The New York herald., 1922-12-24

pleasure and freedom from the universal
hatred seeking place in mems hearts?
There simply isn't anything like golf as
pastime; there is no other game play
able by such extremes of age. and that
in the open the catalogue offers nothing
to take its place as the universal rehabili-
tator of bodies and minds. There is an
appeal about it and its peculiar spirit that
gets the thousands where other forms of
bility and a dignity that draw the highest
of those in the seats of authority and
power; it also requires skill and coordina-
ton of muscles to degree that invites the
youthful and athletic; it so lends itself
to social intercourse that all sexes and all
ages seek its pleasure; and there is about
it an elusive quality that makes the player
grid up his loins and stick to it in the
face of utterly discouraging events. What
other sport, exercise or pastime offers so
much?
One must understand the peculiarly
sportsmanlike ethics of golf to appreciate
the portent of these unvarnished facts
ship and its call for generosity and calm
fairness are such that a cad can't play
the game at all; he either ceases playing
or ceases being a cad and most times the
latter is the god sent result. The true golt
player delights in being just little more
than merely fair concession is his hobby
he will not argue with an opponent; and
chap, he will find keen joy in any bril-
lance of play the other manifests. This
CODE not printed and posted about the club
house nor in any other such Grass way
flung into the faces of the golfers. but
carried and treasured in their hearts. is
enforced. Not by fines, censure or eXpul-
sions. indeed, but rigidly enforced for all
that. The transgressor finds it increas-
ingly difficult to get a match; the cordial
ity wanes; he is quietly left out when club
activities are arranged; at some gather
ing of the members the president will
make speech in which he gently touches
on the matter of golf etiquette. mentioning
concretely, the points in which breaches
have occurred. but naming no names And
that cures that.
Golf is the only game in which the in
terest of the player is fixed as much or
more on lowering his own record than
beating an opponent. This is so univer-
sally true that a player finds much pleas
ure In going around alone and even when
playing in twos most friendly games are
characterized by this intense desire to
lower records, and intrigues them to a
greater degree than the contest with each
othey Thus the incentive to bet is re-
moved
am not saying that no bets are made
on golf games, nor am 1 condemning the
practice or those who indulge in it. Any
man who plays golf is golf brother, and
a golf brother Is but one degree removed
from blood brother; therefore, what he
does is all right with me so long as he
observes the traditions of the game. But
any game Is better If free from gambling
and that is the way this game is played
generally in all that great and influential
part of the country away from centers OF
wealth and bored leisure. Too, it is the
way which must meet with the unquali-
fed approval of every true lover of the
game as well as of all those who take
thought for what is going on in the United
States affecting the morals and manner o1
living and thinking of the people.
A Great National Asset.
1t has been said that should that other
great game. baseball, be removed to-day