The universal character of the game is evidenced in the growing taste for it shown by the artisan class, and in its hold upon and suitability for persons of all ages and grades of society. The Universal Magazine for November 1774 tell us that "the citizens of Edinburgh divert themselves at a game called Golf, in which they use a curious kind of bats tipped with horn, and small elastic balls, stuffed with feathers, rather less than tennis balls, but of a much harder consistence. This they strike with such force and dex-terity from one hole to another that they will fly to an incredible distance. Of this diversion, says Dr Smollet, the Scots are so fond that, when the weather will permit, you may see a number of all ranks, from the Senator of Justice to the lowest tradesman, mingled together in their shirts, and following the balls with the utmost eagerness. Among others, I was shown one particular set of golfers, the youngest of whom was turned of fourscore. They were all gentlemen of independent fortunes, who had amused themselves with this pastime for the best part of a century, without having ever felt the least alarm from sickness or disgust. Such uninterrupted exercise, co-operating with the keen air from the sea, must, without all doubt, keep the appetite always on the edge, and steel the constitution against all the common attacks of a distemper."

With respect to octogenarian matches, history repeated itself as recently as 1906, when a foursome of that description took place at Westward Ho!; while a similar match was played about the same time at Musselburgh, the combined ages of the players being three hundred and forty years! As the Right Hon. Arthur J. Balfour well says in his contribution to Badminton Golf: "Golf is out of relation with no one of the seven ages of man. Round the links may be seen in endless procession not only players of every degree of skill and of every social condition, but also of every degree of maturity and immaturity. There is no reason why golf should not be begun as soon as you can walk, and as long as you can walk age and dexterity are so frequently bestowed in inverse proportion. Who, having once begun, has been found to turn back? It might indeed be supposed that if, before beginning, all that had to be gone through were fully realised, our greens would be emptier than they are. But a splendid confidence, born of impenetrable ignorance, veils the future from the eyes of the beginner." The American poet, Wilks, might well have been thinking of golf when he wrote:

"For it stirs the blood in an old man's heart And makes his pulses fly."

Indications seem to point to a great ex-pansion of the game in the near future. The Scots have had advantages both of history and opportunities that have been denied to their brothers in the south and in the sister isle of Erin. The drawback to popularising the game in England has been the prevailing notion that golf is an expensive game, and that it is a luxury only to be indulged in by people of leisure and wealth. But it only needs a slight acquaintance with links laid out on common land to realise that the boys and young men engaged in farm labour during the day display a remarkable aptitude and liking for the game, which they indulge in with practically no expense to themselves. Rejected clubs of the players for whom they act as caddies are welcome reinforcements to the home-made article, and balls which evince a strong determination to remain in their hiding-place in whins and long grass emerge readily in the early dawn of the next day with the help of a keen-nosed dog. Those who have read Harry Vardon's book, The Complete Golfer, will recall his delightful account of his own and his companions' heroic efforts to surmount the difficulties attending their golfing equipment, and cannot fail to be impressed with their enthusiasm, and also their pleasure, when they became the lucky possessors of a real club and ball. Is there not then a great future for what we may call "artisan" golf? In Scotland one may see numbers of bona fide working-men playing their round at a trifling cost to themselves, and here and there in England, notably at Nottingham, a flourishing club exists. Bournemouth has made an encouraging start with its municipal links, but scattered all over the country are many fair-sized pieces of common land, provided with turf of the best quality, which might well be utilised for laying out modified courses for the use of the villagers. The schoolmaster is usually the leading light in rural pastimes, and to him is given the opportunity of shaping and encouraging youthful proclivities. Difficulties in the way of preparation and upkeep would soon disappear when once local interest had been engaged. The objection as to the provision of the necessary apparatus is not to be lightly disposed of; but the way out ought not to be at all difficult, and a suggestion is here offered which it is hoped may not be impracticable. How many hundreds, and even thousands, of rejected golf-clubs lie perdu in lockers and odd corners of golfers' houses? Could not these, in some way, be collected and distributed to properly-constituted village clubs? It is only the first step that is difficult; the training that is given in carpentry to many of the youths in country districts, backed up by enthusiasm and the co-operative spirit, will do the rest. What is being done with cricket can be done with golf. Another possible objection is the want of time; here again the cricket argu-ment is a good answer. The growing ten-dency to open-air recreation needs encourage-ment, and the ultimate national benefit to physique and morals will well repay the trifling outlay of trouble and expense.

With the large augmentation in the number of golf-clubs there has been an almost corresponding increase in the ranks of the professional golfer. There is exhibited from time to time a lively competition between the richer clubs to retain the services of the best professional players, and this fact has, no doubt, helped to stimulate a standard of play of the highest quality. The golf professional scarcely stands in the same relation as his brothers of the cricket pitch and the football enclosure. These are mere exponents, and are engaged to minister to the pleasure of spectators; he, though equally capable of displaying his skill, stands in a closer relation to his employers - he is their instructor and adviser. He is, moreover, a maker and repairer of clubs, and as such is in a position to render valuable service. It is a matter of great pleasure to note the regard in which he is usually held by the members of the club to which he is attached - a regard based upon his invariable courtesy and respect for the traditions of the game. It is in the strict observance of the etiquette of the game that the real golfer-cum-sportsman is marked, and in this connection the professional sets an example to many an erring amateur in such particulars as smoothing out heel marks in a bunker and replacing cut "divots." There is a growing fear, however, that the practice of arranging spectacular contests between the leading professionals may tend to import an undesirable spirit of commercialism and so degrade the game from its traditional high position. Certainly, the introduction of the system of gate-money is likely to encourage these outsiders who have no love for this or any other game per se to set about scheming for the extraction of money from guileless pockets, but public opinion is confident that the professional's integrity is proof against the temptations of greedy and unscrupulous adventurers. The maintenance of feelings of mutual respect and the due recognition of his good services by the various golfing societies are undoubtedly the most effectual antidote against the wiles of a rapacious commercialism. It therefore behoves the professional player who desires a secure and comfortable position to aim at something more than a desire to figure in great matches; he needs to come into a club equipped with a thorough knowledge of the making and repair of golf imple- ments, with an ability to supervise the upkeep of the course; and, not the least important, with the faculty to contribute, by his advice and training, to the advancement of his pupils in the game.