Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-11

Washington. Feb. 1f,-Twenty-f1ve
years ago 10000 Americans had 20
put up with n lot Of good-nntured
joshins because they played golf.
These pioneers had their beloved game
labelled "cow pasture poor and
host OF other names supposed to he
clever and funny. II was called an
old mans gsme. and open apezement
WAS sxpressed on every hand about
just what pleasure was derived from
hitting little whito ball, trudgng
after It. hitting IL again and again.
u.Itil finally II feil into u prepared de-
preston In tho earth.
Today Y Is estimated that there are
no less than 100000 golfers in the
United States. In Scotland every boy
ard girl ia a potential golfer, and the
hold of the game In England and her
possessions ~ remarkably strong.
The royal and ancient game" is
spreading throughout the civilized
world with truly amazing strides.
The flood OF fun and ridicule poked
at the game and it's devotees a score
OF years ago has .dwindled away 20 a
trickle-is practically dried up. The
trials the game has survived have
proved its worth in a convincing way
that cannot be questioned.
! Perhaps the underlying reason for
/ tho hou the game has is the fact that
no one grows too old to play. and no
( boy or girl old enough to- take care OF
| himself on herself is too young "a
/ learn the fundamentals and start 10
pioy. There is no other form OF
athletics I'm the world Of which this
so truly can be said
Baseball deservedly enjoys trernen-
cous popularity. Every school, col
lege and sandlCt has its teams. and
the ranks of professional baseball
contain the cream Of the ball play ms
talent OF the country. Yet Han.
Wagner, the great Pittsburg short.
stop Of the past, after career O.
professional baseball which cause<
comment throughout the length ans
breadth OF the land because ne cam,
hack year after year. finally had {,
quit the game at the age OF 40. Tn,
idea Of golfer giving up his gam
az this age is ridiculous
Too Few Play Baseball.
The criticism made of baseball /
that most Of its followers are sinpl,
spectators. deriving no physical bene
} At from their devotion 10 the gam
and the fortunes Of this or that tear
; II can be safely said that the percent
: age OF followers Of golf who are no
themselves golfers Is about on pa
with the amount OF alcohol in sod
fountain drinks.
Contrast with Wagner's professions
baseball record the golf record mad
by the Englishmsn. John BAH. Jr. II
won the British Amateur Champion
ship in 1888, when ne was % year
old. At the age Of ~. a span Of 2
years. he again won the champion
/, ship. The next championship tourua
: ment viii be held over the oours
: where Mr.. Ball plays regularly Al
3 though he is nearing the three scor
: year mark, Mr.. Ball IS bound 10 be
|. strong contender for the champion
ship again. Mr.. Balls championshf
ct the age OF Al was the eighth tim
he had won and worn the Rritfs
y Amateur crown.
' Another Of tho narveis Of golf
). the American. Walter J. Travis. n
3 did not begin TO play the, game unit
L ne was o5 years cid. by which time Ii
d average professional baseball pIays
O has gone the whole route in mis- sphel
e OF sport. and taken to some 9TH,
IS means CT earning a livelihood. Tbs
o at the age Of so years he turned IL
d score Of 6S. Ask any golfer what
& card like that means.
Il The growth Of the ganne in pop
% larity is nor d'le by any means sole
Y. to the fact p.ar players do not have
n abandon tte game because OF advan
n ing age. Boys ANA girls took TO Il
e game with avid:ty. Pobby Jones
N Atlanta won the Geof ga state char