Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-08-29
An Aristecratic 1hvention...The aiame
OfPelo.

Tlme0.
Tho British aristocraoy 10 locking up
II has invented or discovered, new game
and hss gone in for it with a fresh enthu
siasm which shows how grouudless an
the charges sometimes brought against il
Of being worn out and e6ete. This now
ganlo is called "Plolo,T and il simply
the old game of hockey. which is much
played At by vulgar little boys under
..nothe: name, aud with, in one respect, On
important variation Us to tho mode oi
playing it. Tho players in Polo are
mounted on horseback. and the game may
be presumed to be proportionately elevat.
cd. Last Tuesday six officers Of the Life
Guards, and six officers Of the Ninth Ian.
GERS, another crack " regim ent, played q
match ut Polo in Windsor Park, in the
presence of the Prince and Princess Of
Wales and distinguished gathering. I,
was AN extremely pretty sight, and al
near an approach to q tournament of old
as modern habits and circumstances will
permit The knights were not clad in
mai, but IN flannel jerseys, buokskin
brooches, and gators. They were armed
not with lsnces, but with long hockey,
sticks, with straight hook at ono end and
u leather loop, through which they could
pass the hand, at the other. They were
mounted on stout, active little ponies,
which had their forelegs bandaged 40 q
precaution against ugly blows with the
hookey.sticks. The c0mbatants were dis
tinguished by different coiors, one side
having csps and jerseys Of white and reds
and the other oi purple. The Blues turn
cd out q squadron of guardsmen, with
shining breastplates and waving piumes,
to keep the ground the band of the regi-
men, in the rich uniform of white and
gold, was also present, and there was u
resplendant trumpeter in cloth Of gold,
with y silver trumpet, to summon the
knights and sound the onset. The umpire
throw the ball, wooden one, into the
midst Of the ground, and at once the
game commenced. First the ball was
driven close up to the guards end, then
e'ght away to the lancers. Now the
horsemen clashed together over it with
rattle Of sticks and shouts Of battle now
they suddenly opened out and scattered
here and there in chase Of the ball. An
other rush would bring them altogether in
heap, ,hopelessly cntangled, as it seemed,
and the ball, by an adroit stroke, would be
sent flying through the air and of raced
the cavaliers pcll-mell after it. Hockey
sticks were splintered in tho melee, ono of
tho players (he 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; aad before the end of
the game somo Of the ponies began to
limp and to look as if they thought that
they had at least, had enough of ibis
kind Of fun. It was brilliant afternoon:
the meadow whore the encounter took
place is backed by the grand old glsdes Of
Windsor forest, aid the trocpers in their
glistening helmets and halberts, tho snowy
tents pitched for the Prince and Princess
and their suite, the long lines Of four-horse
drngs and carriages and tho rainbow. tinted
assenblage of fair ladies. attired in tho
richest aud gayest style ofart, gave va
riety and animation to the scsne. Yester-
day the Blues and Lancer~ played another
match ut Wovlwich, before more "mix.
ed" body of spectators. People in
Thousands fiocked down to Woolwiioh to
:a;uly very kind q Lords and esa-
tlemen ofhigh degree to exert themselves
in this vigorous way, and in such
hot weather, for the amusement of
the maxses, Now that we have hockey
on horseback, it is suggested that there
should b vroquet a ekeval; and there is
no saying how far the now principle Of
equestriani.ing popular pastinnes may be
carried. The Prince Of Wales, who goes
shooting grouse in tho Highlands in Au-
gust, viii pay a visis, before the end Of
this mont6'to the American sqaadron in
Southampton waters.