Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-09

Godev for June says: There has been

uOuep lOf OuAO S"yS. HS'S H"S ONSo
a conference of the leading croquet clubs
in England TO revive the laws by which
players are governed. The following arc
the principal alterations:
"There is to be no restriction as to
the number, weight, size, shape, or ma
terial of tie mallets; nor rs to the atti-
tude and position of the striker. The
effect of the latter part of this rule will
be to permit the old front strike, as it is
called, to be re introduced"
''In commencing game, the ball is to
be placed one foot from the first hoop, in
direct line between the pegs. This
! should have been in direct line between
the peg and the first hoop as we have
often seen grounds of irregular shape,
where ball placed one foot from the first
hoop, in line between the pegs, could
not possibly run the hoop"
"a ball having been struck is Mt once
in play whether it has made the first hoop
or not"
This is an important alteration. Its
effect is to give the striker at his or her
turn the advantage of being able to
roquet at the first stroke, aud not neces
sarily to 60 first at the hoop as is now the
case. 1t also entails this disadvantage,
that, if the first hoop is missed, the play
er's ball is left there, and may be roqnet
ed by the next player.
We consider the alteration very good
one as t will prevent player who has
made a miss at the first hoop from hav-
ing his or her ball taken up out of harms
way as is now the case.
"a stroke is considered taken if the
ball is moved perceptiby. except the
movement was accidental, when the ball
may be paced and the stroke taken
again.
"If PLAYER makes foul stroke, he
loses his turn. and all the points made
thereby. What is meant is, if player
makes foul stroke, he loses any point
made thereby, and the remainder Of bis
turn.
"The balls after a foul stroke are to
remain where they lie, or to be replaced
at the option of the adversary.
"Foul strokes are striking with the
malet any ball save ones own; spoon
ing, j. E., pushing without an audible
knock; striking ball twice, or allowing
it to rebound on to inaet; stopping a
bali with the foot in taking loose croquet
| this includes, we presume, touching it
or diverting it from its course, also the
worl loose is surplusage. as loose cro-
queL is not permitted); falling 10 stir the
missive ball in taking croquet; holding
the maIet within twelve inches of the
head; and moving ball by striking the
| peg or wire instead of the ball. The
penalty proposed for this last was re-
placement of the ball; but the conference
decided to make it a foul stroke.
Light croquet is abolished. This per-
baps to most ladies will seem tie greatest
change in the code 1t will certainly
check the display of ankle that is now
often witnessed on the crcquet ground.
Tie change, however, was inevitable. 1t
had gradually been growing for some
years on the best players. who voluntarily
rejected it, and several large clubs had q
bylaw prohibiting it. Reasons could
readily be adduced TO show that is
most unscientlfic stroke, and that its
abandonment was consummaton de-
voutly to be wished.
Many, indeed most, of the rules about
roquet and croquet are retained, except
that the wording is new; and one re-
markable fact will be noticed, that the
word "roquet' does not occur in the
code have great objection to the word,
and avoid its use, substituting the word
shit" "Pegging out" is still retained.
Spiteful players will therefore be at liber-
ty to be as vicious as ever they please
when the opportunity offers.