RULES OF THE GAME.

I. Commence the game by stringing for the lead, as well as for choice of balls and side of board; the player who gets the highest number takes the lead.

II. The leader must place his ball in the cavity on the side of the board he selects, and play it up, counting the points he may make by the stroke; after which, his opponent plays from the opposite side of the board; and so on, alternately.

III. When a ball lodges on the board without going into a hole or running down to the bottom, the game must be continued with the other ball, each player using it alternately— whoever removes the ball so lodged, scores the number of points made by both the balls, and the game proceeds as at first. Should both the balls be lodged on the board, that ball which was last stopped must be taken up and used to continue the game.

IV. The player continues to lead, as long as he can hole his ball in any of the cups.

V. The game to consist of one hundred or more, as may be agreed upon at the commencement.

VI. If the player's ball ring the bell, that is passes through the bell arch, he scores double the number he would otherwise gain by the stroke.

VII. Playing into the top hole (marked 100) is the game

at once.

VIII. Should the ball go round to the opponent's side, the striker loses five points and the lead; or should he play his ball up, and it returns without going on the board, he loses one point and the lead.

IX. The winner of the game, takes the lead in the next.

AMERICAN BOWLS.

EXPLANATION OF THE DIAGRAM.

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1. Ten pins, something in the shape of large hock bottles, arranged in a triangle, its apex being nearest the player.

2. Platforms, (called alleys,) about sixty feet in length and four feet in width, on which the balls are propelled. The surface must be perfectly smooth and level.

3. The white margins on each side of the platforms are channels into which the balls drop, when not dexterously propelled.

4. The intermediate dark spaces or lines are grooves, elevated on frames about three feet above the level of the platform, with a slight inclination towards the bowler's end. By means of these grooves the balls are returned to the bowlers, boys being placed for that purpose on raised seats beyond the pins.

5. The balls here laid on the marked line at the bowler's end of the platform shew whence they are delivered by the player after he has taken his run along five or six feet of the platform.

6. The balls lying in the grooves shew how they are delivered to the bowler. They are returned to him at every setting up of the pins.

At the further end of the platform is a recess of a few feet for the pins to fall in, and beyond this (to stop the balls) is a cushion covered with hide, which swings on hinges, and is reverberated by springs.

On one side of the room are sofas for the spectators, and at the bowling end seats for the bowlers; also refreshment tables

In the American Bowling Saloon, (393, Strand), whence by the civility of Mr. Thomas Robson, the proprietor, the present particulars have been collected, there are six platforms (running parallel to each other), and sometimes as many as forty or fifty players engaged on them at one time; especially of an evening, when the saloon is brilliantly lighted, and enlivened by music.

The chief art in playing at this somewhat athletic game seems to consist in hitting the apex or point-pin a half ball, (the larger the ball, the greater the chance of success,) but dexterity is only to be acquired by practice. Some players are so expert as to throw down the whole ten pins at one blow several times in succession, and as they are allowed three balls to each division, or setting up of the pins, those which are spared count in addition; thus if a player at starting should knock down all the ten pins at one blow, this would count ten, and would leave a double spare or two spare balls, with which if he threw down eight more, he would add that number to his score and count eighteen in the first division, and then go on to the second division with his next three balls. If by a run of luck or skill the player should knock all ten pins with single balls, six times in the course of his ten divisions, he would have twelve balls to spare and would therefore be entitled to add to his score whatever he could make with them. When the ten pins are thrown down with two balls, one ball is spared, and counted after the same manner. The highest number it is possible to make with the balls allotted to the ten divisions, is three hundred, i. e. ten for each of thirty balls. The mode of keeping count is on a chequered slate of ten times ten squares, numbered from one to ten down the left or front side, the initials of the different players being placed at the head of the columns. It is usual either for players to follow alternately in single divisions, or to play two, three, or five divisions, at a standing, as may be agreed.

The Americans have several varieties of this game, one of which is to play it with only three pins instead of ten, and as the three can scarcely be brought down at one blow, the interest is kept up by betting on the success of each particular aim.

The uninitiated had better not be too fierce in his first onslaught, especially if he play with heavy balls, as the exer

cise is likely to try the muscles of his arm rather severely, and may leave a reminiscence for some days afterwards.

The balls are usually of four different kinds, varying in size from four to eight inches in diameter, and from four or five to ten or eleven pounds weight.

RULES OF THE GAME, FROM THE PRINTED SET SUSPENDED IN THE AMERICAN BOWLING SALOON, 393, STRAND.

I. Each player to pay sixpence per game, and be allowed three balls for each of the ten divisions; but when spare balls are obtained, then to play on to the extent of them.

II. Any number of players (not exceeding ten) can play together; the lowest half-division paying the game of the highest.

III. Gambling strictly prohibited.

IV. In playing, all pins knocked down considered fair, whether obtained by a front or back (i. e. reverberated) ball. V. No gentleman allowed to stand on the platform in front of the alleys except the players.

VI. All ties to be decided by a single ball.

VII. The marked line on the alleys is the utmost limit allowed to players in advancing to deliver the ball.

VIII. Should any dispute arise between players, the Marker to be called as umpire, and his decision to be final. IX. The sofas behind the players to be reserved exclusively for their use.

X. Two players cannot retain any alley exclusively to themselves when other parties are waiting to play.

XI. Pitching the balls is not permitted, and any player doing so (after notice) forfeits his game from that point.

FINIS.