New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-24
THE PROFESSOR ON CROQUET
PLAYING-WITH INCIDENTAL COMMENTS.
THE NETWORK cRoQyEr CLUB VISITS STATEN
ISLAND.


had thrown away skin he said With pleasure Sir
The annual games of the Staten Island Croquet Club
of tomorrow. We take special boat-the Ferry
boat at In the mornng-and intend to do some fancy
wcket-shooting My friend. Dr. Rush, will attempt
his famous bluff shot, and Mr.. White our president,
will essay the hithertounperformed and, may say
except by him. feat OF putting two
balls through the same wicket In the same sroKe using
one hand and two maets."
As he bent down TO illustrate the pres
idsnts position in this shot, he set his
foot suddenly upon ripe cluster OF mulberres JET
OF juice In the air and fell softly upon
the trousers Of the reporter.
Looks like polka dot said the professor, yeing bis
work critically. The blue above the gray. IL Will
come out, sir II you don't rub it." This admoniton to-
gether with the apology which the professor
Is an extremely polite too late. The reporter
said he would stand in the and the professor pro-
ceeded to explain how possible to be the best cro
quet player In the world and yet never win game
"What game needs is a ground, smooth but not too
smooth wckets forty feet aparU can't bear to waste
my time easy shot and plenty Of leisure Il won't
be hurried), and very little shade. and malet
with some intelgence-a SOUL 80 TO speak, In la
mallet that player rely upon as upon mother.
AT o'clock sharp by the Staten Island Ferry good
playing, cool spot and something to cheer the inner
man" he added cordially as the reporter withdrew.
The next morning, besides its usual complement OF
passengers the ferry carried number OF apparent
y intelligent gentlemen VINO bore under their arms blue
flannel bags OF various sizes They would have passed
for barrlsers in England for skaters had the mouth
been January, for plumbers mad they worn diamonds
One OF them had a medal, consisting OF two maets
crossed ed dor, and conspcuousy displayed near
his black side. whlsker,. THAT h DR.. Rush. He
could beat the world II he wOuld only adopt
my stroke conhded the professor 10 reporter That
player with the KnlcSerbockers, Panama hat aud vel
veteen coat, who is smoking brentwood pipe, is the
Rev. DR.. - In disguise. He is supposed 10 be in
Saratoga attending the General Assembly but he would
rather play croquet than perform wedding service any
day. Curious lie can't begin to play with Inc, and yet
20 hear him talk you'd think one had ever beaten
him.
"Croquet" continued the professor, medativey. sis
terrible Toe TO the Christian religion. There are not
two saints on the calendar should say, wnom would
trust to play match game OF croquet without an
umpire They'd tear the dWe0tes off each others
heads before they had reached the turning stake
DO you that tall with DrOadcloth coat talking
with the dominica That IS Professor Jacobs. He lives
In NewJcIsey and has the most hOurshng school In
the state. lie plays CHESS like Mackenzie. rides b
cycle like Prince adept oarsnan, enthusiastic
and expert fl fisher In fact, he can do anything in the
sporting or atneuc way except play croquet And yet
lac has the same delusion that the dominic has and
travels all about In the summer with an elegant rubber
malet with German silver aud ivory mountings
They're both crazy the subject OF oquet, aud yet
may say without modesty-I mean without yanlty-that
have forgotten In the last year about the game
than either Of them knew.
There Is Ford, New York editor Small
and glasses. Says he can't without
them, but he doesn't them when he plays aud Two
known him to hit bah nifty feet away 10 o'clock at
night lie and Dr. Rush the best tempered men L
ever saw handle mallet They don't nesd an umpire
when they play with each other aud they're 50 punctt
ious that I've known them to stand hour at time
Ot "A
shall take shot about which there is little doubt.
shouldn't wonder II the doctor was trying to get
Ford to wear the champions badge he has ON. Ho
TANKS that Ford It In the last they played be-
spoke suddenly before the began,
which he claims unnerved his adversary He and Ford
| carry courtesy TOO lar, think"
STATEN ISLAND HOSPITALITY.
After hours sail the boat reached the landing at
Elm Park tho visitors and reporter found
ragcs In waiting to convey them 10 Pleasant Grove
nttle village miles from Elm Park The air
and fragrant the party rode inland through
the woods The dew still on the grass and the grass
still on the ground. except for the compainings of
the grasshopper bid IN tue Lespedup windows In the
hed around the white washed cottages the small farm
ers smafry hitting the DlackOerrles from the
OF vines and pihng them In baskets for the NewYork
market They looked obviously At tho watermelons in
the party's wagons, and threw their hats and
then feet in tho air to attract atten-
ton Il was difficult imagine that
this genuine country life, Its isolation aud
simple pleasures was only q few minutes removed from
uosome houses and the noisy traio Of great
city
Pleasant Grove and the houses OF tho hosts
reached before 10 o'clock The ride had sharpened all
appottss and Island milk aud raspberries tasted
like nectar ambrosia Over the road the travel
enters tue village. Ia huge sign Inscribed "Centen-
Hotel 1916 1875" The tavern itself. by, though
newly shinged is evidently contemporary with the be-
ginning OF the Republic. for It's northern
exposure and It's clapboards have that true antique
hue the color OF Old fence-rails and wasps' nests,
Removed from the village and surrounded by little
house. that would DC cottages at summer resort are
the grounis OF the Staten Island Croquet Club. They
were gay with flags OF all nations aud the notes OF THE
Charlesown Blues" the band struck up at the
visitors approach, made the Rev. DR.. - break into
agaop and his mallet his head like boy at
a sunday school picnic.
This is true hospitality" murmured the professor,
with pleasant smile, and increasing crescent OF
watermelon playing about his mouth. " Fruit never
tastes good when you eat 1t near
| the vines | suppose these melons are not
ripe yet" he added. cycling patch OF cucumoers over
n garden wall
"wen reckon they're ripe enough to KILL" said Mr.
wambod. brother of the famous minstrel by the way,
fine croque player tho reporter was told-and the
owner OF the fertile containing the grounds.
MI Tree, the staten Island CHAMPION who stands ak
| feet two when he stoops and swings mallet ike
sledgs between his feet, was on tho reception
| committee and his buf, CHEEKY manner seemed to
| inspire the visitors with admiration for every
thing "You mustn't mind tho mosquitoes gentle
| men Let 'em bite. They only take tho bad
blood from your system. There's nothing vicious about
a staten leland mosquito. They do 1t to be soela6le
Now when went over TO play those games with Pro
lessor Jacobs In Jersey III be- blamed II MS mosquitoes
didn't nigh up. Went To work deliberately sur
| yryed me lined me OF. when [ got home looked
ike a deserted oil field or mining camp ia have
| snapped myself on for an ounce OF sweet OIL Ihese
| uttlr fellows afectiOnate now"
Yes" interrupted the professor. reaching longingly
for an part of his person. they are they ye
| attached themselves to me already Awful sOcabe,
| too never think OF ringing at the front door"
| THE PROFESSORS GREAT SHOT
| The first game OF croquet was between man from