The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

46 ATHLETIC SPORTS OF SCOTLAND. than three feet of the stance from the 7 ft. 6 in. peg; as he completes the hop his right arm is drawn quickly back, below and beneath the shoulder, until elbowand hand appear on the same level; then the rightarm and shoulder dart forth with the most marvellous force and rapidity. M'Pherson's light weight and magnificent style producing such results, has revived the idea that skill can compensate for want of strength in certain feats ofstrength. A little reflection is sufficient to show that the distance any weight atrest, as the ball is before itis putted, can be sent through the air, depends solely and exclusively on the force appliedto it before itleaves theputter's hand. No matter what the differencein strength between two men may be as to other featsof strength, when they both try who can putt a ball farthest straightforward from a given point, it is the one who applies thegreatest force tothe ballimmediately before it leaves his hand, that will put it farthest. The most skilful putter, putting in the most skilful manner, if he applies just strength enough to send a given weight 40 ft., will just send it40 ft.; the most awkwardputter, ifhe applies the same strength to the same weight, andboth put straight forward in the same direction, will also send it 40 ft. Amongst amateur performances in Great Britain, the firstplace isheld by J. O'Brien, 44 ft. 10^ in., with 16 lb. ball, Dublin, 1885 ; andG. R. Gray,44 ft. 9 in., with 16 lb. ball, Dublin, 1888. At Manhattan Athletic Club Sports, New York, September, 1891, G. R. Graywas credited with a put of 47 ft. 3^ in., which, ifgenuine, is the best on record; but a famous professional putter who visited the Manhattan Club grounds not long ago had the curiosity to weigh the so-called 16 lb. ball, and foundit to be about 15 lbs. The accompanyingsketch, fig.1, illustrates the usualstyle of stance, and mode of measurement at Scottish games. The stance is sometimes less, sometimes more than 6 ft. in length, but all measurements are made from the centre of it, conse­ quently allthrows not delivered from the centre,are measured as being further than the real distance, unless the putter puts