The Sentinel=record., 1914-08-02


While interest in professional base
ball appears Jagged somewhat early
this season and the attendance at big
league games showed a decided fall.
ing off, there seems tobe no lack of
activity among amateurs who take
part in outdoor sports of the more
strenuous order. This can be readily
accounted for by the amateur fled.
which embraces not alone the ma
tional game on the diamond, but golf
tennis and kindred sports. The trend
of the hour among those who follow
these active sports seem to be a de-
sire to participants in rather than
spectators of these various forms of
recreation.
Inquiries made among the big marts
where golf, tennis and baseball para
phernalia is sold, ELECTED the assur-
ance that the demand for accessories
Tor all these games has increased won
derfully this season. The sales Of
@olfing requisites far exceeds those
of any previous year since the royal
and ancient game was introduced here
two decades ago. The market for
tennis racquets and other appurte-
nances shows a decided gain over
last years, while the demand for
baseball supplies in every grade was
never more pronounce
That the international contests
have made interest keener in these
sports goes without saying and there
is no telling to what extent it may in
crease, as from all quarters reports
indicate that the feeling of anxiety
for national supremacy is worldwide
and not likely to abate for years to
come in every branch of sport.
In every part of the country golf
and tennis clubs are enjoying unusual
success as the increase in active mem
bership and the many lengthy waiting
lists of those desiring to join clearly
testify. Golf particularly has secured
a decided prominence and the pro
ficiency shown by the younger element
has made it incumbent on the Off
cials of the United States Golf Asso-
citation to confine the entries for ma
tiOnal hOnors to those who are rated
at strokes or under in the handicap
list this year.
This arrangement was made neces-
sary in order to keep the field of play
ers within reasonable bounds. That
similar action will have to be taken
by associations all over the country
for their annual championships seems
inevitable as the entries for these
events are growing larger each year
and consequently without these re-
strictions the fields will assume pro-
portions too unwieldy to handle with
any degree of satisfaction.
Rapid progress in the erection of
the Palmer Memorial stadium is re-
ported by the Princeton University
athletic authorities and there appears
to be no question that the structure
will be completed in ample time for
the Princeton-Yale football game on
Saturday, Nov. IA. According to the
contractors estimates the last of the
concrete will be poured early in Oc-
tober, giving more than month for
the settling necessary before the seats
and superstructure can be put in
place.
Special attention is being given to
the playing field and is is believed
that the plan for the construction of
the gridiron will end the swampy con
ditions that have marred games played
during or Immediately following a
heavy rain. A large quantity of rock
will be broken up and used as a six
inch layer under the playing surface
and will provide an effective filter for
moisture. On this layer of rock there
will be eighteen inches of top soil,
through which tile drains will be laid
every twenty-five feet, with pitch
of one foot from the middle to the
edge, to carry water off to the sides.
Motor boat devotees are to have
their period of international compe-
tition during the next two weeks in
the races for the Harmsworth trophy
at Cowes, Isle of Wright. The Unit
ed States will be represented in the
struggle for the worlds speed cham
pionship, meeting the fastest motor
boats of England, France and Ger
many. The American entry is Dis
turber ", built by Commodore James
A. Pugh, of Chicago, which has shown
bursts of speed close to fifty miles
an hour. The cup challenger is ny
droplane in type, fitted with engines
of 1900 horsepower and the officers
of the Motorboat Club of America be-
lieve that the western water flyer has
an excellent chance of regaining the
trophy.
The Initial races of the series viii
be held today with the running of the
English eliminations. -Four cup de
tenders are eligible, three of the boats
being those used by the British Royal
Motor Yacht Club in successfully de
Tending the cup last year. Under the
deed of gift each country may be rep
| resented by teams of three motor