Evening Star Newspaper, April 13, 1895, Page 14

14 DOWN THE ALLEYS The Game of Ten Pins and Its Grow- ing Popularity. THE SIMPLE METHOD OF COUNTING Good Bowlers Know the Value of the Spare Ball. SOME INTERESTING CONTESTS From Harper’s Weekly. . Despite its indisputable monotony, bowl- ing holds the. interest of its devotees with as much firmness and constancy us the Scotchman shows for nis ‘favorite sport. In, fact, the‘old saying that “‘once a golfer, al-. ways a golfer,” might well be appropriated by the enthusiasts of the “wooden sphere.” The ‘game !s essentially an American one, fhough- its’ parentage may be traced to the Erglish, “bowls,” a game more like curling or shuffle board than the American imita- tic While bowling has met with little favor outside of this country, and is played extensively in few parts even here, the bocm it has received within the last five years has convinced the most skeptical of rmanency. ipaceators gas almost unknown to bowl- ing, and interest is only aroused by actual participation in the sport. Few onlookers are seen at even the most important match- es, and the monotony of the play is un- doubtedly responsible for this fact. Hence the game has practically no professional aspect, and keeps oy place among the other urely amateur pastimes. One. peculiarity of the game is that the greatest monotony lies in the most expert playing, and that which Fequires the great- est skill affords the poorer results in the , score. The original formation of the pins mever varies, and therefore there can be very littJe variety in the wa; ALE the: y knocked. | down with one ball and a “strike” scored. Every experienced player adopts a cer- tain method of trying for this result, which offers the highest , possible score, and seldom, if ever, varies Making a DIM. from his set habit. Three-Pin Spare. It is when all the pins have not fallen with the first ball, and the second is rolled, the greatest skill is required in displacing the rest and scoring the next highest count, a “spare.” Here the gréatest combination and variations that the sport affords are shown, for when the third ball is rolled there are seldom enough pins left standing to require anything more than accurucy of delivery. The method of scoring frequently puzzles he uninitiated, yet it is simplicity itself. ‘he game consists of ten “frames” of three balls each. The ten pins are set up for each frame, and the second and third balls are used only ff the first does not =z “A Perfect Strike” Ball. knock all the pins down. Each pin upset counts a point, and as there are thirty balls to a game, and each ball can count ten points, the possible score of the game is three hundred, But the peculiarity which puzzles so many lies in the scoring of strikes and spares. When all the pins are knocked down with the first ball of a frame and a strike is scored the other two balls of the frame are not volled. Instead the results of the next two balis are counted in that frame as ‘well as in their proper places. Should a second strike be made, the third ball of the first frame and the second ball of the second frame are held over to the first ball of the third frame. In this way a strike fellowing two other . strikes is counted three times, once in each of the frames involved. ‘A spare is counted when the pins are all displaced with the first two balls of a frame. The result of the first ball of the following frame is then added to the ten od A “Light House” Brenk. of the spare to complete the frame. It is called a “break” when ail three balls ire required, or when some still stand after the second ball has been rolf™d. Once un- derstood, the method of scoring is as simple as the game. Each frame ts cn- titled to the net results of three succes- sive balls, and the pins are set up cnly once for each frame. If a strike is made in the tenth frame, the pins are sét up again, and a third time if necessary, to allow the player to complete the three balls of his last frame. e The most skillful bowler scores strike after strike with monotonous regularity, though few men have ever succeeded in making the possible of 300 points. This can only be done with twelve successive “strike” balls. Eight of them are counted three times, two of them twice, and iwo only once. To score even 200 one can make but few breaks. Alternate strikes and spares throughout the string can produce go better score than this, and “double headers” are neces- sary to exceed those figures. But it be- hooves the bowler who cares for his score to make the spare !f his first ball goes wrong,for noth- Ing ruins a string so quickly as_ breaks after “credits.” In this second or spare ball lies the greatest skill of the game. One must not always bowl down the mid- dle of the alley, as is the case with the A Three-Pin first ball,and as many Spare. of the combinations ef pins can be made in more than one way, gome study. is often required beside the mere accuracy of delivery. ‘The “side” and curved balls have been most widely adopted by good bowlers as Tess likely to produce bad “splits” than the old center ball, which fs rolled straight Gown the middle of the alley to either side of the head pin. The one danger that must be avoided above all others is plougn- ing through the center of the pyramid of pins and leaving some op either side of the alley. This is the tendency of the center ball when it strikes the head pin too full, and the result is that it ieaves either the most difficult or impossible spares. The gide or curved ball, on the other hand, almost invariably clears one side of the alley when it fails of a strike, and the remaining pins generally offer an easy spare. The chances of a strike from the 4 The Dutchman's Bridge. referred balls, too, are fully as strong as jose from the center bail, if not stronger. The “Dutchman’s bridge” and the “light house” break are perhaps the two worst leaves that can possibly follow a ball that has ploughed through the center of the J. ‘the former can be made some- the most skillful bowlers, but the latter is impossible. The third pin in front of one of the corner pins of the “light yase"” break makes it possible to reach th corners with one ball, by forcing the at | THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1895—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. COLLEGE ATHLETES/CHESS AND CHECKERS) 4 WEEK FROM TODAY forward pin across.the alley to the oppo- | site corner. Some of the common:spares, which look easy at first glance when the dead wood is cleared away, are gd ree oe Notable among these is one rated ‘here, and others offering the same formation of three Pins. A strike ball will almost invariably leave the second pin of such combinations in just the same way that the “king pin” will be found standing alone after a side ball which has hit the head pin-a little too thin. These spares must be made by hit- ting the first pin quite full, though not di- rectly in the center, else the last pin will remain standing. But precepts for spare bowling are not very valuable, and actual experience is the only practical teacher. The, study of just such deceptive combinations of pins for the spare ball, taken with the vigorous and healthful exercise and the strong spirit of competition which always enters into the sport—in contradistinction to the game—is the fascination which the favorite pastime oe oe Hendrick Hudson holds for its de- GEORGE E. RICKER WINS. Results in the C. A. C. Ten-Pin Tourna- ment. The third assignment in the third and final series of the Columbia, Athletic Club ten-pin tournament bowled a.set of four games last night. “The work of Dr. Ricker was steady, strong and brilliant. The records made follow: st. aes & Higher it ing.“ Avr. Score. eo. E. Ricker. BET tt, Fronk W. Ston 13 15 «GOT ~ 164 ASK Jacobus 8. Jon 8 19 619 1624 199 Howard Perry 18 620.155) 179 Arthur Moses. 0 13 «GOL 147%. 168 H. B. Mason. 8 15 587 1 176 The entire and exact official results could not be obtained last night, some of the contests being so close. A complete record of each player in the tournament will ap- pear in The Star on Monday evening,show- ing the winners of the six prizes. It can be stated, however, that Ricker wins the championship by about 50 pins; that apparently Stone leads Jones for sec- ond place by two or three pins; that Moses leads Perry in the greatest number of strikes by one, barring first, second and third man, under the rules, and that there is a tle between Ricker and’ Mason for the greatest number of spares (55). Phil Cake made the highest individual score (204) in the tournament, and thereby wins the fifth prize. The prize for spares is a spe- cial one, a handsome ten-pin regulation bowling ball and bag, donated by Mr. Remus F. Foster, a. friend of the club. Should the exact and official figurés show a tie, the matter will probably be decided by Ricker and: Mason bowling’ a certain rumber.of games, and taking into account the spares made in such extra games. THE W. A. C’S WON. The Cairo Bowling Tenm Downed by Capt. Kidd and Hix Men. The Cairo bowling team journeyed across James Creek canal last night and met the doughty W. A. C. bowlers on their own alleys, and were easily defeated in three straight games. The Cairo alleys, which have been too narrow, have now been mage regulation size,- and the players of that club feel now that after practicing on them for a reasonable length ‘of time they will not be such easy victims to other Wash- ington teams. The following is the score in last night’s games: - First Game. : al Crono? S| eras: S Game. | erocmca®? @ 3 Bi maces ol snow 7 rc a 2 8 3 9 Sti = Kanfimann. Eastorda: ol moenn? | rcond H] nscomed? AROUND THE LINKS. Entries for the Golf Tournament to Be ‘ Played Next Week. The coming of weather suitable for golf- ing has brought out crowds of players about the links of the Washington Golf Club on the other side of the Potomac near Rosslyn. On a pleasant: afternoon it is not at all unusual to see from twenty- five to fifty players following the ball from tee to hole, and now that the big tourna- ment is so near at hand, not a day passes but that scores of fashionables on wheels or in stylish traps cross the bridge to take a try at this fascinating game. Washing- ton society has taken up golf with a vim, and the club which started only a little more than a year ago with four members, now has a membetship of 150, and plenty of others willing to join. The Washington Golf Club has a fine playing ground on an estate of 175 acres. A comfortable house on the premises fur- nishes a pleasant headquarters and meet- ing place, as well as a refuge in case cf inclement weather. One round of the ‘inks, generally eighteen holes, constitutes a match, but the local golf club has but nine holes, and consequently it takes two rounds to make a full match. An average player completes the two rounds in about two hours and a half, as the distance around the nine holes is estimated at about two and one-half miles. The club recently held an election of officers to serve for the ensuing year, and this will be ratified at a meeting to be held this afternoon. The officers elected were as follows: President, Mr. Henry May; vice president, Mr. George S. Fra- ser; treasurer, Mr. George Hellen; secre- tary, Mr. Edward F. Riggs; captain of the green, Mr. William Edmond Curtis; governing cqmmittee, Messrs. Henry May, George Hellen, W. E. Curtis, Charles E. Barry, John A. Baker, George S. Fraser, Edward F. Riggs, John Van Ness Philip, Admiral S. R. Franklin and- Judge Jonn Davis. The Easter Meeting. The original plans of the club contem- plated the holding of three big meets dur- ing the year, at Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. A handsome silver cup pre- sented to the club was to have been played for during Christmas week, but owing to the bad weather play was abardoned and the cup will now be contested for in a tournament, to be played on the links Thursday, Friday and Saturday of next week. Play will begin at 10 o’clock a.m. and last until 6 o'clock, luncheon being served at the club house. There will be two matches played for, a hole match and a medal match. The May cup will be the trophy in the hole match and there will be a second prize, consisting of a handsome set of silver golf markers. The prize in the medal play is a handsome gold medal presented by Mr. Henry White. The medal play is regarded as the sharper and more scientific match of the two, as in the hole match a player can lift his ball after a poor stroke from the teeing ground and trust to making it up later. In the medal y stroke counts. Both matches ps and the entries in the hole match have been closed. Entries for the medal play will be received up to the time of beginning play and all members of the club are eligible to play. ‘The average number of strokes necessary to make the double round of the links is about seventy or eighty, and the smallest number on record at these links is forty- three. Handicaps are based on the players’ records and vary from six to eighteen. The entries for the hole match with the handicaps are: George S. Fraser, scratch; Charles E. Barry, scratch; Horace Wiley, 6; J. F. Leech, 6; A. J. Parsons, 6; W. E. Curtis, . W. Lockett, 6; Charles B.Gray, 6; J. Augustus Tay! George Hellen, George M. Dunn, 9; Dr. G. R. Brown, 9 Commander C. G. Train, 1 Edward F. Riggs, 18; Guy F. Whiting, 18; Carroll Mer- cer, 15; Admiral Franklin, 18. During the days of the tournament ar- rangements have been made to have a coach run from the city to the links for the accommodation of players an& their friends. At other times the coach leaves Farragut Square Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at 2 o'clock and returns after the play of the day. —-__ With a Word. From the Chicago Mail. “When I broached matrimony she dis- missed the subject with a word.” “What did she say?” “Yes.” Yale Has a Stronger Team 5 WADE UP. LARGELY OF VETERANS A. Western College to, Try Its Luck’ in the East. CORNELL TO ROW ABROAD - ——_+—_—_ Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 12, 1895. As long as the Yale base ball nine.of 1895 is in first-class condition it has no alarm of competition from any college team on the diamond. The nine, now on its annual Easter trip to the south, is meeting every- thing, and when Carter and Greenway are in the points, and both are in form, is sweeping all before it. In the first place, the team is made up of heavy-hitting vet- erans. Fincke is the only member of the aggregation who has not played all or nearly all of a previous championship sea- son on it. The main strength of the club lies in its great battery, Carter and Greenway. This is their second season, and they play into each others’ hands like clockwork. Each has supreme confidence in the other, and their work as a college battery is peerless. - Walter F. Carter, the pitcher, is a Brook- lyn boy and has played three years before this on the Yale team, one as catcher and first baseman and two as pitcher. He is twenty-three years old, weighs 190 pounds and is six feet four’inches tall. John C. Greenway, his catcher, is from Hot Springs, Ark. He plays foot ball as well as base ball. Both Greenway and Car- ter are at present feading the nine in bat- ting, an unusual fact for a battery. Green- way is also a fine base runner. He played two years in Phillips Academy, Andover, before coming to Yale. Frank B. Stevenson of Brooklyn has Played first base two years. He was first baseman for Exeter Academy till he came to Yale. Stevenson is a heavy hitter, is six feet tall and is twenty-four years old. He is playing but Uttle just now, owing to a sprained wrist received by base sliding in the cage early in the winter. George Redington of Syracuse, N. Y., has been selected to play second base this year. He is in his last year in the Yale law school, playing on the team of that depart- ment a year, when it won the world's championship at the Columbian exposition, and was k year center fielder on the Yale ’Varsity. He played second base for Syracuse University two years before his career at Yale began. Third base will be played by Clarence M. Fincke of Brooklyn, N, Y. Fincke is a sophomore and is- working his way into a prominent place in Yale athletics. He cap- tained both his base ball and foot ball class teams last year and played substitute quar- ter back on the Yale ’Varsity foot ball eleven last fall. Joseph R. Quinby of New York city, shortstop, was the first substitute for that position last year, but lack of steadying qualities last year led Capt. Case to shift him off the team. Quinby is playing sure base ball this season and batting stronger than ever. In the Outfield. This is the third sezson of ‘varsity base ball for J. Bissell Speer, Yale's left fielder. He hails frem Pittsburg, and played on the Shadyside Academy team before coming to Yale. He was formerly a pitcher and in- fielder, and was given a place on the Yale rine simply because he could hit the ball hard. He has now develcped into the sur- est outfielder on the Yale team. Harry M. Keator, Yale's right fielder fo this season, hails from Roxbury, N. Y. He is a strong batter and base runner, but liable to misjudge a hard fly at a critical mcment. Last year he played most of the games, but was removed before meeting Harvard, Owing to the sense of insecurity his muffs left on the feelings of the coach- ers. He is this year in better form, and will undoubtedly play the entire season. Fred Rustin, the captain of the team, ‘will play center field. He is a westerner, and has finished three years on a Yale team. He was tried by Capt. Murphy, now with the New York league nine, three years ago for third base, but left college just before the big games owing to the death of his brother. In his sophomore year he also started the year at third base, but was spiked in the gam@ with the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania and did not play in the championship contests. For the past two years he has played in the outfield, where he is surer. Edward L. Trudeau, substitute pitcher, hails from Saranac Lake, N. Y. He pre- pared for Yale at St. Paul's School, Con- cord, N. H., where he was pitcher. Last year he was Yale's substitute pitcher, and in only a single game was he hit hard. He pitched great ball against the Bostons and Baltimores of.the National League. There is not likely to be a single change in the personnel of the above nine during the entire season. Third base ig, thought to be the only position about which there is the least uncertainty, and at present Fincke is giving no apprehension of a change there. It is a remarkable fact that Yale has not possessed a star third base- man for nine years. Yale’s great games this year are the con- tests with Harvard, Prineeton and New York league. Two games are scheduled with all of these clubs. The firs, game with New York took place a week ago and resulted in Yale making a close fight, los- ing by only the score of 7 to 5. No games with the University of Pennsylvania team have been arranged for this year, as there is considerable feeling in New Haven rela- tive to the charges of professionalism against the Philadelphians. TO MEET EASTERN AMATEURS. ‘The University of California to Senda Team East. The University of California, has finally decided, by a vote of the student body, to send a team of ten men to compete in track events with eastern colleges. Games have been finally arranged with Princeton end Pennsylvania, and they may possibly meet Chicago and Michigan. The personnel of the team, with the records of the men, is as follows: Kech (captain), in high jump, 5 feet 10 irches; running broad jump, 21 feet; put- ting the shot, 40 feet 2 inches; half mile, 2.1 1-5; 440 yards (unpaced), 53 1-5. Patter- son, in high jump, 5 feet 11 1-4 inches; brcad jump, 21 feet; high hurdles, 16 4-5. Erdgren, in putting the shot, 38 feet 6 irches; throwing the hammer, 131 feet; pole vault, 9 feet 9 inches. Woolsey, in broad jump, 2 feet 1 inch. Scoggins, in 100-yards dash, 10 seconds. Dyer, in 120- yards hurdles, 16 2-5 seconds. Dozier, 2- mile bicycle, in 5 minutes 20 seconds; brcad jump, 21 feet 6 inches. Hilborn, 440 yards, in 52 seconds. Hupp, 10 yards, in 10 1-2 seconds. Hoffman, 120-yards hurdles, in 16 4-5 seconds; 75-yards hurdles, in 7 4-5 seccnds. Brown, mile run, in 4 minutes 43 aeccnds. To Row at Henley. Cornell has at last decided to send a crew abroad to compete in the grand challenge rage at Henley. The winner of this time honored race is looked upon as the cham- pion crew of the world, for the Henley offi- cials do not adopt any policy of exclusion, but hold the race open to all crews in good amateur standing. The result of thig year's contest will be awaited with interest by all Americans, for it will be the first time in the history of international boating that an American eight-oared crew has competed against En- glish crews. The Cornell eight will meet the best crews.of England, France and any other country that may aspire to the aquatic championship of the world, and will in- clude the famous “Leander eight,” com- posed exclusively of the best oars of Ox- ford and Cambridge universities. Athletics and Scholarships. ‘The oid complaint that an interest in cellege athletics ts incompatible with a high standing in scholarship finds another answer in the fact that Ward, who takes first honors in his class in Princeton, was the quarter back of the Princeton foot ball team last fall and is now putting up a good game with the base ball nine. ~ White. Hanna, _’ _ | First Round of the Uhampionship Tourney Neatly Endod: The Project of 3 Summef Minor Tour- mament Being Comsifecred— neti Interesting Netes. The suggestion thaf has -recently been made in certain rters that a new chess club might + be formed as a friendly rival to ‘the PWashington club is not meeting with great response. The number of club players of ehess in the ‘District is quite ited ‘at ‘present, al- though there aré ‘anid probably hun- dreds of “fireside players”. who might pos- sibly be persuaded to leave the obscurity of their homes and eiiter-the more public lists. Such a. work would be a heavy one, and it would probafly Yake many months to build up a sufficignt membership to en- able a second or ition to establish itself firmly, with an equipment, in a central neighborhood. The demand for a new club comes, it is asserted, from a very lunited circle, composed, it is declared, of players who challenge the authenticity of the championship titles awarded by virtue of the tournaments }Meld under the au- spices of the Washiggton club, Notwith- standing the criticisms that have been leveled at the present Libbey Cup tourney for the District championship, the play for that trophy among the half dozen men who form ‘the front fankof District chess talent is calmly proceeding,, and the first round of the contest is now closing. The leaders are bunched at this point as never. before in the local -history of chess play. As the games now stand the trophy may. be won by O'Farrell, Hanna, Wright or Walker. ‘The. second: round, which will be begun at once, without any rest, which was at first thought of on-account of the unu- sually close competition and hard work that it entailed, will, of ‘course, settle the question, and the coming games will be watched with the keenest interest. The small number of entries makes ‘the play doubly interesting, as the men are almost evenly matched, ang the loss of a single game gives the winner a great advantage. Hence, there have peen ,several contests of unusual length." As “the round now stands, with Capt. O'Farrell one adjourned game to play with Mr. Molsted, the former enterg the second series with a fead that is thought will give him a strong advan- tage in the fipal score.’ ~ « The: first round. in ;the tournament was practically concluded by this week's play. Wednesday evening “Messrs. Hanna and O'Farrell each won another game, and the score now stands: O'Farrell, won 4, drawn 2, with one game to play; Hanna, won 4, drawn 2, lost 1; Wright, won 4, lost 2; Walker, won 4, drawn 2, lost 1; Tharp, won 3, lost 3; Gwyer, won 1, lost Mol- sted, lost 5, one to play. The tournament has developed some very interesting chess situations. The draw between O’Farrell and Walker, by perpetual check, was a fine example of chess strategy; and the same is true of the draw achieved by Capt. O’Farrell“in his game with Mr. Hanna, in which, after eight hours' play, and hav- ing nothing remaining but two pawns and a rook, he sacrificed the piece and thus in- sured the draw. The adjourned game between Mr. Hanna and Mr. Wright was finished Monday night, Mr. Hanna winkthg. '* this game was watched with intérest,3and presents feat- ures which have ntif been the subject of local discussiofy, th: is given below that portion ofthe *e which -covers these points: aoe 2 French Defense. e aor fe 3 Kt 2 4 BKK ‘a 6 PKS 6BxB " a : Ss! ze 53 38 eRe “Ki i () iS R P. 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5. Oy 55 sit i fal a P PXEP, BxP ch (e) Kt--Kt6 ch 3 Rise * sas, , © Nétes, Baran (a). The*gume- haw proceeded “thps far regularly, according to jodern.authorities. This more is given tg Freeborough’s lead- ing variation of: the ‘French gamé was played by Mr. Far®enhaus on‘ his recent yisit to Washington and by Mr. Neagle in his game against Mr. Patterson, recently published. It mainting the queen in a conservative attitude, ‘ready for ¢mer- gercies on either side of the board, frecs the rooks, and, particujarly, prepares for move 8. . (b). Of this move Freeborough says: “To ccrnect the pawns, and play knight to king’s third later.” (c). White cannot develop this bishop at queen’s third, as black, might then force the exchange Of queensior win a pawn, by PxP; 13—PxP; Q-Kti.’ * (@). Mr. Wright skillfully seeks to force the fighting on the queen’s side, where the black forces are massed= (e). Apparently sound. (f). This move and White's 2ist move were made after twenty minutes’ analysis on the part of each ‘player. Dr. Hawkins, who was an interested spectator, after- ward pointed out that if black had made the natural move, K-Kt3, mate would have follcwed in seven moves. Mr. Wright evi- dently foresaw and avoided this. (g). This. wins the queen or mates in three. Black gave up the queen, and, on account of the strength of his rooks and minor pieces, continued the game a few moves further before resigning. The Washington Chess Club is debating the question whether it is better to in- augurate a summer minor tournament, or to postpone such serious work until the fall, and thus leave the summer season open fér a series of brief individual and consultation matches, and those pleasant team contests with ‘other organizations, which are crowded out during the progress of the regular tournaments. The attend- ance at the club Is large,-and the prospects for a good fall season are excellent. Last evening there were seven or eight tables goirg, and the room was well filled until after 10 o'clock. Late next week Mr. F. J. Lee, an English chess master, will be the guest of the club, on his way north from New Orleans. He has an enviable record, and his coming is an event. He will probably give two exhibitions of simul- taneous play. The club extends an invi- tation to chess players who are not mem- bers to call at the club rooms during Mr. Lee’s visit to watch; his play or to par- ticipate in the sigjultanequs play. He may also meet some ofthe expert amateurs in friendly matches, although nothing is defi- nitely settled. This poligy of the club in securing the attgudance of noted players has resulted in gi;great stimulation of the general interest én the game. eaters The checker tqprmamgat ts progressing to a conclusion. pir. Mcflardie is seriously rivaling Mr. Mumdelle, who has heretofore held almost undisputed ;possession of the top shelf in chegker play. The present score of the tourjament jp as follows: Won. Drawn, Lost. MeHardle 10 Mundelle. 10 6 Pani ¢ BB ‘arquiiar. Reed. 1» 81 618 2 8 ry 2 7 10 14 2 8 The ition occurred in a game between McHardfé and Mundelle: Black, kings on 19 and 31; white, 32; kings on 25 and 22. White to move and win. Who will show the proper play? Mike Mahoney's Success. Big Mike Mahoney, so well known in foot ball circles, made his, debut as a pitcher against the Yale team last Thursday. He didn’t do a thing with their big sluggem: but strike out thirteen of them. He has almost as tfauch speed as the great Rusie, and his command of the ball was wonder- ful. Some of his college trates were a lit- tle shy of giving him a chance against the lads from Old Eli, but now they are will- ing to wager all of their “luxury money” that George Mahoney can outpitch the famous Carter. Mahoney is a eomplete battery in himself. He can catch as well, if not better, than he.can pitch, besides he is a clever man on first bag. - The Bostons and Washingtons Will Meet at National Park. OPENING THE SEASON OF THE LEAGUE Senators Will Not Blame the Um- pire for Defeat. THE YOUNGER PLAYERS —__+__—__ When the local patrons are invited to enter National Park next Saturday they will find that Earl Wagner has not been making frequent trips to Washington dur- ing the early spring simply for his health. The park has been greatly improved in many particulars. The seating capacity bas been increased, some of the trees in the field have been cut down, and the in- field has been leveled. The ground keeper has also indulged in a little ornamental gardening back of the faul lines. In the grass plot back of the home plate, in front of the visiting players’ bench, are the words ‘‘Weleome" worked out in sod. On the other side of the plate, in front of the -home players’ bench, are. the words “Washington B. B.C.” 3 President Nick Young says everything is fm readiness for the opening of the league championship season next Thursday. The Washingtons open in Boston, and then they turn immediately around and jump back to the capital city for two games with the Bean Eatery. Gus Sclimelz is not to be thrown down by this arrangement of the opening dates, but he has ordered his men ‘to New England for a week’s practice with minor league clubs in that region, so the Senators may become in a measure ac- chmated before Friday afternoon. The Washingtons do not play on Thursday, the next day being Lexington day. It is understood that President Earl Wagner, in a business letter to President Young, expressed himself as being highly pleased with the material in the Washing- ton team as now constituted, and an- nounced that the Senators propose to make a bid for a higher standing in the list than they made last season. Mr. Wagner added that his team does not propose to make Progress by kicking against the umpires, and Manager Schmelz and Captain Cart- wright have been advised to accept grace- fully and silently such assignments as may be made for Washington. It will be a very cifficult matter to keep Gus Schmelz quiet when he thinks his lads are getting the worst end of the umpiring. Manager Schmelz wants his friends’ to keep their eyes on Coogan, Collins, Crooks and Malarkey. He says they are going to astonish the natives before the season is over. Crooks is a veteran, but the other three men are youngsters, and they may require a little more time to develop. Mr. Earl Wagner indorses these sentiments, and ff anything he is more enthusiastic over the new comers than Manager Schmelz. It will be observed that Joyce has not forgotten how to hit the ball, in spite of his backwardness in coming into the fold. The great surprise of the preliminary season is the discovery that “Roaring Bill” Has- samer is a first-class catcher for an emer- gency man, Since McGuire came north to coach Mercer, Maul and Stocksdale, Has- samer has been doing some pretty work behind the bat. Bill has his “Nebraska eye” on the ball, and he is lining ’em out in great shape, much to the satistaction of his “rooters” in this city. = The assistant managers are already in evidence. They have directed that Mercer be scheduled to pitch in the opening game on the home grounds. The suggestion is not a bad one, providing the young man is In condition that day, and it does not con- filct with the plans of Manager Schmelz. The loyal local “rooter” suggests that Manager Schmelz put in the pitcher with whom he thinks he can win the game. There is something encouraging in winning the opering struggle on the home grounds. Buck Ewing's Signs. Word comes all the way from Cincinnati that Captain-manager Buck Ewing has adopted a code of signals by which he di- rects the movements of his men on the field. It is said that he does not have to get on the coaching lines and shout his commands to the players, as Comiskey and Latham have done in years gone by. He simply works a string of signs something after the style of the deaf and dumb lan- guage. If the reports are true, then Hoy, the clever little “mute,” is eligible for the position of assistant field captain. The pa- trons of the game in all the cities in the east would rather hear Latham’s chatter on the lines than watch Capt. Buck’s signs. Some of vs have not forgotten Arthur Irwin and his sien system, which did not work very well last season. “Arthur” is a great believer in the sign method of coach- ing, but it failed at a critical point in a game here last year between the Senators and the Phillies. It was a very close game and the Washingtons were in the lead. The Phillies had the last inning and they were struggling to get a run home to at least tie the score. Cross had reached sec- ond base, with cne man out. An easy ball was hit down to “Piggy” Ward, who was playing at the middle bag. He retired at first and made a bluff_to toss the ball back to Pitcher Mercer. Cross, after touching the bag, played well off toward third, while Irwin and Boyle were on the coac! ing lines appealing to Cross to score that run. Suddenly “Piggy” made a dash to- ward Cress, and caught him napping off the base by two yards, and the game was ended. “Piggy” had hived the ball in his glove and the coachers had not noticed It. Ward was great on that trick. He play- ed it successfully on some of the best base runners in the league. Washingtonians will miss his cheerful yell: “That's all right” to the man at bat when a strike was called on a local player. Then he had a tantalizing laugh, which greatly annoyed visiting players. “Piggy’s’” playing in one of the minor leagues this season. He will be a “star” in that company. Sadie Houck'’s Return. “Sadie” Houck, the once famous short of the champicn Boston team, is in town again after an absence of many years. At one time Houck was the star shortstop of the league. When he first went to Boston the people at the Hub were afraid “Sadie” would not fill the bill, Some said he was. tco light. Others said he was too short. In the opening championship game as a Bean Eater the score was very close. Two men were on bases when “Sadie” came to bat. It was a critical stage in the contest. The “‘squeezers” sat on the bleachers al- most afraid to look at the Washington lad who stood at the plate waiting to hit the ball. Presently he picked out a_ nice straight ball and lifted it over the fence for a. home run. He trotted around the bases, grinning and showing his big white teeth, as though it was an every-day oc- currence for him to hit for four bags. That hit made him a favorite in Boston. Yesterday’s Bull Games. At Lynchburg—Washington, 23; Lynch- burg 1. At Richmond—Baltimore, 9; Richmond, 2. At Indianapolis—Indianapolis, 16; Terre Haute, 7. ‘At Cincinnati—Cincinnati, 12; Page Fence its, 2. Oe Roanoke—Roanoke, 23; Lancaster, 4. ‘At Newport News—Brooklyn, 14; Newport 8, 5. Ape ‘Chattanooga—Pittsburg, 19; Chatta- nooga, 4. = é ‘At Schenectady—New York, 11; Schenec- tady, 6. Base Ball Notes. Several league clubs have cast longing eyes toward young Harley, the clever left- fielder of the Georgetown University team. He is a batter, a fielder and a base runner of superior quality, and, if he desires to graduate to the league ranks, he will have no difficulty in getting an assignment. Arthur Irwin and his band of Phillies passed through this city early in the pres- ent week on their way home from the south. Manager Irwin says the boys were very much gratified at the estimate placed upon them by President Young two weeks ago, and they propose to verify his state- ments as to their batting qualities. All the big league cities are following the example.of Washington, and preparing to make a feature of “‘ladies’ day” at the ball grcunds. Fred Pfeffer arrived here from the east games before opening the season on with the Bostons. Anson has lost fourteen pounds of flesh, but no confidence, during his trip to Texas. —New York Herald. . i, Arthur Clarkson has agreed to pitch for the St. Louis Browns. He is to receive $1,000, and Von der Ahe will ‘add $200 for good behavior. Sunday games will not be played in In- dianapolis. * Neither Hutchinson nor Stratton will pitch for Anson on Sundays. Manager Mack says he will alternate Killen,- Hawley and Hart in the box this season. : The new pitcher of the Giants, Boswell, is even lankier than Dave Foutz. John McMahon, who was given a trial at short by Manager Schmelz last spring, will remain with Wilkesbarre this season. He made a big hit there last year. Though at this writing Joyce has not supplanted Cartwright as captain, it is sure that he will, it being the understand- ing when Ed. was elected that he would give way to Joyce when reported.— Washington Correspondence Sporting News. Everett, Anson’s new third baseman, will be a fixthre on the team. Irwin, last year’s third baseman, will be kept as extra in- fielder. The St. Louis team has made a poor showing in the southern practice games. ‘Young and Cuppy will not be used by the Clevelands in a championship game till the Baltimores reach that city. The Brooklyn players have taken ex- ception to a little base ball yarn which has been traveling for-a year. The story showed how LaChance thrashed a fellow Brooklyn player for imposing upon him. Pitcher Staley pt the Browhs is confined to his room with'grip. — Anson says Donohue, his new catcher, is 4 to 1 better than Shriver. A special from Louisville says that Fi- nancial Manager Harry Pulliam of the Louisville club has signed Henry S. Tyler, mayor of Louisville, to pitch the first ball of the season at Chicago in the opening game with Pittsburg. Mr. Tyler was a member of the famous old Louisville Red Stockings before the days of curves. A dispatch from Philadelphia says there is a half-breed Indian there who remembers George Washington. This being true, An- son is not in it.—Sporting News. National League Umpire W. G. Betts says that he coes want to claim credit as the sole inventor of the new umpire indicator. He stated that George W. Sneeden is a co-worker with him in the invention. President Kerr of the Pittsburg club has: decided to keep both Niles and Clingman on the payroll of the Pirates. * Campau of the Detroit Western League team writes as follows: “Baltimore is playing great ball and looks a winner all over.” Daniel Sweeney, the midget with McClos- key’s Colonels, has a good eye, and is will- ing to walt for “sweet charity.” Rusie’s condition ean be imagined by these who have not seen him, when it is learned that he tips the scales at 210 pounds. Last season he weighed five pounds more when in the best of condition, and last winter he weighed 235. THE TENNIS SEASON. Hints for Beginners Which Should Lead to Good Play. With the opening of the tennis season a few hints to the “young fry” in regard to form of play may prove Beneficial. Lawn tennis is strictly a game of skill, and be- tween the first-class players and the gen- eral average of those who play the game there is not a gradual descent, but a wide gap. Ip billiards the same remark would apply even more forcibly, and the differ- ence between the great professionals and the amateur is as great as that between the latter and one who never handled a cue. ~ The qualities necessary to attain perfec- ‘tion in lawn tennis are form, accuracy, pace, strategy, confidence and endurance. No player combines all these qualities to perfection, but some possess several of tkese requirements in a marked degree. By form is meant the proper way of exe- cuting a stroke. If the beginner starts in to play without instruction and hits the ball in a way that is most natural to him, he“will acquire a certain amount of skill against those who play in a similar way, but he can never hope to compete with tournament players. In other words, he is playing “‘pat bal ogainst |e swift strokes of an opponent who studied form. If a novice is ambitious to become a good player he must throw aside all de- sire to defeat his rival until he has ac- quired: proper form, and he must neces- sarily expect to be beaten. This is the main reason why men who take up tennis late in life seldom advance beyond the “putty” stage. Five Years for Form. It generally takes about two seasons of regular play for a beginner to acquire rood tennis form. At the end of the first on he may master the four-hand drive d execute fairly well the back-hand strokes and volleys. Toward the close of the second year he will probably develop into a player somewhat beyond the general average. No rule, of course, can be laid down, for some learn more readily than others, while there are many who could never play if they practiced a lifetime. As a general rule, it requires about five years for the player to show his best form. ‘When a player reaches a gertain point he seems to stop improving, or his advance- ment is so gradual that he cannot realize it. It is at this juncture that many be- come disgusted and drop the game. The player comes out one day, plays the game of his life and goes away elated, but the next day and perhaps for a week he can- not approach the form he showed on that occasion. If a man wishes to play a strong, steady game he should keep himself in the condition which will be most likely to pro- duce that result. Tennis players seldom train_or pay any attention to their physical well being, and this largely accounts for the variable form exhibited by the expert players during the season. Tournament playing is a great strain, and the difficul- ties of a hard-fought five-set match are quite as exhausting as any other form of ath- letic exercise. The tennis player who would train as college athletes do, avoid injurious eating or drinking and retire early at night would find his chances of winning doubled. But tennis, closely associated as it is with fashionable watering places,and social en- joyments, is far from conducive to a frugal regime. A Few Pointers. Practice is most essential, but it should not be overdone. Three times a week is sufficient to keep one in good form, but the work must be earnest. A tournament play- er should either avoid playing with in- feriors or play just as earnestly against them as he would against his equals. If one. cannot accept a defeat from an in- ferior or play an earnest game against him he had bettér play with none less profi- cient than himself. It is well to find out the weak points of your adversary. If he is weak on the back-hand,.play for that side. If you get in a tight place, lob. Strategy is also a most essential element to success. Pace fs a great point in lawn tennis, but is subservient to accurate placing, and to hold a high rank as a player pace is ab- -solutely necessary. Pluck and nerve are also essential to a successful tournament player. This, of course, is inherent in the player more than an acquired quality, and yet it can be obtained in a measure by playing in tournaments, which, after all, is the best possible practice for the game. Some men can never acquire pluck, and are immediately overcome by nervousness when pitted against an opponent who never lcses his head. A lack of nerve is said to be the reason for the non-success of Mr. Mansfield as a tournament player, although he is acknowledged to be one of the best players in this country. Wernberg Took the Doswell. Twenty-one bookmakers started in the scramble at the St. Asaph track yesterday, and, as three second choices, a favorite and two outsiders caught the eyes of the judges first, the gentlemen on the stands finished a trifle behind. The attendance was again very large, the track was the fastest of the meeting, and the racing first-class. The event of the day was the Doswell stakes, for ‘three-year-olds and upward, at six furlongs. Hugh Penny was made a 3 to 5 favorite, but could only finish fourth, the winner turning up in Jimmy McLaugh- lin’s brown colt Wernberg, by Muscovy out of Holmdel, the race: being run in 1.15 Fectotum was second and Capt. Brown third. The other winners were: Kilkenny, 12 to 1; Miss Lynch, 7 to 1; Ed. Kearney, 3 to 1; Brisk, 7 to 2, and Sue Kittie, 6 to 5B - BOATING OUTLOOK A Revival of Interest With the Coming Season. SOME TALK OF A POTOMAC NATY The Analostans Already Have Out a Crew. WHO ARE IN THE BOAT Judging by the present prospects the coming season will be one of very consid- erable activity in boating circles. It is a little early yet to talk about plans for the summer, but already one boat club has a crew out in active practice. On May 11 a crew from the Analostans will make a try with the “middies” at Annapolis, and the outcome of the race is looked forward to with a good deal of interest. So far the situation has not been very favorable to practice spins on the Potomac, for the river has been rough and the cur- rent strong, but the Analostan crew has peo potion up na aE showing, and its entertaining great ho} ct the May struggle. Things are getting quite lively about the different boat houses and the oarsmep are busy these days fur- bishing up their paraphernalia and putting things in readiness for warmer weather. The Analostans are the only ones that have a regular crew out, but it will not be.long before the other clubs follow suit. The proposition which has been started out by the Columbia Athletic Club of hold- ing a fortnightly regatta on the river be- tween the different clubs this summer meets with hearty approval from the Co- lumbias, but the Potomacs and the Analos- tans are a little slow in falling into line, and the chances are that the idea will fall of consummation. The reason for this is not far to seek. The plan contemplates a change of crews in each regatta, so that the clubs will have practically a new boat load each time—a very pleasant and satis- factory arrangement for a club’ which has so.large # body of boating men to draw from as has the C. A. C., but it is not so agreeable to the clubs which are deyoted solely to boating and which have conse- quently a much smaller membership to draw on. As @ prominent member of the Potomacs expressed it in conversation with a Star reporter yesterday, his club has practically only, a score of-men to draw on, and a similar condition of affairs exists in the case of the Analostans, while the Columbias, on the other hand, could put cut fiv@ or ten times as many men who are qualified to sit in a boat and handle an oar. They could outlast the other clubs, and the contests would hardly be fair ones, One thing that is likely to prove an in- centive to good work on the part of local oarsmen this summer is the revival of in- terest in boating in Baltimore. For the last few -years things have been rather dead along the Patapsco, but there has been a marked change for the better this spring, and the chances are that the Bal- timore boys will have out a number of strong crews this season who will be able to make things lively for their Washing- ton brethren. With the revival of boating in Baltimore the Patapsco navy has come to life again and promises to be a strong influence in boating circles. A like condi- tion of affairs exists in Alexandria and in all probability the Old Dominion ‘Boat Club will be a factor of no mean import- ance in boating matters this summer. That they have been in yeats gone by the Iccal clubs know to their sorrow, for on more than one occasion the Alexand hard interest in boating in two such near-by cities as Baltimore and Alexandria it is only fair to assume that it will receive a big impetus on the upper Potomac.- ‘The Potomac Navy. With the coming of the boating season interest again attaches to the talk about the formation of a Potomac navy. Efforts to this end have been made in years gone by, but the present season opens with that consummation no nearer than in the past. It is said that heretofore the Analostans have favored the establishment of a navy, but that for some reason or other the} has raised to the plan is that it would lessen the dignity and influence of the individual elubs, but it is pointed out that the forma- tion of a navy would be little more than the establishment of a permanent com- mittee of the clubs, and that each club would still retain its autonomy intact, es- pecially in the matter of expenditures, and that the advantages that would accrue would far outweigh all possible objections that might be raised. The establishment of a navy would make provision for the annual Potomac regatta, and it is claimed that if there were such an organization in existence arrangements for the regatta would already be well under way. As it is nothing has been done as yet, and the his- tory of past years will probably be ve- peated. There will be delays waiting upon the appointment of committees to such an extent that there will be difficulty in se- curing a suitable date that will not con- flict with other events of like sort in other parts of the country. This is mentioned by the exponents of the “navy idea” as only one of the considerations that should weigh with the different clubs in deciding upon the plan, but just the same, It may be said that a Potomac navy is no nearer being an established thing than. it was one, two or three years ago. ° The Potomac regatta will probably be held this year some time in the latter part of August, but as yet there has been noth- ing in the way of gossip or talk about entries cr prospects. The Evening Star, the Washington Post, the Mason and the merchants’ cups will be among the trophies to be competed for. . At present it looks as though the local crews would not be very well represented in the regattas on Decoration day. Cer- tainly there will not be any» contests of great importance on the Potomac. If any of the three clubs decide to show their strength on that day they will send crews to take part in the races either on the Passaic or the Harlem. It looks now, how- ever, as though the Analostans were the only club that would have a crew in trim by that time. Their preparation for the race with Annapolis should put them in line for the Decoration day regatta. Practically all arrangements have been made for the trip of the Analostan crew to Annapolis to meet the Naval Academy boys on May 11. The race will be rowed on the Severn over a course a mile and a half in length, and the hour, of course, will de- pend somewhat on the state of the wind and water. On the same day the middies will meet the University of Pennsylvania crew. While there may be some changes in the boat, the eight which will represent the Analostans has practically been fixed upon, and they are out on the river on every pos- sible occasion,and are putting up a show of speed that is giving cause for hope in the hearts of the Analostan boys. The crew, as it is made up at present, consists of Chandler, Perry, Taylor, Moore, Vaughn, Stearns, Mills and Weaver. Either Carter Ballantyne or Harry Benner will officiate as coxswain. The An: are growing steadily, and nearly a dozen names cf ap- plicans for membership are waiting to be acted upon. The athletes and gymnasts of Carroll Institute are in active practice for the big athletic exhibition, which is to come off on Thursday, April 25, in the gymna- sium. The following contests have been arranged for the championship of the Carroll Institute: Putting the 16-pound shot; running high jump; catch-as-catch- can wrestling in 120, 140 and 160 pound classes; pole vaulting, pitch and kick; par- allel bar work; fancy boxing. A double horizontal bar has recently been placed in the gynasium, and on this Mr. James E. Joyce and some of the boys will do some fine work at the exhibition. Prof. Maurice A. Joyce, instructor of athletics, is arranged for a match game of basket ball, to be played between the ladies’ class of Carroll Institute and the ladies’ college of Baltimore. The match will probably come off within a few weeks, but the date bas not yet been definitely set- tled upon. —_——.—_. Sewing Society. From Life. The wife—“One-half the world doesn’t know how the other half lives.” The Husband—‘Well, it isn't the fault of