SOME GOOD GOLF STORIES

Evening Star, Issue 15076, 7 January 1913, Page 2

SOME GOOD GOLF STORIES

The good golf story is always popular, fi -° f tho most s »cessful features of the Christmas number of the ‘Windsor Magazine will probably be an amusing survey by Laurence North of ‘Legends ot the Links’ in their wide abundance and variety. Pictoriallv, the article includes colored plates by G. C. AVilmshnrst and a number of black-and-white illustrations from drawing by Hal Ludlow. Will Owen, Max Cowper, T. B. Blacklock, and other artists whose work is well known to enthusiasts of the game. Among other good things in the acompanying letterpress the writer says :

One day, as Mr Balfour was going out for a round at Sf. Andrews., he waved genially as he passed to a caddie of his acquaintance, who returned the wave with that nonchalance of the gamin which is said to be next to the "ease of a cultivated gentleman. The writer’s friend observed : ‘I see you know' Mr Balfour?’ ,Ou ay, said the caddie, ‘us Consairvatives a’ kens ane anither.’ Turning to the finer humanities of the links, there is a very pleasing anecdote of the admirable relations that often exist between players and caddies. This story has been used as material for fiction by another hand, but the bare skeleton of truth may he given here without the embroideries of tlie novelist. _ Once upon a time in a northern golfing city, the law was administered by a sheriff of great kindness of heart. Jig had a favorite caddie, a sad poacher in his spare hours. This worthy was known on the links by his Christian name alone. One fine day, in court, the sheriff sentenced a poacher—who failed to appear at the bar—to £5 or three months. A warrant was at once made for the, culprit’s arrest, the Court rose, and the sheriff went to golf. All that afte moon the caddie carried for him. As they drew near the last hole, a policeman appeared and seized the body of the caddie. •My hat ! cried the sheriff, 1 Are you the poor chap I sentenced this morning V Tt was even so. Sorowfnlly the prisoner departed. Tlie sheriff was heard in murmur ; ‘Tf I had only known ' Then remembering his high legal office, he. left the remark unfinished. Next day, to everybody s surprise, the caddie was carrylns again. As he did not possrscss £5 in the world, his release caused some speculation at the club. But the general surmise as to who had paid the fine came prettv near the mark. Tt was noticed, too. that from that day the caddie gave up poaching.