The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-05-24
Mseful aud Curious.
RULES FOR cRoaUEr.
The simpler the Better-The New English
Code.

The English croquet clubs held a conference
in January, 1e70, at which n code of laws was
adopted, which are characterized by simplicity
good sense, and straightforwardness. The rules
have since been revised by the votes of the
clubs represented in the conference, aud seem
worthy Of universal adoption. We have been
guided by them for three seasons. and like them
better and better. The principal points are as
follows:
l. No Carbohydrate 4-''The strikers ball.
when placed on the starting-spot and struck is
Mt once in play, and can roquet another or be
roqueted whether it has made the first hoop or
not
2. The tum.-'A player, when his turn comes.
may roquet each ball once, and may do this
again after each point made
3. No Tight Croquet.-"in taking croquet the
striker is not allowed to place his foot on the
Lall." There has been a gradual abandonment
of the tight or '.foot" croquet and a growing
opinion that the ''loose' or roquet-croquet- Is
fairer or more scientific. At first the foot was
obliged TO be on the ball. Then, in the treatise
Of Mayne Reid and the Newport Club the loose
croquet was allowed to the rover only. After
wards (Bradley's rules) the method was option
al. Now, We have the scientific stroke as the
only one admissible. All the rules about the |
finch and the rover are now unnecessary.
4. Croquet Imperative after ROquet.-".A play |
er who Toquets a ball must take croquet and in |
so doing must move both balls This sets at |
rest all question abOut declining
.. Ball in Hand after CroIuet.-When a ball |
and must be taken up and placed beside roauet- |
ed ball IN order TO take crOquet. No point OF 7
roquet can be made by ball in hand For /
example, If the red ball in commencing its turD /
hits the blue and rolls on through a wicket the !
wicket is not made, because the ball was in /
hand from the moment it struck the blue
Again. if the red should by the same blow hit |
first the blue then the yellow, he could eroquet |
only the blue, but would have the privilege of |
striking at the yellow afterward and croguetinc
1t If hit. You may therefore stop ball which |
has roqueted another without the risk of its
owner saying: ..if you had not stopped nv ball |
it wonld have made the wicket"
q. Wrong Playlng.-When q ball is PLAYED ont |
of turn, OF the wrong bail used. or n foul stroke
made, the general principle is that the points 50
made are lost and the remainder Of the turn is
forfeited, and the adversary may elect whether
the balls shall be replaced or remain where they
lie. But if the adversary PLAYS ON without
claiming the penalty, the false play holds good
Specific rules are given for the various cases I'M
der this rule.
the game as usually played, which destroy the
symmetry of the game. 1t is a mistaken idea
that complication of rules make it ''more inter
esting.' This is shown by the fate of all such
eontriyances as the crossed hoops in the centre,
little bells the wickets, etc. No crouuet
player who understands the game thoroughly
and can play the "split shot," the follow" and
the "hold-back needs any such aids to give in
terest to the game. The following are some of
the usages referred to which are omitted from
the english code: l. Taking 1.-TWO shots or a
''mallerS length" as reward for running two
wickets at the same blow. The two wickets
are like virtue, their own reward. ,. '.SpOtting
a ball which has struck the turning stake" Ii
should play from where it lies like any other
ball. ?. The IDEA that ball must move six
inches 10 constitute 4 stroke Who can measure
the distance trayersed by a railing ball' If is
moved at all il is a stroke.