FOREST AND STREAM. 



209 



hie Bisection raa there bo to throwing out super Nasi Nortoiibt 



those who put in \ery expensive bnlt« tfsverl i ble, hut Mint is not u 

 good reusou for Its enforcement. Then there ore very few ytichtsmen 

 uhodniiot throw over baliasl If occasion requires, the reir lution to the 

 conlrtu-y ttotwitlwandiiis. I have seen a miui tumble out ov«t thru: hitn- 

 tlrc il pounds .jf Imlln^ in a Nice, unci, though Ilia yacht won the rui-e. no- 

 lioily made, miy cliiini to On.' jnttgCH, which proves the rule In be n dead 

 letter. 



'[he nther rule provides thai any yacht whose hall eh all touch il itako- 

 hoitt. In coins round it shall forfeit all claim to n prize. Sow, ft yacht 

 Hiin-lv eannni save any time by running tejiiinst n swkeboa'. but runs 

 some risK or losing considerable by it. It is natural enough that a skip- 

 per should be an.xlons tu shave tia close as possible, and save as much as 

 he can in soiac round the course, and if he happens to be unfortunate 

 enough to run against one of the buoys, away goes his chances for n 

 prize. I confess I do not see any reason whatsoever for such a regnla- 

 lion. nftlcSs, in.lei d, it u that a jasfctiuran has no right to save tone. 1 do 

 not recollect that a boar ever lost ber prize by any such misfortune, and 

 it is not likely that one ever will, I think the rules and .e.mlotions of 

 any olub Would bo liiffl ledlly etringent mid explicit if ihese two rules 



oftl ill' nli ;■ ihi'iiiiii - ^hu'-irr- leillast is n thing of the past. 



It was always disliked, and last Benson sti end of the clubs came out flat- 

 footed and abolish, ,1 il i nope before noil Spring to W able to Inform 

 you of the striking out or ih- olhbr two. Yours, 



. 0. Fitrn irointAN. 



§;itiaiml ga§timts. 



THE CURLING SEASON. 



THE blasts which herald the coming of the "Ulnst,' ring 

 rftiler" are giving the lovers of the ''-roaring game" 

 warning that it is lime to bring their brooms and stones out 

 of the enforced torpidity of Summer, .una to hold them- 

 selves in readiness for the first call to the icy board. The 

 curlers of Paterson had commenced operations on 

 Halidoti Hill last year before Thanksgiving, an unusually 

 early date, as the season does not generally open for some 

 weeks after that day. It may be expected, unless the pre- 

 monitory warnings arc false, I hat the "jolly" curler will 

 soon be gratified by having his implements in full use. A 

 brief historical retrospect and short sketch of the arrange- 

 ments for the coming curling season may be acceptable be- 

 fore hostilities commence. 



The game, although sufficiently Americanized to be re- 

 garded as one of our regular Winter sports, was originally 

 imported from Scotland. To trace its development in that 

 country backward to its origin is a difficult matter. Some 

 authorities say it originated in the Low Countries at a very 

 curly date, and that it Was imported Ihence into Scotland) 

 while Scotchmen generally are desirous of claiming it its 

 indigenous to lite "html of their birth.'' Without entering 

 into that matter, or speculating upon the probability of its 

 introduction by us with St. Andrew, the question of its ar- 

 rival here may briefly be stated as one involving an investi- 

 gation confined entirely within the bounds of this historic 

 period. A very few years ago hurling huge slones along 

 the ice was regarded- by Americans as very poor sport, in- 

 deed; but the enthusiasm of its Scotch supporters has 

 proved infectious, and numbers of our countrymen arc- 

 now lo be found among its most ardent admirers. It has 

 one recommendation which might have passed it more 

 speedily iuio their favor, that even in so far as its pre- 

 American reputation goes, it is conducted on the most ap- 

 proved Republican principles. Writers tell us that when 

 rinks are pitched in Scotland, every mark of caste is thrown 

 aside, and the peer, the parson and I he peasant are thrown 

 together in a way which obliterates for the time being the 

 otherwise well-defined grades of society. Lucky, then, for 

 Ihe aristocrat and the churchman, if the son of toil be not 

 their conqueror. This circumstance, peculiar in itself, 

 arises from two things with which we in this country have 

 more to do; the merits or attractions of the game, and the 

 sociability which it invariably engenders. The former may 

 be estimated from tlie foot that every curler Is a "'keen'" 

 curler. One almost always finds the adjective associated 

 Willi the substantive, and it is claimed as one or the pecu- 

 liarities of the game that it acquires such a hold upon the 

 affections of those who practice it, that they />*««< beco.me 

 enthusiastic. The cui'lci 1 , they say, has no divided affec- 

 tion. To him there is only one sport ill the world won by 

 of man's serious attention, and it is called ''curling." This 

 very feat urn accounts in part for its devotees styling each 

 other Scottish "brithers," though the fraternal feeling is 

 more dlreclly attributable, to the character of the game. 

 One cannot play, nor two; there must be the full "rink" of 

 eight players, and the more rinks the merrier. The game 

 has many Other merits. It is one of the most healthy pas- 

 times known, and what is true of it physically is also true 

 of it morally. Gambling is entirely foreign to it, and has 

 no place among its associations, while that form of specu- 

 lation, which consists in selling a game, is simply an impos- 

 sibility, There is not a curler living, il may safely be said, 

 who, if be did demean himself by so doing, so far as his 

 own individual play could effect the desired result, would 

 not forget all about wagers, and in the excitement of ibc 

 fray, with all his true instincts strong within him, would 

 not play lo win. The game, therefore, stands almost alone 

 in many respects. There is, however, one characteristic, of 

 its lovers which ought to be put down on Ihe debit side of the 

 account. They are fearfully prone to forget the result of 

 an adverse game, and to confound themselves with tin; 

 victors iu a manner which, to say the least, is very singular. 

 This trait might htve been heard" very amusingly 'illustrated 

 at one of the meetings of the Grand National Curling Club 

 by a prominent officer of that organization. From what 

 was there said it might have been gathered Ihut no one was 

 ever beaten, in widen case the oral traditions differ very 

 widely from the historical records of the game. 



From lite date of its introduction into the United Stales 

 to Ihe present day, curling has gradually advanced in 

 public favor. The Scotch have, been and are its chief sup- 

 porters and the chief means of disseminating a knowledge 

 nt iis principles and pracliee iu every nook and corner of 

 this broad laud. One has only to pass a single hour on the 

 ice within reach of the sound of the rumbling • '• atanes " 

 and to hear Ihe frequent burr of the rich Dorie, to re.cog- 

 ni?.e in many of I lie players a sou of St. Andrew. But it 

 would be wrung, as has been said above, to suppose that all 

 Ihe curlers are Scotchmen, or that there, are not, many 

 Americans among the "knights 61 the broom." The game 



has grown in favor surely, if not rapidly, among the men of 

 all nationalities who meet in our cosmopolitan country. 

 Many clubs, such as that of Paterson, are largely comprised 

 of A nieriean members. From a few Scotchmen meeting 

 in some retired retreat to have a quiet game u few years 

 ago, curling has Haw become an American institution, 

 under the central supervision of a Grand National Curling 

 Club, having its affiliated members in every part of the 

 United Slates and Canada. 



This central body meets once a year to arrange for the 

 season following its session, and to" make such regulations 

 and alterations upon the laws of the game as may lie deemed 

 expedient. The lust meeting was held in this city in June, 

 and several matters were there discussed, which' will more 

 or less affcel the season about lo open. In the first place a 

 challenge was presented by a Toronto curler to fifty rinks 

 from the United Stales to meet a similar number of Can- 

 adians in a grand international "bonspiel" some time in the 

 early pari of next year. The matter was referred to a com- 

 mittee of five to make, the arrangements necessary for the 

 match, and l lie secretary has now addressed a circular lo 

 each club for information as to the number of players it 

 will engage to send. A great amount of interest has 

 hitherto been shown in these friendly frays across the 

 border from either side, and if a match can be arranged on 

 a scale as large as I hat proposed, the season 1874-5 will 

 have ii commensurate Importance in the annals of the 

 game, Il must lie admitted that, although the Canadians 

 were slightly worsted on their last appearance in Central 

 Park, the conditions were anything but satisfactory, and 

 that they have generally manifested a proficiency not yet 

 developed by their Southern opponents. The gap of dis- 

 parity is, however, fast being bridged over, nod the compe- 

 tition growing keener every year. " 



To keep alive a head thy spirit of rivalry among the in- 

 dividual clubs, the Grand National has for some years back 

 given a series of medals to be played for by specified 

 clubs. The following are the matches for these medals ar- 

 ranged by the Committee on Distribution for this vear:— 

 The Caledonian Curling Club of Brooklyn vs. The Thistle 

 Club of Nc.vYork; Burns, N. Y. m. "Thistle., Brooklyn ; 

 Jersey Oily !». Empire City, N. Y. ; Paterson ps. lvunlfoe, 

 Paterson; Caledonian, N, Y. b$. Yonkers; New York Club 

 <•<. St. Andrews, N. Y: Albany v*. New York Mills; Mil- 

 waukee -en. Chicago; Granite, Detroit j». Thistle, Chicago; 

 Caledonian, Buffalo vs. Burns, Cleveland; Thistle, Detroit 

 pa Orchard Lake; Burns, Ogdeusburgh m. Four Brothers 

 Club, of Canada. The dates for these matches are left to 

 the competitors in each. Besides the above series the grand 

 Scotch match for the medal presented by Mr. A. Dulrymplc 

 of this city, between players from the North and South of 

 Scotland, will be played as usual. 



The indications, therefore, are in favor of Ihe ensuing 

 season being one of unusual interest. Any sudden acces- 

 sion to the ranks of the fraternity is not expected, but, it 

 appears that representatives from Philadelphia and Newark 

 are soon expected to seek admission within the fold. It is 

 further worthy of note that an attempt has been madewith 

 every prospect of success, to introduce the game into our 

 colleges. With an eye, it mav be, to the possible national 

 proclivi ies or tastes of Dr. McCosh, the first effort made 

 was to enlist Princeton, which bids fair to have a success- 

 ful issue. 



—The several curling clubs of New York are preparing 

 for the coming season, and they expect to have a lively 

 time on the ice this Winter. The New York Curling Club 

 has elected the. following gentlemen as "skips:" J. Adie, 

 David Reid, George Grieve, and Alexander Pyle. The 

 following gentlemen have been chosen "skips" by the St. 

 Andrew's Curling Club: Messrs. A. Dairy mple. Major Fer- 

 guson, Joseph Henderson, ami James Kellock.' The silver 

 prize medals given by the Grand National Curling Club 

 have been completed by Mr. Wilson. On one side is the 

 motto, "We're brithers a'," and the name of the competing 

 club, while on the other side is a cross formed of two 

 brooms, with a cuWiug-stone beneath, and the words 

 "Grand National Curling Club of America," the whole sur- 

 rounded by a wreath of thistles. 



— Professor Judd who attempted to walk 000 miles in 

 six days and a half commenced his work a week ago last 

 Monthly at Ihe American Institute and walked until Saturday 

 P. M. when he was compelled to give up the undertaking 

 owing to the failure of his right leg which seemed to be 

 badly .slrained. His long anil steady perambulation only 

 counted oil!) miles, which is comparatively far below 

 Weston's first atlempt. One reason for the failure of Mr. 

 Judd in not making better time is that he manifested a de- 

 cided laziness, and did not attempt who i fresh to make 

 his best time. He was cheered on his weary way by several 

 members of Ihe Athletic Club, by the appiauseof ladies 

 and gentlemen and Ihe strains of Giltnore's band, but all 

 could not cause overtasked muscles to do more than Nature 

 would permit. The Professor had pluck enough to light 

 fate to the last; so he will attempt the lent a second lime 

 when he has thoroughly recovered front his present 

 arduous task. 



Several members of the Athletic Club, judging from their 

 exhibition of walking the other evening, are admirable 

 specimens of physical power, as the poorest pedestrian 

 walked his mile in a little over eight minutes. Prof. Judd's 

 faslesl mile was made in l-l minutes and 23 seconds and 

 the slowest in 30 minutes anil 25 seconds. 



Tue St. Louis Cr.tm. — This new base ball club is now 

 fully organized, and below will be found the official list of 

 officers and players of the new club for 1875: 



President— J. B. C. Lucas. 



Vice President— AV. C. Slcigers, of the St. Louis Times. 



Secretary— Charles A. Fowfe, 400 North Fourlh street. 



Treasurer— S. Prentiss Smith, son of "old" Sol. Smith. 



Catcher— Thomas P. Miller, Easton, Peun. 



Pitcher— George W, Bradley, Easton, Pelin. 



First Baseman— Harmon J. Dchlmau, Atlantic. 



Second Baseman — Joseph A r . Battin, Atlantic. 



Short Stop— Richard Peuree, Atlantic. 



Third Baseman— William lluug, Easton, Penn. 



Right Fielder— Charles Q. Wa'ill, East,.,,, Perm. 



Centre Fielder— Lipman Pike, Hartford. 



Left Fielder— Edgar E. Cuthbert, Chicago. 



Substitute— Thomas Fleck, Atlantic. 



Substitute— Thomas Barlow, Hartford. 



Will be one other, not yet decided on. 



S. M. Graff en, of the old Olympics, of Philadelphia , 

 will be the manager, 



— The annual meeting of delegates to the National Ama- 

 teur Association was held at Ihe Aster House on Dee. If!, 

 the attendance being limited, owing to Ihe dissatisfaction 

 of the majority of clubs with the administration of its 

 affairs during the past season. A new President and Sec- 

 retary were elected, and next season the rules of the asso- 

 ciation will no doubt be issued. 



—The Metacnmet club of Taunton, Mass., played iu 

 eleven matches during 1874, of which they won all. Their 

 besl games were those played with the independent club, 

 of Easton, at Taunton, marked by scores of 8 to %, anil to 4. 

 —Th<- Clipper club, of Webster, Mass., played in twenty- 

 nine games in 1874, of which they won 83 and losl 7. Their 

 best games were the following : 



June 92— Clipper vs. Picked Nine of Worcester 4 to 1 



.luly lli-Clippcrvs. Sta- of Ilosion It to 4 



Sept. 13— Clipper, vs. star of Boston 7 lo a 



Sept. a -Clipper vs. Star of Boston !) io 4 



eirr, S -CI i'lf V vs. I.iVr I >;l„, ,,f | , , , , , | , M „ , , - „ ,„ : ■, . . , S If, I, 



Oct. 10— Clipper vs. Grafton of Grafton 4 lo 4 



— The Neshannoclc club— champions ef Western Penn- 

 sylvania — played in fifteen games during 1874, winning 12 

 and losing 3 only. Their best game was that the 

 Mercer chili, which" they won by a score of i) to 7, their 

 only single figure game of the sea"son. 



— The cold snap of Dec. 15 resulted in the covering of 

 the ponds ill Ihe parks of the metropolis and its vicinity 

 with a thick coating of ice, and by Christmas, if not sooner, 

 the signal for skating will no doubt be Hying both at Cen- 

 Iral as well as Prospect Park. On Dec. 15 the thermometer 

 fell to 10" above zero in New York, a fall of over -10' in 

 twenty-four hours. 



— A championship medal, offered by the Amateur Bicycle 

 Club in a ten-mile race, was contended for by J. Kteu. D. 

 Stanton, and C. Hicks, at the Lilliebridgc Grounds, Lon- 

 don, England, Nov. 23. The race was exciting between 

 Keen and Stanton, the first named winning iu 80 minutes 

 S3 seconds; Stanton's time, 80:474. The latter ran Ihe first 

 mile in 8:14, one second quicker than Keen, and the tenth 

 in 8:204, the victor covering his last mile in 3:33. 



— An amateur pedes! riau of Ihe name of Franklin is 

 anxious to walk a thousand miles in a thousand hours, and 

 a proposition has also been made by another who believes 

 in his staving powers to walk 1,000 quarter miles in 1,000 

 quarter hours. 



—A Pigeon Flying Contest, for a silver enp, gold lined, 

 is to take place at Fairmount, Philadelphia, on Christmas 

 Day. It will he given by Joseph Buckley, to whom entries 

 can be made, at No. 2,211 Callowhill street, on or before 

 Dec. 21. 



Hlliarcte. 



PitoPRSsroxAi. Contests ik the MET.aoPOins. — Two 

 matches of more than ordinary interest marked the week's 

 record of metropolitan billiard playing. The first was the 

 contest between Maurice Viguanx and Cyrille Diori at ihe 

 French game, 800 points up, which look place December 

 8, at Tammany Hall, in the presence of an audience which 

 crowded the hall. The second was that between Rudolph 

 and Gamier, at the same game, 600 points up, played at 

 Tammany Hall, December 10, before, a moderately sized 

 assemblage only, a rather exciting lime being anticipated, 

 owing to the bitter rivalry which exists between the 

 players. The A r ignaux and Dion gams proved to be ono of 

 the best contested matches on record, Cyrille Dion showing 

 his old nervy play throughout, while Vignaux proved 

 himself to be cool aiid collected in his style of play, as he 

 ia masterly iu his execution of the most scientific shots 

 known to "the game. It was anybody's game almost to tie 

 last, Vignanx only winning by a lead of 28 points in the 

 800. At the call of the first hundred the figures stood at 

 124 to 52 in favor of A T ignaux. At ihe second call he was 

 still ahead by 210 to 101. At the third the figures were 

 240 to 200, showing Dion to be gaining. The fourth left, 

 them at 310 to 273, and the liflh saw Cyrile in the van for 

 I he first time by 450 to 304. The sixth call, however, left 

 Vignaux once more with the lead by 520 to 490; but again 

 did Dion make a successful rally, and the seventh call left 

 Ihe totals in his favor by 012 lo 507. Now it was that the 

 coulcsl became exciting. Dioti's lirrt lead was obtained by 

 a masterly run of 127, and his second rally was marked by 

 a run of 72. Immediately following this, however, came 

 Vigiiaux's first " reulury," and as it left the totals in his 

 favor by 007 to 05!), the contest began to be intensely inter- 

 esting. Once mote Dion rallied for the lead, and llie close 

 of the fifty-fifth innings left him iu the van by 723 to 693. 

 Neither did miicb after thisunlil the-sixlieth innings, when 

 Vignaux ran 20, and adding 48 immediately after, he took 

 a winning lead, and in his sixty-seventh innings he ran the 

 game out, and won by 800 to 772. His average was 11 Ga- 

 il?, and his highest run was a hundred, wh.le Dion's aver- 

 age was U 20-40, and best run 137. The referee was isadore 

 Gayroud. 



In the Rudolphe Gamier match, Rudolphe led at tile first 

 call by 141 to 87, and at every call thereafter he was largely 

 in the van, except in the third, when Gamier led by 319 to 

 312, a run of 101 materially assisting him. The next call, 

 however, saw Rudolphe leading by" 500 to 387, a splendid 

 lun, 101, having practically given him Ihe fame. The final 

 result was Rudoiphe's success by 000 to 387, a signal defeat 

 of his rival, who thereby lost— metaphorically— ihe cham- 

 pion cup, which, by the way, was stolen from him two 

 weeks before. Kiidolphe's average was 14 20-41, while 

 Garnier's was I) 37-40. The next match of importance Will 

 he that between Vignaux and Joe Dion, named to take 

 place December 80th, at Tammany Hall. 



— The Billiard Cue for December, published by Messrs. 

 Cullender A- Co., contains ihe full scores in detail of the 

 games played in ihe recent tournament held at Tammany 

 Hall, besides other interesting billiard intoimation. 



— In a three ball practice game, between Joe and Cyrille 

 Dion, last Saturday, Joe made the remarkable run of 358 

 points. 



— Mr. George Gardner succeeded in holeing the fifteen 

 balls at Dean's room-', corner of Fulton and Smith streets, 

 Brook ly n, last Saturday night, for which he received the 

 standing prize of a ten dollar gold piece. 



TnE Bkooslyn Amateur Touuney.— On Saturday last 

 Messrs. La Torre and Dorian played off their lie e ante at 

 Samuell's Billiard House in Brooklyn, to settle tbe question 

 of the ownership of the third prize in the tourney, La 

 Torre winning the game and the prize. Afterwards the 



