Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-01-12
GOLF And GUILE
Or Holding a Tongue and
Winning a Wife.
BY MARGARET MuzzEX.

stepped on the Train ne trleQ 10 recall
exactly what pretty Sallie Norton had
told him at a dance the night before
She said there were several attractive
resorts along the river and one where
lot of professional men and women
went every summer. Unfortunately
the twostep had struck up at that mo-
ment. and she had omitted to mention
ITS name.
Golf links here2" Philip asked the
conductor as the train slowed down at
little station.
Eyes, sir; finest In the country, Rock
dale. Rockda1e! Don't forget your
packagesF,
An unfortunate commuter who bun
died Off at the same time told Philip
that the pretty little house he saw on
the hill was the Rockdale Golf club, so
he made his way across the fields to
inspect it. The fresh breeze famed
his cheek, the blue river looked cool
and refreshing In the distance, and he
hoped this was the place Sallie had re-
ferred to. If, with its natural charm,
1t combined the advantage of making
acquaintances desirable for young
man eager to advance in the legal pro-
fession nothing was left to be wished
for. He felt inclined to join the COM
muter and ask a, few more questions,
only could not, In decency, without Of
fering to carry some of his bundles and
hated to make a first appearance in a
new place bearing bright blue box
Of Numbered shirts or a large gilt bird
cage. ARN'1
He interviewed the club instructor,
who was leaning deJectedly against
pillar of the piazza. After inquiring
the requisites for eligibility Philip said:
"You give lessons, supposeY'
II can't collect anything. Amounts
to givin' 'em, don't itr'
How many members" Philip ask
cd. Cfe-A ~ ~ a@ hA
"Half an almshouse, third of an
old ladies' home. quarter of a state
hospital-there's that many and that
kind of folks" F5 noa 'H
The man had been drinking, Philip
thought, as he strolled down the hill
toward a boarding house not far away
In search of luncheon.
Philip was seated at a small table
opposite a grumpy old man dressed in
a dirty flannel shirt. Among the other
guests" was an elderly woman wear
ing very short skirt and spectacles,
who hurried into the room followed by
q fat man, who was muttering impre-
cations on things In general and golf
In particular.
Philips table companion chuckled
maliciously.
Must be pleasant for a man and his
wife to occupy q 10 by 10 room all
summer and not be on speaking terms.
She won a cup because her handicap
was bigger than his. and he won't
forgive her." Il
'The whole atmospheric appears sui
phuric," remarked Philip. V
"Are you a golferT asked the old
man.
Trying to be. said Philip
''Married2"
mo"
eft is great game for the single
blessed, but every family should be
without It There is no blood or mar
ital relationship that can mitigate its
concentrated bitterness. A woman
went away. from here yesterday. to get
a divorce because her husband accused
her of moving her bail. 1t is an awful
temptation. We are all human"
After luncheon the old man asked
Philip to play around the course. Philip
borrowed some clubs of the instructor,
and they started Off. The old duffer.
as Philip mentally stigmatized him,
sent his ball twenty-five yards; Philip
sent his seven times as many; then he
and the caddy-they had one between
them-ran ahead and waited.
The old man raised his ball and q
clod Of earth at the same time.
Hes diggin' for bait" said the cad
dy, grinning.
The dufrer found his ball behind a
small mound OF sod, which he pounded
dat with a brassy. batted the ball to
the near side OF the bunker. then paus-
ed to consider.
STAMP on It; mash itr cried Philip.
"why let a barrier raised by man in
terfere when you can smooth out ma
ture asiyou didT'o
Three times the duffer struck his
ball. and each time It leaned up in the
air and Tell on the ground just behind
him.
II say, old man, 60 back to the farm
and play 2 tddlywinks." gasped Philip.
'But. don't need any more practice.
I'm learning from observation"
he sent his ball. however. to the
edge sofl the green.
The next time the buffers BAH land
cd Just on the course In a rut. Philip
lighted 70 cigarette, keeping one eye on
his opponent and as he held the blaz-
Ing match before hts face the old man
shunled bis BAH with his foot to an
easy lie.
"Hold on thereI What are you do
mgr, Philip cried
'Nothing-nothing. IT,
you moved your ball. saw you.
Didn't your to the caddy.
~Ain't he the Foxy Grandpar said
tho boy. sat 1o N
"He In dishonest, disgusting, dis
person, A man who would
40 that would rob widows and or
The III ribun