Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-14
EVENING CHAT

II EVENING OnAI
Quoits. which were played in Har-
risburg hundred years ago, accord
ing to the old newspapers, are enjoy
ing revival that shows how deep
rooted is the interest of people in
games of skill. In spite of the de-
velopment of all kinds of games and
the excitement of evening games of
Scrubs" quot pitching is one of the
most popular of paStimeS in this city.
Some time ago attention was called
to the fact that the properties made
vacant by the tearing down of build
ings for the Capitol Park extension
had been converted into Fairgrounds
by people of the Eighth ward and that
quot games appeared to be the center
of attraction. Now one can hardly go
into any portion of the city in the
evenings without seeing young and
old, even women and girls, tossing the
iron rings. Early rock carvings show
men throwing iron rings at stake
and displaying considerable skill,
but it is no secret that there are some
players in this city who are wonders.
Ringers may not be popular in daily
life, but they stand very big in the
estimation of many people these days.
players and sometimes there are
matches pitched side by side. Out on
Allison Hill the sport is so enhancing
that players have painted the hobs
white so that they can see them in
the twilight and thus prolong the
games in these days when the sun is
commencing to shorten the hours of
daylight. There are other places
which are located so close to electric
lights that people continue playing
until late hours. the crash of the iron
rings against the hobs making no one
angry because everyone is interested
in neighborhood championships. Some
quot pitching places would not be bad
ideas for the city parks. They would
certainly furnish enough amusement
for the older men.
The other evening national airs be-
came mixed in the minds of some
people in a movie theater. The or
chestra or orchestrion, or whatever the
source of the music. played the French
air and those who recognized the
thrilling notes of the Marseillaise ap-
Rhine" was Spelled" That was also
applauded, but not so much. The i'm
pressive Russian hymn came next,
with the Austrian airs following it.
They were also applauded. But when
the music began the air which we
the crowd cheered. But there were
some surprised looks when the music
crashed into "Star-Spangled Banner"
a moment later.
Say, that's a fine stunt playing two
airs in national medley" remarked
music-lover to a companion.
'How?" asked a man near him.
Why, America and 'Star-Span-
gled'," retorted the other with fine
scorn.
Yes, only what you thought was
America was God Save the King"
Some of the foreigners who are re-
servists are tempting fate when they
go around wearing little tricolors or
cockades or tiny flags. Some of the
Balkan states have flags that look
very much like each other and also
like the Italian. The other night a
couple of Austrians appeared in
crowd with their colors. The crowd
was in a barroom and the jam was
such that the men did not notice what
was going on. When they went out
they were sporting italian colors and
couple of Balkan staters threatened
to mix 1t up.
People who are travelling over the
state highways say that the repair
forces have succeeded in overcoming
some of the worst stretches of high
way to be found in days travelling
and that points which were formerly
terrors for automobile drivers are now
worth going over. The repair work
has opened the way to many of the
prettlest parts of Pennsylvania, es-
pecially in the Susquehanna Valley,
and rides which were formerly i'm
possible have been made accessible.
Some of these rides, notably up the
Susquehanna and over the York hills
ana INTO the Lebanon and Cumber-
land Valleys, are much used.
Dr. Surfaces bulletin on salaman-
ders. in which he declares that the
little known amphibian is good to eat,
will be interesting news to a good
many people. 1t is intimated by the
zoologist that the day will come when
salamanders will be eaten Just like
frogs, incidentally, Dr. Surface ex-
presses the opinion that it is folly to
only eat the hind legs of a frog be-
cause great part of 1t is good. The
doctor also states that toads are edible.
but he has yet to find anyone trying
them as an entree.