hearers under
WAA0 . ~ d0OGO W t0s
Eighty eight-ninety eight" said
old Major Jennings (but not conceit-
edly).
Right" said Jimmie. well. you
start at he first tee. and play 90
strokes. Where the ball lies after the
your name on 1t. And that's oil"
Suppose after my ninety eighth
stroke that my ball lies in the pond?'
said old Major Jennings. with a certain
timid conviction. The pond hole Is
only the twelfth, and Jimmie wanted to
laugh, but did not.
IL that happens" he said, you'll
Greens committee. Who are you going
around with?'
II haven't got anybody to go around
with" said h Major. Il didn't know
there was going to be q tournament
till 1t was too late to ask any one to
play with me-"
This conversation took place in the
new shop, a place all windows. sum
shine, labels, %varnishes, vises. files.
grips. and clubs OF exquisite workman
ship. At n Of the benches q grave
eyed young negro. aproned and con-
c%entrated, was enameling the head of
Q driver with shellac. Sudden cannon
IRE would NJ have shaken his hand.
In n corner a rosy lad. with curly,
yellow hair, dangled his legs from the
height Of q packing-case n chewed
gum. He had been born with q golden
spoon in his mouth. and was learning
golf from the inside. Sometimes he
comments were hidden from the
Major.
4 don't care about the tournament"
said the latter, his loose lip trembling
slightly. I'll just practice q little"
mil, .D sYmp be In q hurry " SIR" said R Si%-
wigg hasn't any n to go around with
either. And IL you don't mind"
"Bullwigg," said the Major vaguely;
II used to know q Bullwigg."
Hes a very fine gentleman indeed
SIR" said Jimmie. Same handicap as
Where il he from?" asked the
Major.
Il don't know, sir. Mr.. Bowers ex-
tended the privileges Of h club to
him. He's stopping at the Park in the
Pines."
OH" said the Major. and then with
a certain dignity and resolution: IF
Mr.. Bowers knows him, and II he
doesn't mind, I'm sure I don't. Is he
here?"
Hes waiting at the first tee" said
Jimmie, n he averted his face.
At the first tee old Major Jennings
found q portly. red-faced gentleman.
WASAA AA04SOe O00AAy WI =
seemed prepared to play golf under any
condition OF circumstance and weather.
He had two caddies. n carried q
monstrous bag, which. In addition to
twice the usual number Of clubs, con.
tanned a crook-handled walking-stick
other carried Der his right arm q great
coat. In case the June-like weather
should turn cold and over his left a
mackintosh. In case rain should fall
from the cloudless, assure heavens. The
gentleman himself was swinging q
at an imaginary ball. Upon biz counte-
which wins battles and championships.
Old Major Jennings approached tim
Idly. He vas very shy. In the dis
lance he saw two Of his intimate
friends nnishing out the hrst hole. Ex.
cept for himssif ana the well-prepared
stranger they had been the last pair
to start, and the old Majors pale blue
eyes chung to them, % those Of q ship
wrecked mariner may cling TO ships
upon the horizon. Then he pulled HIM
salt together and said:
General Bullwigg. ! presume"
ana the two sentlemen lifted Their
plaid golfing caps and bowed to each
other. Owing to the extreme difidence,
Major Jennings did not volunteer his
own name: owing to the fact that he
seldom thought Of anything but him
self. General Bullwigg did not ask Il.
Major Jenninge was impatient to be
on, hut It was General Bullwigg's hon.
or. and he could not compel that gen
tleman to drive until he wa quite
ready. General Bullwigg apostr0phised
the weather ana the links. He spoke
At some length OF MY game my
/, swing, and my wrist motion" my
4 notion AZ nettinr out of a hunker.0 re