1.   Barthelme, a gambler himself, understands the allure.

2.   But Dickson, whose revised New Dickson Baseball Dictionary will be published next year, understands the allure of the word.

3.   Extended scene pieces of boardwalk, factory and underworld life darken the picture enough that we understand the allure of the bright and blinking oceanside wonderland of the title.

4.   He thinks he understands the allure of Forsyth and other places like it.

5.   Holyfield understands his allure.

6.   I understand the allure of wide open spaces, with two growing boys, a dog and, yes, sports equipment.

7.   I understand the allure of loops.

8.   I have never been able to understand the allure of autographs.

9.   The man who perhaps best understands the allure of front-running presidential candidate Hugo Chavez is the man Chavez tried to oust from office at gunpoint.