,,the ,,canadian ,,curler',s ,,manual2 ,,or ,,an ,,account ,,of ,,curling1 ,,as ,,practised ,,in ,,canada3 ,,with ,,remarks ,,on ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,game4 ,when winter muffles up his cloak1 ,and binds the mire like a rock1 ,,then to the loch the ,curlers flock ,wi' gleesome speed4 ,,burns4 ,,by ,,james ,,bicket1 ,,secretary ,,to ,,the ,,toronto ,,curling ,,club4 ,,toronto3 ,,published ,,at ,,the ,,office ,,of ,,the ,,british ,,colonist1 ,,for ,,the ,,toronto ,,curling ,,club2 ,,sold ,,also ,,by ,,henry ,,rowbell4 ,,hugh ,,scobie1 ,,printer4 #ahdj4 ,this reprint has been made possible through the kindness of ,mr4 ,thomas ,rennie1 who loaned the original for the purpose4 ,,contents4 ,,part ,i4 ,page ,description of ,curling #i ,stones #aj ,the ,rink #ab ,playing #ac ,sweeping #ad ,the ,game #ae ,toronto ,rules of ,curling #bj ,glossary1 or ,explanation of ,curling ,terms #bc ,,part ,,ii4 ,early ,history of ,curling #bi ,curling in ,scotland #ca ,curling in ,canada #cd ,constitution of the ,toronto ,club #ch ,,to ,,the ,,president1 ,,vice-,,presidents1 ,,managers1 ,,and ,,members ,,of ,,the ,,toronto ,,curling ,,club1 ,,this ,,manual ,,is ,,most ,,respectfully ,,inscribed1 ,,by ,,their ,,devoted ,,humble ,,servant1 ,,the ,,author4 ,,preface ,this little pamphlet has been produced at the request of the ,,toronto ,,curling ,,club4 ,the original object in its publication was simply to furnish the ,members with a copy of the ,constitution of the ,club1 and of the laws which they observe in playing4 ,the design is now extended1 so as to embrace a general description of ,curling1 with a brief history of the ,game2 and by thus making it to be understood1 by those who have never seen it played1 or who may have been only occasional spectators1 to induce a more general participation in this most healthful and exhilarating amusement4 ,it is gratifying to observe the success of the efforts which have been made in this country1 during the last few years1 to promote and encourage the ,game4 ,it is now becoming1 and must become1 a favorite in ,canada4 ,it is admirably adapted to this climate1 where the winter is generally cold enough to ensure good ice1 and seldom so severe as to render the exercise unpleasant4 ,being played in the open air1 during a season when few out-of-door recreations can be enjoyed1 it is well calculated to counteract the enfeebling influence of confinement to our close and heated winter houses4 ,many objections which may be brought against other sports1 are not applicable to this4 ,it calls up none of the low and degrading passions of our nature4 ,notwithstanding the intense interest which ,curlers may feel in a well contested match1 no betting ever takes place among them2 the excitement arising from gambling1 therefore1 is altogether removed from the rink4 ,intoxication on the ice is also unknown among good players4 ,the nice equilibrium of body and the firmness of nerve1 essential to scientific ,curling1 would disappear on the first symptom of such a state4 ,but the ,game is sufficiently interesting without any extraneous stimulant4 ,while it imparts vigour to every limb1 and every muscle1 it engages the attention and awakens the judgment2 and thus brings into healthful excitement those powers of the body and of the mind1 the due exercise of which the ,creator has allied with pleasure4 ,in the observations which will be found on the early history of ,curling1 a liberal use has been made of a small but valuable work on the subject1 published anonymously1 in ,kilmarnock1 in #ahbh4 ,to the same authority the writer is indebted for the derivation of several of the words to be found in the ,glossary1 and it is only doing the ,compilers of the work referred to1 an act of justice1 which they can have no wish should be omitted1 to state1 that they have availed of ,doctor ,jamieson's ,dictionary1 ,brewster's ,encyclopedia1 and an ,account of ,curling1 by a ,member of the ,duddingstone ,society4 ,these1 unfortunately1 are not at present accessible to the writer4 ,during the present year1 he ordered from ,edinburgh such publications on the ,game1 as could be found2 but was disappointed on learning1 that several excellent ,treatises which he expected to receive1 are now out of print--the only works which his ,correspondent could procure1 being the ,annual of the ,grand ,caledonian ,curling ,club and the ,rules of ,curling1 by ,pretostes4 ,the writer has affixed his name to this work--conceiving that from his official connection with the ,toronto ,curling ,club1 since its establishment1 this may lend some weight to the opinions1 and some authority to the statements therein contained4 ,,toronto1 #cjth ,,november1 #ahdj4 ,,part ,i4 ,,curling4--,is a ,game played upon the ice1 by sliding stones1 made for the purpose1 from one point to another4 ,in some respects it resembles ,bowling1 but with these differences1 that the stones are slidden upon the ice1 not rolled--neither are they made like ,bowls1 to curve on their passage2 the points1 also1 to which the stones are played are stationary1 whereas in ,bowling the ,jack is moveable2 and in ,curling1 the ice in the path of the stone may be polished by sweeping--and thus the players may compensate for the want of force with which a stone may have been thrown4 ,pennant1 in his ,tour through ,scotland gives the following rough description of the ,game3--,of all the sports in those parts1 that of ,curling is the favorite4 ,it is an amusement of the winter1 and played upon the ice1 by sliding from one mark to another1 great stones of #dj to #gj lbs4 weight1 of a hemispherical form1 with a wooden or iron handle at top4 ,the object of the player is to lay his stone as near the mark as possible1 to guard that of his partner which has been well laid before1 or to strike off that of his antagonist4 ,such is a brief outline of that ,game1 a fuller description of which is attempted in the following pages4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,stones4--,these are made of granite1 or of any other stone which is hard1 free from sand1 and not liable to break4 ,they are cut into a spherical form1 flattened at top and bottom1 and the angles rounded off and polished1 particularly that at the sole4 ,the handle is inserted in the top4 ,though they must all be made circular1 the proportion of the diameter to the thickness varies in different districts2 some being made more and some less than twice as wide as they are thick4 ,the ,grand ,caledonian ,curling ,club has lately suggested the following scale--the first attempt that has been made to regulate the proportions of ,curling ,stones--and which for the sake of uniformity1 it is hoped1 will be adopted1 viz3-- ,when the weight is under #ce lbs4 imp41 the height not to be more than #d-a_/d inches4 #ch lbs4 #d-a_/b inches4 #da lbs4 #d-c_/d inches4 #dd lbs4 #e inches4 #dg lbs4 #e-a_/d inches4 #ej lbs4 #e-a_/b inches4 ,whatever be the diameter or weight1 the height ought never to exceed #f-a_/h inches1 nor be less than #d-a_/d inches--,none ought to be allowed in a set game of greater diameter than #ab inches1 nor of a greater weight than #ej lbs4 imperial4 ,stones are sometimes so finished as to slide on either of the flattened surfaces1 one of which in such cases1 is made slightly concave1 and on this side the stone is played when the ice is hard and keen2 the other1 a little convex1 being used when the ice is soft and dull4 ,in some parts of ,canada1 where suitable stone cannot readily be procured1 iron or wood has been substituted4 ,at ,quebec and ,montreal1 castings of iron1 in the shape of ,curling ,stones1 are played with--the intensity of the cold there1 rendering the stones liable to break on striking against one another4 ,iron is used also by the ,curlers of ,dundas1 in the ,gore ,district2 and at ,guelph1 where the ,game has some ardent admirers1 they play with blocks of hard wood4 ,at ,toronto1 and the ,curling localities in the neighborhood1 stones only have been used2 part having been imported from ,scotland1 and others having been made by the stone-cutter to the ,club1 from blocks of excellent quality picked up by him on the land in the vicinity4 ,several of the stones imported to ,toronto have been made from ,ailsa ,craig1 which1 it appears1 has long been known as an excellent material for the purpose2 one of those now referred to having been played with by the father of the present owner1 at least sixty years ago4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,rink4--,the ice on which the game is played is called the ,rink4 ,this should be a sheet of fifty yards in length and four yards in width2 perfectly free from every inequality4 ,at the distance of four yards from each end of the rink1 and in the middle crosswise1 a circular hole is made1 about an inch in diameter and the same in depth1 called the tee4 ,round the tee two or more circular lines are drawn1 the largest having a diameter of about five feet1 the others smaller and at intermediate distances4 ,the space within the largest circle is called the brough4 ,the use of the circular lines is to shew1 while the game is being played1 the comparative nearness of the stones to the tee2 actual measurement not being allowed until all the stones have been played to one end of the rink4 ,a line is also drawn across the tee1 at right angles with the rink lengthwise1 and extending to the outermost circle1 the use of which will be shewn in the remarks relating to sweeping4 ,at the distance of seven yards from each of the tees a line is drawn across the rink1 called the hog-score1 and stones which on being played do not pass this score are called hogs and lose for that time the chance of counting1 being distanced or thrown off the rink4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,playing4--,when the player is about to throw his stones1 he places himself at one end of the rink1 rests his right foot in a notch1 or hack made in the ice1#a and in such a relation to the tee that when he delivers his stone it must pass over it4 ,he is directed by one of the players of his own party1 styled the skip who stands at or near the tee to which the stone is to be played1 and who usually makes use of his broom to indicate the point to which1 or the line along which1 he wishes the stone to be played4 ,should the stone be delivered with the proper degree of strength1 and in the direction pointed out to the player by the skip1 it will either rest at the spot required1 or receiving1 as the skip intended1 a new direction by coming in contact with some other stone1 will effect the desired purpose4 ,the player on delivering his stone raises it off the ice1 and swinging it once behind him to acquire a proper impetus1 and to make surer of his aim1 keeping his eye1 at the same time1 steadily fixed on the broom of the skip1 or on any stone1 or other object towards or against which he may be desired to play1 throws it in that direction4 ,the stone reaching the ice on its sole about two feet in front of the player--his body naturally following the same direction until the stone be fairly delivered4 #a3 ,other contrivances than the hack are used in some places to prevent the foot of the player from slipping4 ,sometimes a thin board is laid on the ice1 on which he places both his feet4 ,at ,toronto1 the hack is considered the best1 and although the ,club has crampits for the benefit of those accustomed to them1 they are required only by strangers or novices1 experience demonstrating their uselessness4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sweeping4--,for the purpose of ,sweeping1 every player is furnished with a broom1 by means of which the ice may sometimes be so polished that a stone may reach the tee1 which1 without sweeping1 could not have passed the hog score4 ,when a stone1 therefore1 in its progress up the rink appears to the skip to have been thrown with insufficient force1 he directs his party to sweep the ice in its path4 ,the party opposed to that whose stone is coming up is not allowed to sweep in front of the line drawn across the brough1 but may sweep behind it1 so as to let the stone1 if it should pass the tee1 go far enough beyond it1 to lose the chance of counting4 ,the brooms used in ,scotland are usually made of broom1 sometimes of birch twigs1 and occasionally of heather1 as one or other may be found most convenient to the place of playing4 ,in ,canada1 corn brooms which have been used for domestic purposes a sufficient length of time to be stripped of the knotty parts which might break off and obstruct the progress of the stone1 have been found to be the best4 ,some ,curlers in ,scarboro'1 near ,toronto1 who have immigrated from ,lanarkshire1 have imported stocks of the genuine ,scotch broom1 which1 under their cultivation1 thrives so well as to promise to supersede the use of every other material4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,game4--,the usual mode of playing the game is with #af stones on a rink4 ,this number is sufficient to impart interest to the playing1 and more would towards the end of the head1 crowd the ice4 ,sometimes these are played by four players on each side1 playing two stones each1 which mode may be preferable when a few only are exercising for practice2 but in such case the sweeping1 which--unless the ice be very keen--is essential to success1 can never be properly attended to1 as the skip and player being sufficiently occupied in their own departments1 only two brooms can be effectively employed at the same time4 ,the most interesting game1 therefore1 is where there are sixteen players on a rink1 with one stone each1 eight players on each side2 and a game so played is now to be described4 ,the parties determine by lot which is to have the ice or in other words1 which is to play the first stone4 ,it is doubtful whether it be an advantage to win the ice1 as the party who loses this plays the last stone--the most important in determining the result of the head4 ,the side who wins the end plays the first stone on the end following4 ,the skip of the party who is to play first1 stationing himself on that tee towards which the stones are to be thrown1 directs the player who is to lead or play the first stone1 on his side4 ,when this stone is played the skip of the opposite party takes the same post1 pointing out to his first player how he wishes his stone to be played4 ,each side plays one stone alternately1 and the object of each successive player is to draw nearer the tee than any of his opponents1 to strike out their winning shots1 or to guard the winners of his own party4 ,the earlier stages of the end therefore appear simple enough2 but after the first eight or ten stones have been played1 especially when they have been played well1 the game becomes more intricate and more interesting4 ,one party may have a stone covering the tee1 apparently guarded on every side1 and impregnable to attack1 the stones of their opponents having only strengthened its position2 yet some stone which1 either from a ruse on the part of the director1 or from being badly played1 has rested near the edge of the rink and seems to be lost for that end1 may furnish a point to which another stone may be slidden1 and receiving thence a new direction may reach the winner1 and removing it from the tee1 become itself the winning stone4 ,the director generally plays the last stone on his own side4 ,the seventh player is usually appointed to that position in the order of the game on account of his being a correct and powerful player1 so that he may1 when necessary1 open up a path for the stone of the hind hand4 ,when the stones are all played to one end of the rink1 the game is counted1 and every stone which either party has nearer the tee than any stone of their opponents1 counts one shot or point2 and such portion of the game is styled an end or head4 ,the number of shots in a game is variable1 depending on agreement4 ,the ,toronto ,club usually play for #ca1 in a regular game2 and in their matches among themselves1 or with the ,scarboro' ,curlers1 when more than one rink has been engaged1 the practice has been1 either to play to an hour specified1 or to stop before that hour should the aggregate shots of either party on all the rinks collectively amount to thirty-one for each rink4 ,in ,scotland1 where the continuance of the curling season is very precarious1 all who have it in their power1 play the whole of every day while the ice will permit1 and1 consequently1 the number of shots played for is more uniform4 ,at ,toronto1 where ,curling may be practised almost daily1 fully three months in the year1 the rink is resorted to for one or two hours' recreation1 and seven1 thirteen1 or twenty-one shots are frequently fixed on as the game1 according to the time intended to be devoted to the exercise4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,laws ,,of ,,the ,,game4--,in every district of ,scotland1 and in almost every club1 some differences are to be found in the mode of conducting the game4 ,little difficulty1 however1 is there experienced from the want of written laws1 the lex non scripta of every parish or county being perfectly understood where it is in force4 ,still in ,edinburgh and a few other places where ,curlers from distant ,clubs are likely to meet1 it has been found necessary to have their laws reduced to writing so that from whatever part of the country the player might come1 he could not be ignorant of the rules by which his playing was to be governed4 ,at ,toronto1 the want of a written code of laws1 was for a number of years1 felt to be inconvenient--few of the original ,curlers having been accustomed to play exactly according to the same system4 ,it was1 therefore1 one of the first objects of the ,toronto ,curling ,club1 after its formation1 to draw up a set of ,rules1 founded on the prevailing practice in ,scotland4 ,the following1 therefore1 were agreed to--and although not applicable to every case that may be conceived1 they have been found sufficient to decide1 satisfactorily1 every difficulty that has occurred during the experience of four years2 and have been cheerfully agreed to by the ,scarboro' ,curlers1 in their matches with those of ,toronto4 #ast4--,the ,rink to be forty-two yards from tee to tee1#b unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties4 ,when a game is begun the rink cannot be changed or altered unless by the consent of a majority of players1 and it can be shortened only when it is apparent that a majority cannot play the length4 #bnd4--,the hog score must be distant from the tee one-sixth part of the length of the rink4 ,every stone to be deemed a hog1 the sole of which1 when at rest1 does not completely clear the score4 #crd4--,every player to foot so that in delivering his stone1 it shall pass over the tee4 #dth4--,the order of playing adopted at the beginning must not be changed during a game4 #eth4--,curling-stones must be of a circular shape4 ,no stone to be changed during a game1#c unless it happen to be broken2 and the largest fragment of such stone to count1 without any necessity of playing with it more4 ,if a stone roll or be upset1 it must be placed upon its sole where it stops4 ,should the handle quit a stone in the delivery1 the player must keep hold of it1 otherwise he will not be entitled to replay the shot4 #fth4--,the player may sweep his own stone the whole length of the rink2 his party not to sweep until it has passed the first hog score1 and his adversaries not to sweep until it has passed the tee--the sweeping to be always to a side4 #gth4--,none of the players1 on any account1 to cross or go upon the middle of the rink4 #hth4--,if1 in sweeping or otherwise1 a running stone is marred by any of the party to which it belongs1 it must be put off the rink2 if by any of the adverse party1 it must be placed agreeably to the direction which was given to the player2 and if it be marred by any other means1 the player may take his shot again4 ,should a stone at rest be accidentally displaced1 it must be put as near as possible in its former situation4 #ith4--,every player must be ready when his turn comes1#d and must take only a reasonable time to play his shot--should he1 by mistake1 play with a wrong stone1 it must be replaced where it stops1 by the one which he ought to have played4 #ajth4--,a doubtful shot must be measured by a neutral person1 whose determination shall be final4 #aath4--,the skips alone shall direct the game4 ,the players of the respective skips may offer them their advice1 but cannot control their directions2 nor is any person1 except the skip1 to address him who is about to play4 ,each skip may appoint one of his party to take charge for him1 when he is about to play4 ,every player to follow the direction given to him4 #abth4--,should any question arise1 the determination of which may not be provided for by the words and spirit of the preceding ,rules1 each party to choose one of their number1 in order to determine it4 ,if the two so chosen differ in opinion1 they are to name an umpire1 whose decision shall be final4 #b3 ,the ,grand ,caledonian ,curling ,club recommend that rinks have double tees at each end1 the one at least two yards behind the other2 the whole four to be nearly as possible on the same line4 ,the stones are to be delivered from the outer tee and played towards the inner2 this saves the ice from being injured around the tee played up to4 #c3 ,with regard to double-soled stones1 the ,grand ,caledonian ,curling ,club has a law that the side commenced with shall not1 under forfeiture of the match1 be changed during the progress of the game4 #d3 ,an excellent method of obviating the confusion which is sometimes experienced in the early ends of a game1 by players being doubtful of their places is1 that before commencing1 the players on each side of a rink should fall in in the order in which it is intended they shall play1 and number off from right to left4 ,the player who makes a mistake after this has been done is fit neither for a ,curler nor a ,soldier4 ,this method has been practised at ,toronto since the winter of #ahcg-ch--when military terms and ideas were infused into every department of life4 ,when a few players are curling for practice1 or recreation1 some of the above laws may not be rigidly enforced2 but any relaxation should always be noticed1 so that there may be no difficulty in strictly adhering to them when playing a ,bonspiel1 or set game4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the preceding account has been1 as far as practicable1 divested of technical terms1 in order that it might be the more intelligible to the uninitiated4 ,many of the words and phrases1 however1 used in ,curling are peculiar to the game--throwing light on its origin and history1--and it would now be as difficult for ,curlers to abolish the language of the rink1 as it would be for the gentlemen of certain learned professions1 to substitute the ,queen's ,english for their most unclassical ,latin4 ,an explanation of the following terms1 which are in constant use1 is therefore indispensable in a work of this nature2 ,angled ,guard--,a stone which obliquely covers or guards one stone or more4 ,bias--,an inclination in the ice1 tending to lead a stone off the direction given to it by the player4 ,block the ice--,see fill the ice4 ,boardhead--,see brough4 ,bonspel1 bonspiel1 bonspeel--7,french1 bon1 good1 and ,belgic1 spell1 a play--a good game2 or ,suio-,gothic1 bonne1 a husbandman2 or ,belgic1 bonne1 a village or district2 because one district challenges another to play at this game47 ,a match at ,curling between two opposite parties4 ,break an egg on--,to strike one stone very gently with another4 ,brough--7,alemanic1 bruchus1 a camp1 often circular74 ,the space within the largest circle drawn round the tee4 ,channel-stane--,a ,curling stone is so named in the southern counties of ,scotland1 probably from stones found in streams having been first used for curling4 ,chuckle to--,to make two or more inwicks up a port to a given stone4 ,creep--7,come creeping up the rink7 the stones are said to creep when they are thrown with little force4 ,curling--7,german1 kurzweillin1 to play for amusement2 or ,teutonic1 krullen1 krollen1 ,,sinuare1 to bend1--as the great art of the game is to make the stones bend1 twist 7quod vide71 ,,curl1 towards the mark1 when they cannot reach it in a straight line47 ,sliding stones along the ice towards a mark4 ,dead guard--,a stone which completely covers another1 concealing it from the view of the next player1 is a dead guard upon that other4 ,deliver--,to throw the stone4 ,director--,the same as skip or skipper4 ,draw a shot--to play to a spot pointed out by the director1 having no other stone to strike or rest upon4 ,dour1 drug1 dull--,the state of the ice when the stone cannot easily be thrown the length of the rink4 ,end--,that portion of the game in which the stones are all played to one end of the rink4 ,guard--,to lay a stone in a line before another2 or the stone so laid4 ,hack1 or hatch--7,icelandic1 hiaka1 or ,suio-,gothic1 hacka1 a chop1 cut1 or crack71 a cut in the ice1 in which the player places his foot to prevent it from slipping as he delivers his stone4 ,head--,see ,end4 ,hindhand--,he who plays the last stone on his side4 ,hog ,score--,the line drawn across the rink1 about seven yards from the tee2 stones which do not pass this are thrown aside4 ,how ice--,the ice in the middle of the rink1 hollowed by the friction of the stones2 also called white ice4 ,inring1 inwick--,see ,wicking4 ,keen--,the opposite of dour4 ,leader--,he who plays first in order in his party4 ,lie in the bosom of--,to play a stone so as gently to touch and lie before another4 ,outwick--,see ,wicking4 ,pat lid--,a ,curling stone lying on the tee4 ,port--,an opening between two stones1 wide enough to admit another to be played through4 ,rack--,a word used in some districts instead of rink4 ,redd the ice--7,icelandic1 rada ,,ordinare1 to put in order2 also1 to warn1 to advise17 to clear the ice1 or to break the guards with a stone strongly played1 so as to expose the tee or the winner2 to ride successfully4 ,rest--,to draw to any object or point so as not to pass it4 ,ride--,to throw a stone with great force towards one or more other stones1 in order to remove them from their position4 ,rink--,the ice on which the game is played4 ,shot--,a stone played2 in another sense1 a stone which counts4 ,skip1 or skipper--7,probably from ,suio-,gothic1 skeppare1 a master71 a director4 ,tee--7,icelandic1 tia1 to point out the place2 or1 ,teutonic1 tygh-en1 to point to71 the winning point to which the stones are played4 ,twist--,to give to a stone1 on its being delivered1 a rotary motion1 so that it revolves on its sole as it slides along the rink1 and bends from the straight line1 when the force with which it has been thrown is nearly exhausted4 ,wicking1 wick1 inwick--7,suio-,gothic1 wick1 a corner2 or ,teutonic1 wyck1 a turning71 to make a stone take an oblique direction by striking another on the side4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,history ,,of ,,curling ,the early history of ,curling is involved in such obscurity1 that the time even of the antiquarians might be better employed in eating ,beef and ,greens1 or in playing the ,game1 than in endeavoring to discover its origin4 ,some of these gentlemen have1 from the definition given of a certain word in an old dictionary1 come to the conclusion that ,curling was originally the game of quoits played upon the ice4 ,kilian1 in his ,etymologica ,teutonicae ,linguoe1 renders the ,teutonic words kluyten1 kalluyten1 ludere massis1 sive globis glaciatis2 certare discis in aequore glaciato4 ,the term kluyte1 or klyte1 is still used in some parts of ,scotland1 where it always signifies to fall flat or to fall so that the broadest part of the falling body first comes in contact with the ground2 but it never has any reference to moving on a plane surface4 ,the words ludere and certare throw no light on the manner in which the globus or discus was used4 ,but until it can be shown that they were moved upon the ice--not pitched through the air--it is difficult to perceive the relation between kluyten and curling4 ,as soon as the stones were played by being slidden--if the antiquarians could only determine the period of that event--a new game was introduced1 affording opportunities equal to those of the quoit for muscular exercise1 and a much wider field for the exercise of the judgment4 ,the earliest notice of ,curling which has been discovered is in ,cambden's ,britannia1 published in #afjg4 ,in it1 ,coppinsha1 one of the ,orkney islands1 is mentioned as famous for excellent stones for the game called ,curling4 ,this shows that it was then in considerable repute4 ,in the ,life of ,william ,guthrie1 who in the year #afdd was ordained minister of ,fenwick1 in ,ayrshire1 it is stated that he was fond of the innocent recreations which then prevailed1 among which was ,curling4 ,in #afhd1 the game is taken notice of in ,fountainhall's ,decisions4 ,pennycuik1 also in the seventeenth century1 declares that ,to curl on the ice doth greatly please1 ,being a manly ,scottish exercise4 ,and he celebrates the game as calculated ,to clear the brain1 stir up the native heart1 ,and give a gallant appetite for meat4 ,ramsay has alluded to ,curling4 ,burns1 in ,tam ,samson's ,elegy shows1 in few words that he himself understood the game4 ,grahame1 the author of the ,sabbath has illumined the rink with the lustre of his own genius2 and ,curling forms the subject of a beautiful part of ,fisher's ,winter ,season4 ,though the game has never been universal in ,scotland1 it has long been practised in almost every county south of the ,forth and the ,clyde4 ,the shires of ,ayr1 ,renfrew1 ,lanark and ,dumfries are remarkable for their attachment to ,curling4 ,it is played in ,perthshire1 the ,countess of ,mansfield1 being now patroness of the ,scone and ,perth ,club2 but we are not aware of its having been1 until lately1 practised farther north4 ,in ,aberdeen--that city of northern lights--it is unknown4 ,the ,editor of the ,aberdeen ,herald1 who is a native of a ,curling district1 laments in his paper of #acth ,january1 #ahch--that all was then bound up in the icy stillness of the season1 and that in a place abounding with the material for making admirable curling stones1 and with arms strong enough to wield them1 ,no friendly combatants contested the field4 ,the game was played near ,inverness1 in #ahch1 when ,loch-na-,sanais 7or the whispering lake71 with the picturesque hills of ,tomnahurich and ,torvain1 echoed1 for the first time1 to the booming of the stones over the ice4 ,curling has long been held in high estimation in ,edinburgh4 ,about the beginning of last century the magistrates marched in a body to the ,north ,loch1 to spend the day in ,curling4 ,in going and returning they were preceded by a band of music1 playing appropriate airs4 ,it was the custom in ,paisley1 not many years ago1 to send round the town drummer1 after two or three nights' hard frost1 to proclaim to the inhabitants where the ,curlers should meet in the morning2 and in the morning1 should the frost continue1 hundreds might be seen--manufacturers1 bailies1 weavers1 and clergymen1--resorting promiscuously to the rendezvous2 for on the ice all are on a level--all ordinary distinctions in society are1 for the time1 forgotten in the love of the game1 and the noble and the learned are there willing to be directed by the most skilful player1 though this should happen to be the humblest of their neighbors4 ,in some of the agricultural districts of ,scotland1 the extent of ,curling ,clubs is regulated by the legal divisions of the country1 being again sub-divided among themselves into rinks1 who always play together under their respective skips2--the organization resembling in many respects that of the ,militia of ,canada--and on the occasion of a contest with another club1 every man who1 if in this country should be liable to serve as a soldier1 turns out willingly for the honour of his corps4 ,there1 however1 age procures no exemption from service4 ,in the words of ,grahame1 ,when rival parishes and shrievedoms keep1 ,on upland loch1 the long expected tryst1 ,to play their yearly bonspiel1 ,,aged ,,men1 ,smit with the eagerness of youth1 ,,are ,,there1 ,while love of conquest lights their beamless eyes1 ,new nerves their arms and makes them young once more4 ,on #bjth ,january1 #ahch1 the parish of ,lesmahagow1 in ,lanarkshire1 met the neighboring club of ,avondale1 on a sheet of ice1 near ,strathaven4 ,each club consisted of twenty-one rinks of eight players1 making the number of players on each side one hundred and sixty-eight1 so that three hundred and thirty-six ,curlers were engaged in the match4 ,such a bonspiel as this may not take place every season1 but this instance1 which is referred to1 as being of recent occurrence1 is sufficient to shew the interest which in such districts is taken in the game1 and1 also1 the excellence of the organization which could bring so many players together on a notice so short as that which can be given1 where the continuance of hard frost cannot be depended on4 ,it is now about twenty years since ,curling was introduced to ,canada1 and since that time the game has been regularly played at ,quebec and ,montreal4 ,the ,clubs of those ,cities1 in imitation of their friends on the other side of the ,atlantic1 have occasional contests with each other4 ,the match which they last had1 came off in ,march of the present year1 and was played at both places on the same day--one-half of the players from each ,city having proceeded to the other--so that the result of the joint game could not be known at either place1 until the parties had time to communicate4 ,a few years ago1 the ,bonspiel took place at ,three ,rivers4 ,the distance which1 in those cases1 the players had to travel1 sufficiently shows how warmly they are devoted to the game4 ,during the last winter1 the officers stationed at some of the posts to the south of ,montreal1 relieved the monotony of military duty1 by engaging in ,curling4 ,the game has been practised at ,perth1 in the ,bathurst ,district1 although now fallen into disuse there4 ,at ,niagara1 a rink was formed four years ago1 one gentleman having imported a sufficient number of stones for their use1 and great interest is now taken in the sport4 ,at ,newmarket1 about #cj miles to the north of ,toronto1 there is a ,curling ,club1 the minister1 like many of his brethren at home1 being an active promoter of the game1 and an exact and skilful player4 ,curling is now also a favorite amusement at ,dundas at the head of ,lake ,ontario2 at ,guelph1 in the new ,district of ,wellington2 and at ,fergus1 in the township of ,nicholl4 ,there are also1 many first-rate players in ,scarboro' who are always ready to measure their strength1 in numbers and skill1 with those of ,toronto1 and both enjoy the certaminis gaudia in their annual bonspiel4 ,they played at ,toronto1 on #abth ,february last1 with twenty-four players aside1 when their ,excellencies the ,governor ,general and the ,lieutenant ,governor were spectators of the game4 ,the ,fergus ,club has been mentioned above1 but is worthy of more particular notice1 being perhaps1 the first which was regularly organized in ,upper ,canada4 ,the settlement of that neighborhood was begun in #ahcd1 and the gloom of the first winter was dispelled by the introduction of the game4 ,in the course of the winter following1 the ,honourable ,adam ,fergusson1 who is the principal proprietor and the enlightened founder of the settlement1 succeeded in forming the players into a club1 of which he was the first ,president1 and which now numbers upwards of thirty members4 ,they play with blocks of hard wood1 turned to the proper shape1 which they have found to answer the purpose1 except when the ice is dull4 ,the experiment has been made of loading the blocks with lead1 in order that the size and weight may bear about the same proportion to each other as in ,curling stones1 and this they consider a decided improvement4 ,the example of the ,curlers of ,fergus1 in constituting a club1 ought to be followed in every neighborhood where there are players sufficient for one rink4 ,the permanency of the game and opportunities of playing may thus be secured in places where1 without such arrangement1 the greatest difficulty might be experienced in bringing the players together4 ,although the game has been played at ,toronto1 every winter1 since #ahbi1 it was never enjoyed to the same extent as it has been since the formation of the ,club in #ahcf4 ,by the judicious arrangement of the managers1 in appointing the hours of playing1 and in having the ice ready before the ,curlers meet1 the time which was formerly wasted in preparations that may be performed by laborers1 is now spent in the game2 and thus the recreation can be shared by many1 who should otherwise1 by the nature of their occupations1 be excluded from the rink4 ,wherever1 on this continent1 ,curling has been introduced and not continued1 its decline is attributable to the want of that system which the proper organization of a club would ensure4 ,wherever ,curlers have been united1 in the way now recommended1 they have been enabled to attract constant accessions to their numbers1 and1 by spreading throughout their respective neighborhoods a love of the game1 to establish its permanency beyond the chance of decay4 ,mr4 ,john ,graham1 of ,new ,york1 the best authority in the ,united ,states1 in every matter connected with ,scottish nationality1 as existing there1--and who permits his name to be used on this occasion1--stated during his recent visit to ,toronto1 that the game was sometimes played at ,new ,york1 but there being no ,club1 a special arrangement was always necessary before any meeting on the ice could take place4 ,if the ,new ,york curlers were to unite1 there can be no doubt that the game would go a-head there1 and that in a few winters hence1 we should hear of their having a bonspiel with their friends in ,canada1 either at ,montreal or ,toronto4 ,a few plain rules are sufficient for the government of a ,curling ,club4 ,the following ,constitution1 which was agreed upon by the ,toronto ,curlers1 has been found to answer every purpose for which it was intended4 ,a few additional regulations have since been made1 but these are only of a local or temporary nature4 ,,constitution ,,of ,,the ,,toronto ,,curling ,,club ,,article #ast4--,the ,office-bearers of the ,club shall consist of a ,president1 two ,vice-,presidents1 four ,managers1 and a ,secretary and ,treasurer1 who1 after the first election1 shall be elected at the ,annual ,meeting in ,december1 to be called as provided in ,article #eth4 ,,article #bnd4--,any person wishing to become a ,member1 may be proposed at any regular ,meeting of the ,club1 and if the proposal be seconded1 the election shall proceed1 when the votes of a majority of three-fourths of the ,members present1 and the payment of the ,entrance ,fee and of one year's subscription1 as provided in ,article #crd1 shall be required for the admission of the applicant4 ,,article #crd4--,in order to provide a ,fund to meet necessary expenses1 ,members shall pay on admission the sum of ---- as entrance fee1 and also the sum of ---- as their first year's subscription2 and shall afterwards pay such annual subscription as may be determined by the ,club at the ,annual ,meeting4 ,,article #dth4--,the ,committee shall draw up the ,rules of the ,game according to the prevailing practice in ,scotland2 which ,rules1 when entered on the ,books of the ,club and read at a regular ,meeting1 shall regulate the playing1 and shall be decisive in all disputes among the ,members2 and may also1 in case of playing with other ,clubs1 regulate the match1 unless objected to by such other ,club4 ,,article #eth4--,the ,annual ,meeting1 when ,office-bearers shall be elected1 shall be held on the first ,tuesday of ,december2 and regular ,meetings shall also be held on the first ,tuesday in ,january1 ,february and ,march in every year1 at such place as the ,president may appoint2 to be properly intimated to the ,members2 and occasional ,meetings of the ,club may also be called by the ,president1 whenever he may consider it expedient4 ,,article #fth4--,members shall pay their annual subscription to the ,treasurer within one month after the amount of the same shall be determined2 and on failing to do so1 they shall be considered as having withdrawn from the ,club4 ,,article #gth4--,the ,rules of the ,club may be altered or new rules added1 with the consent of three-fourths of the ,members present at any regular ,meeting2 such alterations or additions having been proposed at the regular ,meeting preceding4