The Washington herald., 1916-10-24
BOWLING IS A GAME
RANKING ALL EQUAL
Pin Game Open to All Walks of Life.
Three Classes Participate.

Under the caption. The Bowling Game
and the People Who Bowl" appearing in
last weeks issue of the Bowlers' Journal.
p. C. Hackney, editor of the Journal, re-
lieves himself OF the following:
Much has been written about the game
'of bowling-its history. growth, physical
benefits, recreative qualities and many
other phases OF the sport. But the great
est appeal OF the game. the chief reason
for its being and enduring is its democ-
racy. Bowling is a great leveler In this
respect, If in no other, It exceIls all other
games. Tennis, golf, lacrosse, cricket
these are all more or less social games
reserved for the few, the so-called upper
classes with means and social standing.
Bowling is for every one, be he high or
low in the walks Of life. When you step
this. that or the other so and so in the
eyes of your competitors and teammates
You are merely the man who can or can
not knock down the pins for a good score
In the bowling game all men are equal
You are not distinguished because you
are a banker with millions at your COM
mand. nor because you come from the old
families with blue blood in your veins
nor because your father or your grand
AdlICT llOIuS OIL pOBlllOn III pup
lie life. None of these things enter into
your standing in the bowling game, moth
ing but your ability to bowl and whether
you were once pin boy or are now the
son OF a millionaire, II you can excel at
bowling. you will receive a friendly greet
ing when you appear upon the alleys.
There is no place where men fraternize
more readily than in a bowling game
Leaders of fraternal orders. Industrial
learned to recognize this spirit, which
pervades the game, and bowling now
forms an important part in their get to-
gether" plans. AS an amusement to
hold the interest Of their members and
as an inducement to gain new mem
bers, It is not surpassed by any recrea-
ton.
Since the days Of the cave man. men
have been keen to test their skill in one
way or another with each other There
is a certain satisfaction in being able to
beat the other fellow. which is its own
reward for the hard work you may have
endured to accomplish this act. 1t is this
spirit OF rivalry which leads most men
to engage in competition OF any sort.
There are still others who become partici-
pants because OF the financial gain. So
IN bowling there have come to be three
classes OF participants4those who bowl
ercise and those who bowl because they
love to bowl-who would rather bowl than
do anything else.
The first class are a detriment to the
sport. No sport or activity has or ever
will survive unrestricted gambling.
Gambling and gamblers are plague and
pest and the sooner they are barred from
the game the better for the game and its
standing in the community.
The class who bowl for exercise do little
for the game while they remain in this
class. They bowl the same as they would
pull weights, lift dumb bells, or swing
Indian clubs: but they should be encour-
aged, as many of them earn such a re-
gard for the game that they graduate
to the third class, the men who bowl for
bowling's sake, who would rather bowl
than eat, to this class belong all the
lovers Of the game.
Day in. day out. year after year, they
are the regulars. They support the tour
naments. local and national; they organ
ize the clubs, they boost the game, and
they give most Of their time to the game.
You will ind their names carved in the
records from teens to their old age.
ITO one who has been interested in the
game for over twenty years, the devo-
the worth OF the sport. 1t remains for
the present-day alley owners to so treat
the younger generation that they will
gain and hold the same love for the
game. so that with the passing Of the
old Guard their places may be filed
and the game continue to progress"