Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-06-02
CrOQuet.

PPobablyn nearly all OF our readers arc some
what familiar with the elementary principles
Of this fascinating game, that has gained
popularity in this country truly wonderful to
the unlnitiated, but the most natural to all
who understand the merits Of the game.
Unlike nearly every amusement and divert
isement that has become suddenly popular in
this county, the interest in croquet, not only
does not decrease, but universally continues
to increase year after year wherever intro.
duced, and this season more sets OF croquet
implements sre being sold In Massachusetts,
where the game was first introduced half
dozen years ago, than In any previous sea.
son, Every person that hasno knowledge Of
the game expresses the same opinion. 81
don't see the sport in such game as that; IT
seems 80 silly to knock balls around at ran
dom in that way" And IL IL equally true
that every person from ten years old to sixty,
that ever played half dozen games, is per-
,fectly fascinated with IL, and the more they
play the more they are interested. II is
probably a fact that the game Of croquet is
not perfectly understood in theory, even
by one in ten of those who consider them
selves considerably expert, aud while theory
alone will not make up for entire want of ex-
perience and precision in stroke, vet player
with the latter qualifications will often be
completely vanquished by player, much in
ferior i'm stroke, that understands fully the
laws and fine points, 80 intimately are the
mental and physical qualities combined in the
game. .-,.
II has often been asserted that croquet
was dependent solely for it's popularity on
the fact that ladiea and gentlemen can both
engage in ii at the same time, and on nearly
an equal footing. But such is not the truth.
No doubt this association of the sexes is an
element that goes very fur in giving the
anne an advantage over many other out of
door sports but IL is not the whole. Many
other games have been invented, before and
since croquet, that have embodied this quail
ty and element, yet they cannot approach IL
in popularity. A game must have, within it.
self some unusual elements OF interest to
gradually win and positively sustain the pop.
ularity that croquet at this day possesses, and
| in it are combined TO q greater extent than
in any other, mental and physical exercise
to moderate degree.
CrOuuet whenit was introduced into this
country fdw yearG since, was comparatively
imperfect, both in method and implements
ofthe game. The laws of the game as set
forth in the English hand books and their
imperfect reprints in this country, are inf
nitely inferior to the best practices on Amer
ican croquet grounds. The American game
is fully explained and illustrated in the last
AAlhNAplOH Uhu ANhlSp,
by Prof. A. Rover, in which 1t is treated as a
social home amusement.
Among the numerous manuals in this coun-
try, two or three authors have treated the
game in scientific manner. One OF
these, mathematical professor, has treated
it in strictly mathematical manner, with
special reference to its adaptability to clubs
OF expert players regularly organized but
from his standpoint there may be doubts re-
garding the wisdom of some of the rules.
Another author, under the name of Prof.
Rover, who has devoted his life TO social and
home amusements, has treated the game in
manner equally systematic, but with con-
slant view to the enjoyment to be obtained
during the progress Of the game rather than
to the one idea of "lChO lriNigia." There can
be no doubt as to the relative healthful ef-
fects of the two methods in the minds of
young O. old. In the latter, special atten-
ton ia given 10 loose cToduet, double points,
the finch, and the BOBBY. The loose croquet,
or roquet-croqnet, which is the practice of
driving Two balls over the ground at one blow
of The mallet, is the most scientific stroke OF
the game, and instead Of confining 1t to the
rover, this author allows il to all players
alike. The tho theory 6f double points,
which follows directly from, and is closely
connected with the roquet'croquet, is also
fully explained in accordanc2 with the gene
raj principles OF the game The finch scon-
sidered by nearly all authors as an offence,
but no two agree in the ponalties. Accord
ing to the reasoning adopted by Rover, the
finch ia not an offence, and hence no penalty
is necessary The BOBBY, which has hereto
fore been a constant source OF yexation, is
now entirely abolished it seems for the
best OF reasons--or rather from want Of any
good reason why 1t should ever have been
originated.
In addition, we also find in this manual eX-
plicit rules for laying out ground, new
method Of designating the several bridges in
the course, and a number of curious prob
lens for beginnersj all Of which are illus
trated with numerous diagrams.
This manual of rs pp. is published by Mil
ton Bradley &Co., OF Springfield, Mass, at
the exceedingly low price OF ten cents per
copy by mail.
Messrs. NJ. b. 4 Co. are also the patentees
an manufacturers of Bradleys Patent Gro
queteries, which embody several valuable i'm
proyements in the implements, among which
we notice especially the sockets for the
bridges and the iRdericdl balls. The sockets
are wooden pins about eight inches long, and
one and one.half inches in diameter, painted
at the bottom, and having hole in the top
Just large enough to receive the iron rod Of
which the bridge is made. Two OF those
sockets are driven into the ground in the
proper position 10 receive the two piers of
each bridge. BY these the bridges are rigid
ly held in an upright position, and may be
removed from tho ground with tho rest of
the implements and replaced In few mo.
ments. This Improvement is highly priced
by every expert player who has ever used it,
In the indexical balls the trO sides are des-
ignated by stripes, and the individual players
by the general cOlors of the several balls.
This device avoids many vexatious mistakes
that are frequently made by taking the ball
Of an enemy for that of a friend, and rice
Cel'Sd. ..
Parties desiring further informa' ion re-
garding the Croqueteries can obtain a COM
plete priced catalogue by sending stamp to
Messrs. Bradley 4 Co., as above, who also
publish larger variety Of other home amuse-
ments than any other party in the United
States.
INA COUNTRY where tho natural desire OF the