THE USES OF WOOD 



437 



abuaC that is likely to be given it, and is not high in 

 price. Many other woods are suitable, birch and beech 

 among the best. 



Boards are manufactured for special games, and so 

 many are in use that a list would be tiresome. Some 



WOODEN GYMNASIUM RINGS 



Wuod meets one of its most exacting uses when it serves as rings in 

 the equipment of the athletic room. Very strong woods are wanted and 

 at the same time they must present a handsome appearance if they come 

 up to specifications. (Photograph by courtesy of J. B. Hellenberg Com- 

 pany, Coldwater, Michigan.) 



games are for children, others for those who have put 

 away most childish things, but who still find amusement 

 in certain games. Chess appeals to mature minds, and 

 wood supplies most of the accoutrements with which it 

 is played. Some of the best are of ebony and boxwood, 

 but very satisfactory games may be played with yellow 

 poplar, basswood, walnut, maple, and birch outfits. The 

 same holds true of checkers, but that game usually is 

 rated a little lower than chess in scientific points; 

 though no less an authority than Edgar Allen Poe holds 

 that as a men- 

 tal exercise of 

 the highest and 

 purest sort, 

 checkers sur- 

 pass chess. 

 Doubtless, very 

 good players 

 would hold dif- 

 ferent opinions 

 as to that, de- 

 pending upon 

 personal train- 

 ing and pref- 

 erences. 



In athletics, 

 sports, and 

 games, the 

 woods used in 

 providing 

 the equipment 

 are no respect- 

 ers of condi- 

 tions and per- 

 sons ; for as in- 

 teresting and 

 sci en t i fie a 

 game of check- 



WOODEN DUMB BELLS 



No gymnasium is considered complete that is not 

 equipped with dumb bells, and wood is the favor- 

 ite material of which they arc made. The choice 

 is given to the heavy, firm wood and preference 

 to those most attractive in appearance. (Photo- 

 graph by courtesy of J. B. Hellenberg & Com- 

 pany, Coldwater, Michigan.) 



WOODEN ATHLETIC CLUBS 



Most firm, heavy woods are suitable for the manufacture of Indian clubs, but perhaps more ; 

 of maple than any other wood, though walnut and mahogany are often seen. (Photograph by 

 of the J. B. Hellenberg & Company, Coldwater, Michigan.) 



ers may be play- 

 ed by the local 

 visitors at a 

 c r s s^r o a d's 

 store on a rainy 

 day, with the 

 checker board 

 penciled on the 

 upturned bottom 

 of a shoe box, as 

 can be pulled olT 

 by experts in a 

 club room with 

 a ten dollar in- 

 laid satinwood 

 board. Wood in 

 supp lying the 

 wherewithal for 

 games, contrib- 

 utes to the en- 

 joyment of high 

 and low, rich 

 and poor alike. 



The principal 

 sales of bows 

 and arrows are now made to archery clubs whose mem- 

 bers shoot at targets. No large quantity of wood is 

 required to supply the arrows and bows, but some of the 

 wood is worked into highly specialized products. Ash, 

 hickory and western yew furnish the bow wood, and 

 the arrows are of numerous woods. The highest priced 



bow material is 

 the yew that 

 grows in Ore- 

 gon and Wash- 

 ington. A bow 

 made of this 

 material by an 

 expert may sell 

 for one hun- 

 dred and fifty 

 dollars, though 

 not more than 

 one foot, board 

 m e a s u r e, of 

 wood is repre- 

 sented in the 

 finished bow. 

 The selection 

 of the raw ma- 

 terial is one of 

 the most par- 

 ticular jobs of 

 the bow maker. 

 He prefers a 

 yew stave 

 about half and 

 half heartwood 

 and sapwood. 



erhaps more are made 

 courtesy 



