The Washington times., 1913-03-02
FAIL,
TOHELP TENPINS
Game With the Large Pins Is No More Popular Than Before
Recent Matches Were Arranged
to Boost Sport.
By KIRK c. MILLER.

Notwithsta nding the two tenpin tour
naments that were held in this city
mainly for the purpose Of making that
game more popular-the bowlers Of this
city have refused fatty to take up the
big pins with the enthusiasm and zest
which characterizes their activities with
the ducks.
when a proposition was put to the
bowlers to hold an intercity tenpin tour
nament in which Baltimore, Richmond
and Washington should meet on the
alleys. 1t was taken up with whirlwind
rapidity. What few tenpin leagues the
three cities boasted Of entered their
team heavily, and in several Instances
duckpin teams organised themselves
into tenpin rollers and competed along.
side their fellow bowlers who had stuck
to the large and more awkward pins
and balls.
When the city tenpin championship
tourney was first suggested the idea was
favorably considered. and for a while,
in the mid-season, enthusiasm was at q
high pitch. However. now that both
series of games have been completed,
the b9wlers in all sections Of the city
can be seen dogsedly sneaking back to
the small maplewood.
Makes Investigation.
The writer has spent the last three
evenings making a quiet investigation.
and the foregoing condition is the re-
suit. and applies to every alley. down.
town and otherwise, without exception.
OF the half-dozen alleys In this city
that keep. say. ten alleys In operation.
eight Of them were the scenes Of duck
pin competition, and in many cases no
tenpin games were being rolled at all.
Looking back over the history of this
sport called bowling. 1t will be found
that tenpins was the original alley
sport, and why 1t should be displaced,
almost exterminated, by this more mod
ern game of duckpins. is IA matter for
few sideIights. The .'old guard"
argues that the game of tenpins should
not be isolated because II is the original
game that the tle-old-knick erbockered
Dutch used to roll. and the necessity
Of keeping the game as much along the
old lines as possible is imperative to its
success as good sport.
Then, there Is the later generation,
who declare that too much exertion is
required to WELD the heavy balls down
the alleys, and that, compared to duck
pins. the old game is more like work
than like sport. Another claim of the
duckpin adherents Is the matter of
scoring. In one game two balls are
allowed In each box, and in the newer
game three are rolled. which. OH the
face of IT. indicates that a higher score
can be rolled If the bowlers are allowed
three balls. This argument, though. is
Offset and disproved by single lance
at the score sheets.
Cause for Condition.
All Of the above enters deeply into
cause of popularity of duckpins today.
and the rapidity with which the ten
pin alley Is being abandoned. The ar
guments for both sides arc good. but
for reasons which none can exactly
diagnose, and on which but few agree.
the ducks are winning over the tenpins.
and the race Is not even a neck and
neck struggle. This arn'ies to WASH
ington as well as the other cities where
bowling has a strong grip on the mas
culine gender-and despite tournaments,
temporary booms. and the like. the con-
dition Is becoming worse.
The last recess on the schedules of
local bowling leagues Is on this week.
Not until after the Inauguration cere-
monies are over will the league again
pursue their schedules. In most cases.
the dates were arranged with view