Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-09-04
An ArlStOcratic InyentiOn-.-The Game
OfPOIO.


London July 2O) Correspondence of the New York
Times.
The British aristocracy is locking UP
1t has invented or discovered, new game,
and has gone in for it with a fresh entbu-
siasm which shows how groundless are
the charges sometimes brought against it
of being worn out aud efetc. This new
game is called "Plolo,1 and is simnlv
the old game of hockey. which is much
played at by vulgar little BOYS under
anothe" name, and with, in one respect. an
important variation as to the mode of
playing it. The players in Polo are
mounted on horseback, and the game NAV
be presumed to be proportonatelv eleyat-
ed. Cast Tuesday six officers of the Life
Guards, and six officers of the Ninth Lam
GERS, another crack regim ent, plaved
match at Polo IN Windsor Park, in the
presence of the Prince and Princess of
Wales and distinguished gathering. 1t
was an extremely pretty sight, and as
near an approach to tournament of old
as modern habits and circumstances will
permit. The knights were not clad in
mail, but in flannel jerseys, buckskin
brooches, and CATERS They were armed
not with lances, but with long hockey,
sticks, with straight hook at enc end and
a leather loop, through which they could
pass the hand, at the other. They were
mounted on stout, active little monies.
which had their forelegs bandaged as a
precaution against ugly blows with the
hookeY-sticks. The combatants were dis
tinguished by different colors, one side
having caps and jerseys of white and red'
and the other of purple. The Blues turn
ed out squadron of guardsmen, with
shining breastplates and waving plumes,
to keep the ground the band IF the regi-
ment in the rich uniform of white and
gold, was also present, and there was
resplendant trumpeter in cloth of gold,
with a silver trumpet, to summon the
knights and sound the onset The umpire
threw the ball, wooden one, into the
midst of the ground, and at once the
game commenced. First tue ball was
driven close up to the guards end, then
right away to the laneers Now The
! horsemen clashed together over it with
rattle Of sticks and shouts of battle row
they suddenly opened out and scattered
here and there in chase of the ball. An
other rush would bring them altogether in
heap, hopelessly entangled, as it seemed,
and the ball, by an adroit stroke, would be
sent flying through the air and off raced
the cavaliers pell-mell after it. Hockey
sticks were splintered in the melee, one of
the players (the Marquis of Worcester
the Duke of Beaufort's sony had his head
cracked by an accidental blow, but went
on playing as soon as he had wiped the
blood from his face; and before the end of
/ tho of hoo 10
limp and to look as if they thought that
they had at least, mad enough of his
kind of fun. 1t was a brilliant afternoon :;
the meadow where the encounter took
place is backed by the grand old glades of
Windsor forest, and the troopers in their
glistening helmets and halberts, the snowy
tents PITCHED for the Prince and Princess
and their suite, the long lines of four-horse
drags and carriages and the rainbow tinted
assemblage of fair ladies, attired In the
richest and gayest style ofart, gave va
rlety and animation to the scene. Yester
day the Blues and Lancers played another
match at Woolwich, before a more "mix-
ed" body Of spectators. People in
thousands hocked down to Woolwich to
see the new prodigy; and it is GER
family very kind of Lords and gen
tlemen of high degree to exert themselves
IN this vigorous wav, and in such
! hot weather, for the amusement of
the masses. Now that we have hook ey
on horseback, it is suggested that there
should b. croquet cheUal and there is
no saying how far tue new principle OF
equestrlanizing popular pastimes may be
carried. The Prince of Wales, who goes
shooting grouse in the Highlands in Au-
gust, will pay Il visit, before the end OF
this month to the American squadron in
! Southampton waters. . ~.