Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-09-07
CrOuuet.

Every Saturday, for the 18th of Aug
has among its other nice and varied illus
trations, a seasonable picture of this popu-
lar game. Appended to description of
the engraving, are the following para
graphs, showing how the lawn play can be
elevated to trial of skill, and made more
than q mere leisurely amusement:
Apronos of croquet we find in an English
journal some very sensible remarks touch
ing the game. Nineteen people out of
| every twenty, says the writer, who will tell
you that they play the game, do not
know what they are talking about It is
the misfortune of croquet as a mere game,
that it has been found so admirably SUBJ
serviept to that higher game which all
young men and women of good and natural
impulses will play together whenever they
have the chance, Its own peculiar merits
are thus thrown into the shade, and by
most diettdnti are totally snobserved.
Now, as game to be played by the head as
well as by the hands, as newhich requires
considerable forethought and imagination,
croquet does not come very far BE- low whist
or chess. Novices-and at cro1uet most
people remain noyices to the end of the
chapter-innocently suppose that the game
consists simply in getting through your
hOOpS HI1OA SOu dlltl ClOJuclllS dit
enemy or helping friend when you have
a chance.
The player who does nothing mora than
this at croquet is precisely on level with
whist player who can do nothing but fol-
low suit. The whole science OF croquet
consists in the combinations, in the mu-
tual support which may be afforded by
friendly balls. -Four balls is the largest
number that can be scientifically used; and
lnasmuch as open consultation between the
players will be as fatal to strategic move
ments as 1t would be if two persons were
consulting over each side in q game OF
chess one of two plans must be adopted
Either one of the players on each side
must be absolutely master OF the other, for
the game must be reduced to game for
two. each person taking two balls. Then
indeed, and then only, can the charm of
eroquet as game be thoroughly enjoyed. |
This pastime, which has been joyously
adopted at first as nothing better than an
excuse for miscellaneous garden parties OF
any number has been improved so wonder
fully that 1t is for some players a game
scarcely inferior TO billiards; but this i'm
provement has been effected ut certain !
loss.
The perfect game can only be played by |
two or four persons at the most. 4 fifth |
and sixth may be generously taken in
for courtesy, but their presence is absolute
" fatal to the interests of the game.
The point 10 attend to IN playing is this,
you must always try 10 keep your own
balls together and your adveTsary's apart.
Getting through your hoops must be held
quite subordinate to the necessity OF keep
ing together, and it is only possible to keep
together by constant foresight. Combine
IONS are everything at croquet. To de-
scribe those OF more. complicated kind
would be impossible; but if any one who
wants 10 know what the game is Will take
8 piece OF paper, sketch out croquet
ground, and imagine the strokes, lie viii
ind clue which he may easily work ont
Of course, in playing the game practic
slly, skill in hitting the balls will go long
way, but.ihe most skillfuT striker who ever
lsed mallet, if he totally disregarded
would infalibly be beaten
" very indifferent player who under
TODD them. ],