The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-05-28

engage in it at the same time, and on nearly
an equal footing. But such is not the truth.
clement that goes verysfar in giving the
game an advantage over many other out of
door sports, but It 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 1t
In popularity. game must have within it
self some unusuaf elements Of interest to
gradually win and positively sustain the pop
ularitv that croquet at this day pos sesees, and
it is found in the fact above stated, viz: that
in it are combined, to greater extent than
in any other, mental and physical exercise
to moderate degree.
Croauet, whenit was introduced into this
country few years since, was comparatively
imperfect, both in method and implements
of the game. The laws of the game as set
forth in the English hand books and their
imperfect reprints in this country, are infi-
nitely inferior to the best practices on Amer
lean croauet grounds. The American game
is fully explained and illustrated in the last
edition of "Croquet, its Principles and Rules,
by Prof A. Rover, in which it is treated "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
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 ''anh01c5Rtcaa." There can
| be no doubt as to the relative healthful eff
| fects of the two methods III the minds Of
young or old. In the latter, special atten-
| ton is given to loose croquet, double points,
| the finch and The BOBBY. The loose croquet,
or roquet croquet, which is the practice Of
driving two balls over the ground at one blow
of the mallet. is the most sciantifc stroke OF
| the game, and instead of combining ii to the
rover, this author allows it to all players
alike. The the theory of double points,
which follows directly from, and is closely
connected with the roquet-croquet, is also
| fully explained in accordance with the gene
| raj principles Of the game. The finch is con-
sidered by nearly all authors as an offence,
but no two agree in the penalties. Accord
| ing to the reasoning adopted by Rover, the
| finch is not an offence, and hence no penalty
| is necessary. The BOBBY, which has hereto
fore been constant source of vexation, is
now entirely abohshed-and it seems for the
best of reasons-or rather from want of any
good reason why it should ever have been
originated
plicit rules for laying out a ground, new
method OF designating the several bridges in
the course, and number of curious prob
lens for beginners all of which are illus
trated with numerous diagrams.
This manual of 70 pp., is published by Mil
ton Bradley 4 Co., of Springfield, Mass, at
the exceedingly low price of ten cents pc,
copy by mail
Messrs NJ B. & Co. are also the patentees
and manufacturers of Bradley's Patent Gro
quetiers, which embody several valuable inn
| provements in the implements, among
which we notice especially the sockets for III
bridges and the inderica} balls. The sockets
are wooden pins about eight inches long, an(
one and one half inches in diameter, pointed
at the bottom, and having hole in the toI
just large enough to receive the iron rcd o
| which the bridge is made. Two of these
sockets are driven into the grouRd in the
proper position, TO receive the two piers o
each bridge. BY these the bridges are rig
idly held in an upright position, and may bt
removed from the ground with the rest o
the implements and replaced in few mo
ments. This Improvement is highly priZe(
by every expert player who has ever used it
In the iRdexical balls the taro sides are des
| ignated by stripes and tbs individual player
by the general colors OF the several balls
that are frequently made by taking the bal
of an enemy for that of friend, and tjc
| Ce7sd.
Parties desiring further information re
garding the Croqueteries can obtain q com
plete priced catalogue by sending stamp t,
Messrs. Bradley i Co., as above, who alsC
publish larger variety of other home amuse
ments than any other party in the United
States.