The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-04

Colonel stebbins and Croquet.
Certainly the Central Park is narrow. but
that Is good reason why its management
should be broad. In this opinion, however,
Colonel II. G. Stebbns, President of the
Board of Park Commissioners, does not seem
to agree with US, for in his conversation with
reporter Of the HERALD the other day he
cited the fact that the Park is only five-eighths
OF mile IN width as reason why gentlemen
are not allowed to play croquet in its limits
This is not, we think, at all misrepresenta-
ton of Colonel Stebbins' argument. He was
asked why gentlemen were forbidden to play
croquet and answered that the Park was only
hve-eighths of a mile in width. That
the room for games is limited must
be conceded, but croquet players
would not occupy much of it Gentlemen
sometimes assume extraordinary attitudes at
croquet,. but we do not think that any one
could sprawl over five-eighths Of mile. But
Colonel Stebbins explains that, because of the
want OF space, it is not convenient to grant
permission to clubs or organizations to play
games, and that applications from military
companies and mechanical societies have been
for this reason refused. This, too, is a rather
vague reply to the inquiry which the public so
earnestly makes A gentleman is not club,
nor an organization, nor company, nor a So
ciety, and we have not heard of any croquet
club desiring field in the Park. The Colonel
also claimed to be only too DESTROYS
DIV oil nit <l,o;r ,r1k IN,
the Park, yet he thought there should
not be any special privileges granted
to any particular class, and that the rules
OF the Park were made to prevent any en-
croachment by any class. Here again we
must be permitted to say that we are unable
to see the force of the logic The ladies are a
particular class, sometimes very particular
one; yet they have special privileges Gen.
tlemen are a prescribed class and have no
privileges at all.
Thus the President of the Board of Park
Commissioners has evaded the question. His
replies are altogether irrelevant. If the Park
is large enough for ladies to play croquet in
it is certainly large enough for their gentle
men companions to join them, and as citizens
they have the right to demand q better reason
for their exclusion than that of want
of space. Our sprightly contemporary, the
Evening Mai, observes that there are only two
excuses given why gentlemen should not play
croquet at the Park-"The first that they have
annoyed the ladies when the privilege has
been extended to them heretofore the second,
that the turf, which will keep green under
ladies' skies, will not keep green under gen.
tlemen's Fights" The first excuse is de-
prived Of value by the fact that the ladies',
who are most concerned in the matter, repu-
date it and desire that their gentlemen friends
shall be allowed to join in croquet, as they do
in boating riding, walking skating, &c.
Again, if the Commissioners should really
urge this excuse for their Chinese policy of
exclusion, it would be a confession that
they are unable to preserve good order in the
Park. Are they prepared to admit this? We
hope not, for it would be not only reproach
to the Commissioners, but would actually con-
stitute an accusation against the male popula-
ton of the city, which we believe to be I'M
just. gentleman who plays croquet or base
ball at the Park is presumed to be a gentleman,
and if he proves to be o blackguard we need
not tell Colonel Stebbins how he should be dealt
with. As for the plea that gentlemen would
damage the turf if they are allowed to play
croquet, it is scarcely necessary to say that if
the turf is Of so much Importance the ladies
should be also excluded. 1t is evident that
Colonel Stebbins has not yet thought of
sioners, and we respectfully advise him to
think the subject over and give the public q
categorical reply to its demand.