The early history of Curling is involved in such obscurity, that the time even of the antiquarians might be better employed in eating Beef and Greens, or in playing the Game, than in endeavoring to discover its origin. Some of these gentlemen have, from the definition given of a certain word in an old dictionary, come to the conclusion that Curling was originally the game of quoits played upon the ice. Kilian, in his Etymologica Teutonicae Linguoe, renders the Teutonic words "_kluyten_," "_kalluyten_," _ludere massis, sive globis glaciatis; certare discis in aequore glaciato_. The term kluyte, or klyte, is still used in some parts of Scotland, 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 ground; but it never has any reference to moving on a plane surface. The words _ludere_ and _certare_ throw no light on the manner in which the _globus_ or _discus_ was used. 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 curling. 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 introduced, affording opportunities equal to those of the quoit for muscular exercise, and a much wider field for the exercise of the judgment. The earliest notice of Curling which has been discovered is in Cambden's Britannia, published in 1607. In it, Coppinsha, one of the Orkney islands, is mentioned as famous for "excellent stones for the game called Curling." This shows that it was then in considerable repute. In the "Life of William Guthrie", who in the year 1644 was ordained minister of Fenwick, in Ayrshire, it is stated that he was fond of the innocent recreations which then prevailed, "among which was Curling." In 1684, the game is taken notice of in Fountainhall's Decisions. Pennycuik, also in the seventeenth century, declares that "To curl on the ice doth greatly please, Being a manly Scottish exercise." And he celebrates the game as calculated "To clear the brain, stir up the native heart, And give a gallant appetite for meat." Ramsay has alluded to Curling. Burns, in "Tam Samson's Elegy" shows, in few words that he himself understood the game. Grahame, the author of the "Sabbath" has illumined the rink with the lustre of his own genius; and Curling forms the subject of a beautiful part of "Fisher's Winter Season."