Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1916 — BOWL FOR AMUSEMENT [ARTICLE]

BOWL FOR AMUSEMENT

Fight Shy of Sharks Is Advice of t New York Writer. - V No Other Game or Sport That Claims to Have as Many Participants as Bowling—Tends to Better Health and Spirits. W. V. Thompson, writing in the New York World takes a “crack” at socalled “pot-hunters.” He says in part: “Just as soon as one becomes interested in bowling and discovers how easy it is to roll a fair average, he then wants to bowl in competition. His one ambition is to beat somebody and in tournament play, but, naturally, prefers not to compete with the socalled “stars" or sharks,” those who own or manage bowling alleys and practice free, especially those that do nothing else. . . “They tell me there are more than 50,000 bowlers in Greater New York who are interested principally for the physical and social behefits. a great majority of whom are virtually eliminated from competition bowling, except in the closed tournaments. There is no other game or sport that even claims to have as many participants as bowling. There is a reason for this.

“It is the demand for play, born in us, that cries out for expression in the midst of the whirl of business. An hour at noon, or more at evening after toll, the fellowship of others bent upon the same pursuit, and for adults the right to choose and the responsibility to use properly, make the whole program one of delight and profit to all concerned. “The flabby muscles that tire so easily respond to nature’s way of keeping in shape; the circulation improves with exercise, and better health and better spirit follow. “Every employer of labor should encourage his employees to participate in some game after work. It will be better if he leads the way. If he is a large employer of labor, it may be best to provide something close to the workshop, factory, mill, store, or, as some have already done, put in an equipment in the store. “It pays in better work, co-operation if you are 4n the play; it stands between you and trouble, chases the doctor out of the house and gives the country a better type of human beings. Surely this is a game worth while.”