The New York herald., 1874-09-03
Q r 90 7.
Have the EIOrrid Mon
Amy Rights :?
THE LADIES' PARTNERS.
LADIES'
No Hoop and Mallet Sport
for Gentlemen.
WHAT WILL SUSAN B. ANTHONY SAY q?

WHAl WILL SUSAN b. RNlHUNI OAI
spout you think that gentlemen should be al
lowed to play croquet with the ladies III the Gen.
tral ParkS" was the inquiry made by the writer OF
q fair young girl who stood under the shade OF an
Overhanglng beech tree at the north end OF the
croquet ground, just opposite the Lenox Library
in the Park.
No pretticr picture could be i'm agned than that
OF the aIr young girl who stood leaning against
the tree, the lances OF q September sun shining
through the boughs and falling IN golden
splendor on her pure white muslin dress.
Her dimpled cheeks beamed with happi-
ness and her deep blue eyes were as clear
as crystal or a sapphire stone. Lifting
her maet she struck ball and it glded fairly
through wicket and struck another ball. She
had never seen a reporter before and was rather
timd at being questioned until the writer
planned his business and told her that an inquiry
was being made caused by the protests OF many
gentlemen who desired to play croquet in the
Park with ladies and were not allowed to do it
because of the nendish disposition OF the Park
commissioners. The young lady, on being spoken
to. introduced the reporter to her three lady COM
panons who were playing with her the delicious
game OF croGuet. IL would not be in good taste
to make pubic the surnames of the young ladies,
In the arstocratic neghbornoOd of Seventy ninth
street, just east OF the Park, and were made
known to the reporter as Miss Cora, Miss Mamle
Miss Josephine and MISS Matte.
Miss Mamie was the first young lady spoken
to-a blonde; the other three were brunet,es.
This young lady. in answer to the question pro-
pounded, said
81 cannot very well tell what you wish to know (;
but II you ask me If ladies would prefer to play
croquet with gentlemen instead Of young ladies'. 1
think must acknowledge that we would be In
favor Of gentlemen"
Miss JosEpHINE-Yes, it adds interest to the
game and gentlemen are very often better play
ers than the ladies. l know that we play more
gracefully when gentlemen are present, and with
| more rapidly The "a mes shorter and more
| interesting.
| Miss MArTIE I'm very gushing and confidential
manner that was very bewltching)-Oh, know
that l would far prefer to play crOquet
| with gentlemen. But there are the naughty
and hateful Park commissioners, and am
sure i don't know why they prevent gentle
men from playing croquet. 1t is the same as If the
proprietor Of ball room were not to allow gentle
men TO dance with ladies. When the sun Is quite
hot it is very dilicult for young ladies to carry
! the crOquet boxes TO the CrOquet mouse. Some Of
The boxes weigh as much as fltS pounds, and do
think that it would be real nice gentlemen were
here to carry them.
MISS JOSEPHINE 10 splendid brunette, with a
! torrent OF dark curs hanging over her white
/ shOulders) Yes, feel real angry sometimes when
! see that horrid old man. the keeper OF the
croquet ground, drive any gentlemen of the COM
mon who may come TO iCok at our games. am
frightened when l see him using tobacco in such
! Miss CORA "a langu shing beauty, in gray linen
suit, trimmed with black brald)-l am sure he IL
quite horrld, and SO very unreasonable. thlnp
he ought not to drive the young men away. A
any rate hope Colonel Stebbns. who is perfec
gentleman, WIN allow our gentlemen friends +, T.
game Of croquet VIII not last long.
REPORTER-I have understood, ladies, from IN
formation given me- that at one time when gen
temen were allowed to play croquet with ladies
they did not act right. and caused their exclusion
ALL THE YOUNG LADIES IN CHoRUs-We never
saw them do ANYTHING rude. They always acted
with grea! decorum, and no gentleman i,1 would would
MIR. Reporter say in the HERALD tna
all the ladies are IN favor Of having
highly ridiculous to prevent them. and the Parl
Commissioners should be compelled to PERM
that they Will behave rudely.
Miss MINNIE-And please say that the weather
win soon become too cold to play oroquet, ana tina
croquet the weather Is SO dehgLtful.
After our repOrter had bade the young ladies
good aay which was COurteOusy acknowledged b,
Jnem, the hOrrld monster OF a man who has charg
way ordered hun to leave the grounds. The re
porter asserted his rights as y citizen, and asket
why ne SnOulO DC COmpclleU 10 ieaVc CIle GrOuuOS
The horrld monster, who was busily engaged
In chewing tobacco, stated that no one wa
allowed to visit or walk on the croquet ground un
less he had per rmit from Mr.. Columbus Ryan, VIII,
IL supposed to be the owner OF the Park, with al
its messuages, appurtenances and live stock. A
the reporter was desIrOus OF finding out how IA
this horrible despotlsm could be carried he walked
through delightful winding path to the oil
Arsenal, at present occupied as a museum. Max
ing inquiry for Mr.. Columbus Ryan In the ONCE OF
the second floor, he was informed that that gentle
man was not present, and clerk declared tnat h
nuId Otvn a. n IpiO m
then asked him for . permit to play croquet 10
iour ladies and four gentlemen. The clerk, VIII
was very polite and CIVIL leaned back in his chai
ii cannot give you pass or permit. Mr.. Rya
will not give permit to gentlemen to pla
"But there are ladies to play croquet with til
gentlemen, and cannot see why Mr.. Ryan shou
deny the right to the male sex. Is there an
CLERK or THE PARK-There is an order issue
py the PARK Commissioners not TO permit 1t, an
MIR. Ryan has to obey orders. There was tim
when gentlemen did play croquet but the ladie
complained that they were annoyed Dy tGem an
1t became necessary to prevent their preSenc
RSponrER-Tnen will you give me permit 70
four ladies, 50 that they may come here and pla
crOuuet when shall inform Lhemf
CLERK OF THE PARK-MOst certainly. Give m
the the names lanes Of the iour ladies' the permit Is not t
be given TO the keeper unless he asks for It.
The following permit was then given to the re
was permissible to ladies on three days OF tn
week-Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday-at an
hour Of the day, hint being also given that tn
best time to play this noble game, which desp0tsI
Is endeavorlng to crush, would be In the morning
MISS sourHGArE's PERMIT.
DEPARTMENT PUhIIc PARKs,
surxnINrkspnsr's oyr,cE, sept 2, 1874
Miss Henrietta southsate and lady companions hay
q ra a On TSss oH u anu
each week during the season for play they compyir
VII" VIC g. RYAN superintendent S Of Public PARIS