Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-27
BETTING IMPORTANT
T0|TAL|AN SPORTS
Game That Is Free of Gam
bling Makes No Strong Bid
for Popular Favor.
PALL0NE COMES NEAREST
AS NATIONAL PASTIME
Roman Sense of Punctuality Is Lack
ing and Little Heed Is Given
to Schedules.
Staf Correspondence Of The Star.

FSOhEs MAY C.-ltduan sport Is always
predicated upon the wager. and a game
that does not lend itself to gambling
makes no strong bid for popular favor.
The horse races are always well attended
and great sums are waged upon the re-
suits. Foot ball games are patronized on
this same score and probably base ball, if
it should ever take root here as result
of the rather unpropitious start given to
it here by the woodworking teams of
American players, would cause very
heavy shift of Italian coin from one set
of pockets to another.
There is native game which has
much the quality of tennis and a sug-
gestion Of base ball, pallone by name,
which gives the people a chance to in
dulge their betting propensities daily. 1t
is modern revival of an ancient sport
and is we'll worth watching for its own
sake, apart from any gambling interest.
Two courts are maintained in Rome,
with daily games. Yesterday afternoon
l attended one, a short distance north of
the Porto del Popolo, on the ancient Via
Flaminia, an extension beyond the walls
of the Corso.
The Roman sense of punctuality is sad
" lacking. Little heed is paid to sched-
ufes and the stranger who does not
know the general habit is not made
to do much waiting. For example,
the billboard announcements of the
Via Flaminia pallone game stated that
the exhibitions were given every day at
IL o'clock meaning in the afternoon
l timed myself so as to reach the grounds
at exactly A. At the gate where bought
nay admission ticket, giving me a seat
in the gallery" a place of special quail
ity. costing so centessimes 90 cents), 1
%AI
game began at 1880 (half-past ~. AS q
matter of fact, 1t was just quarter past
D when the ball was put in play.
Pallone is played on court about two
hundred feet long by forty wide. On one
side rises a concrete wall at least seventy
five feet high. topped with wire netting
The court is divided, as in tennis, across
1.-The center, making two equal sides. In
some cases a net Ia stretched across
along this divisional line. but on the court
on the Via Flaminta only ridge of con-
crete about three inches high marks the
center. The side opposite the we'll and
the ends are screened by wire netting
for the protection of spectators, who
would otherwise be in constant danger.
- When arrived about half dozen men
were seated alongside the court, sleepily
watching q group OF ununhormed players
pfacticing. Slowly the spectators arrived,
until. when a hoarse voice shouted out
something in the way Of a notification
o clock, there were two or three hundred
present These people were chiefly in
terested in placing their bets at long
booth. where six men stood ready to ac-
cept their Ira In exchange for red and
blue tickets.
Bets Made on Individual Scores.
The bets are laid not on tho winning or
loving OF the game or match, but on the
points scored by individual players These
players are professionally hired to keep
the game going and afford an excuse for
the betting. Their abilities are well
known to the patrons of the court and
each days program gives a list of the
dividends" cashed in the day before on
the leading players. Thus on the 4th Of
May Giovanni earned for his hackers
11S hra Tor each Lire wagered on him;
racfnl 6:2o: spagli. 475. and vezzosi,
Marchetu and Nigi. $50 each. Today s
betting Is naturally governed to some ex-
tent by yesterdays.
AL bets are pooled and divided accord
ing 10 the number playing, the leader of
each OF the three rounds or '.partita' con-
shutting the afternoons performance.
fhe management takes its percentage.
this being called the "totalizature'' sys-
tenn Tho lowest bet Is 1 lire. but most
bettors take at least Ave tickets. or a dol.
lars worth. on each stake.
me SIX players are divided into two
sides. the reds or 'rossi'' and the blues
or turchini" They are apportioned of
by The management so that no man plays
In more than two parts or matches in
an afternoon. Thus. Giovanni played as
a blue In the first match the day / at
tended and as q red In the second
match. There Is consequently no sys-
tenatio team work. with such a con-
slant shifting about Of players. One
might be led to suspect that this would
give abundant opportunity for queer
work. but I am told that the game is
absolutely on the square and that each
man plays his best and takes pride in
winning points. regardless Of which side
takes the match or how the betting
goes.
AS a matter Of fact no onA cares at all
about the actual game Interest centers
upon the individual strokes, and as the
scores are posted excitement runs high
The result Of the play as regards the
betting is usually determined before the
game Is actually finished. and the final
as the crowd streams over to the betting
booth to cash in and take new chances,
How the Game Is Played.
But to the game itself, which warrants
description. The ball used is about four
and a half or five inches In diameter, In
fated with compressed air and covered
with leather. 1t weighs. I should judge,
quite three pounds and has great resili-
ence, SO that when struck 1t travels far.
The player wears on his hand a pal
tome sort of glove. but made of
wood. somewhat as though half a dozen
cog wheels had been assembled around