New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-23
CROQt ETAT IT'S BEST.

AN HOUR WITH THE NEW-fOHK CLUB
TIE UrlERAN, IL or Az ORACLE ABOUT The GAME
PLAYING THAT BRINGS oUT TIE SCIENCE OF
IT.
A TRIBUNE reporter entered the grounds OF the
New-York Croquet Club, at one hundred-and-
twenty->eveuth-st and FIfth-ave.. on recent
afternoon aud alter watching for "a time the prog
res. of a game. he approached for the purpose OF
getting information gentleman, evidently a
prom ncnt member Of the club, Vho was appealed
TO frequently 10y the title of Professor. He was
not a very arge man, but be wore high hat. and
though atlaD.e wa hedeed about with a certain
dignity which could not be TOO much admired IL
WAS atterward discovered that he the oracle Of
the club the compiler of its laws aud the arbner OF
all vexed questions. After some Introductory gen
eralItes concerning the beauty Of The day and the
raveties of the scene for there were not wanting
many lookers-on Of the far sex who appauded the
fine plays with rare discrimination, aud whose
presence seemed TO inspire the players the reporter
plunged into the subject of croquet with leading
question as to its merits.
The Professor exaggerated the 7 Of his short
handled mallet by sitting on It's head ana then
answered. looking oil into space: Sir, the merits
Of this noble game cannot be exaggerated Among
the first | would reckon its complete freedom from
the immoral and debihtatIng Influences that en-
viron other games such as billiards or baseball,
where the wicked habit OF betting, ! am sorry o.
say. often interieres with my enjoyment a.
spectator As well as pre- udces the result The
reporter was about to note this TACT when he was
interrupted 10y two young men who laid two silver
halves in the outstretcAcd palm of the Professor.
FOR the stakes, you hold en- they said and
went on playing.
The Professor looked again into vacancy anu then
remarked carelessly: The club has been buying
SOME new iron stakes lately This remark being
received in silence lie continued IN q IycAer tone
l. not this a scene Tor painter, this magnificent
corner, ia The heart OF great metropolis worth
500 900 # il Is j cent. shaded a. n Is by these
beautiful trees7" And he Incluued IN wave Of
his hand one mulberry, cucumber-tiee' some
locusts and half dozen widesprradirg eims and
naples e A church opposite he continued, and
mex to us the house that Genet built. ny, SIT, IL
is worth journey to see this noble game sur
rounded bv such shade and luxury, Look at our
grounds. they are 50 level that mercury wouldnt
roll ON any part OF them If leit 90 itself. Cur
wicket, are not more than halt an luch wider than
those rubber balls, and vet We have players here
who will pass ball through the touT legs OF thot
centre arch without touching the IRON. ON me
north grolnd you can nov see our president taxing
the latitude of that red bail I'D The south at corner
of the field. There are three "ic1ets ana sky ieet
of level crOunu between ms ptl anu the oulet'
red 40 / think he viii hit Il 10 You imagine
our president needs the side o. house lor p
tarpetr lie has "A IXty-fourth OF the pan, ana
th,f, ALL he wants. With my new method OF
no ing the mdilet, !. expect 20 ne a'c my 'tI u"
wlug a grain OF sand ON 70 lall at twenty PAGES.
Inc reporter must have concealed h's lncieduItY
inlIueleuty in spite Of - struggle. Tor the TO
tessOr Immediately insisted on showing MN
eighteen methods of holding tine mallrt III Use
among the best players. winding up wltl us own
winch made up m lntrcacy what It "cAe" III
execution After this diversion the Professor re-
mounted his hobby aud his maliet at the -'nc tinr
tell YOU sir. croquet scientific crOqdeL not
the baby abominaton OF our loremo'hris ana
fla hers. PLAYED on grass with wooden baLs anu
long handled mallets but croquet like TINS, WIZ ne
the game of the future. Remind me oil IL II am
The Professor here let bis gaze wander amid the
lrullaEc oil the cucumber tree I'D pleasant anCl j.
ton vi The coming apotheosls Of croquet.
II Telnes the TASTE, sweetens the temper ana
puts a brace under the whole ply steal nie'ec'udI
ana nora system of 4 man." At TINS point VOICES
tr III the ghbOIng ground broke The thrra@ oil nls
say YOU d1dn Z hit IT, ma
" You didn't " The ball dld nOt sur ii moved
an lucA with other expressions OF opinion an
without adding 10 the sOlemnlty OF the sacred
eGluce The occasional e1uberance of player
zeal" the Professor FASTENED 10 remark, nour.ng
the reporters surprise. al There should DE ,.l'-
pute would qucll n IN moment, ana ne Wd.hcd
toward the sceue OF the eXuberaLce.
He rrturucl 10 his post uuucr the tree ln a lew
moments AID the reporter inferred from his dis
ordered cravat and his heightened color thal there
had been dispute sufficient at least 10 make one
u
and another shake his nalet somewhat close, II
seemed 10 the nose OF his opponent. However. 40
one seemed to think anything unusual was gong
on, aud presently The dspuiAuts took OIL their coats
ana continued the game though nothing had
happened Helping himself To some lce-w ater nom
brown pitcher the Professor resumed laldlly
A. was saying when Was caleb III as umpire, /
1hiS game exercises the noblest functions. We play
on thlS ground from March to December, ana IN !
ml4H weather ali the year round. Our members are |
hcdIlf All professional men who seek III hIs way /
TtleI from eNhaustng and arduOus labOrs. The !
doctor and lawyer anu business man " no can set |
apart certain amount OF time daily 10 the game of
croquet Will live longer himself and he the cau-e OF
longer hle 10 others. Especially the Doctor" he !
added, Rlanclng humorously at a PLAYER with ]
whiskers who was trying To sight a |
ball through iOar wlckets aud "a stake and Tor that
purpose Lad gone all ~ himself and Was lying lat /
on the grls, ABOUT ten feet from the boundaries
Are there many scientific players outside of this
club y the reporter inquired.
The, are increasing every year. he replied |
" We have lately had playing with Us repre-
sentatives from cIubs IN Philadelphia. BOs |
ton. Mediord Mass; Norwich and Danbury |
.onn.; AatIaWan and Rapport Aes-Jer- |