New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-19
PROFESSIONAL CROQUET.
THE ANNUAL NATIONAL. TOURNAMENT AT
NORWICH.

norvtch Conn., Aug. 1s (SpccaD-Tte annual tourna-
nent u the National Croquet Association VIII open mere on
Nons,v next ard continue throughout the week Play
e-s arc expected from New York City Troy Gover'Ne
and fremont ~ Y. Boston. Springfield Groton. west
boro Northampton Monson and Townsend Harbor Mass
New Brunsvck wcstAeld and Keyport, N D. fnua-
dclphia Penn. Providence. r. l.; staten Island nor
vicb New. London, Danbury Wallingfofd- stanpo'u'
Rockville and Jewett City, Conn. Iyrla, Ohio: Adrian
Mich and other places
Tho croquet grounds which are believed IN be The hnes
in the United States been put IN 1stcs' condition.
For the benefit the reader who has not s'n coau'
she Is plaedn by professionals It may be stated that
the professional croQuet ground is not lawn inc I'M
cerains presented by inequalities OF even ire most
perfectly shavcn grass would rob the sport OF It's beauty
FOR the professional knight Of the miet the courts hee
arc made rolled sand They are hve IN numoe each
az bv 30 feet in Finely siftej sond packed hard by
onderou. iron roller and scraped smooth by enormous
steel sraiehtedge presents surface as smooth conara
lively as billiard table and as level "a civil engineers
transit and careful manipulation can make It, II I'll" three
inch wooden buffer which surrounds tho court ana prevents
40 halls oonr as.ray we're CT hloned with rubber th,
.ou. would be nothing less than colossal billiard
table with wickcs and stakes When one Glances pack 20
the primitive game crCQuc as inverted BY DIT "yaro
for his patents at Pau France, hall century ago. ana
observes how ~ has developed It is not licking much %
predict thai years the buffer Will be cushioned an"
| utilized in making carom shots
With such perfect surface admitting OF the most ac
curate shots II evident that II the primitive ten or
rel,e inch wicket usci by amateurs were employc1 INC
rame would be mere chIlds poy In order 10 make 1t
more dcult therefore, the wickets are but "a inches
in dlan.ter except the ccntal wicket which are only
g inches wide the balls are Ia Inches IN diane
ter requires the utmost ncfty OF skill 70 pu' theH
through This difficulty Is increased by the nrmness with
which the 80 inch steel wires are Embedded IN blocks OF
wood beneath the II ball strikes one wire az
certain angle 10 Wilt bound against tho other wire ana os-
cilate back and forth without passing through 30 pro
acient however Of the players become THAI they
-. trfcr in n nV
These grounds are Illuminated BY electric lights. that
Tho rl,vinc docs not cea at nghal The lights hlv,
bocn rearranced this year Instead OF light over the
middle o. each arena light is placed over each ed mus
preven,ng some shadows which proved annoying s
year
Another Improvement this IS the method OK choosing
conas,ant According 70 the rules adopted a. thu
last annual meeting the secretary hae sent nut during the
year lists OF members To all belonging 70 th'
association, and each member has had 81
opportunity TO vote on the assignment
a, .vov other member to one OF classes The player
have thu, been classified according To the plurality o tne'
votes and only members OF the same class WIN pa;
aralns, each other in champion ship games Each c'u
ia entitled 10 enter contestants for the prize games
Besides the championship contests large nnmoer
aoc,aI Games are always played. and these are oienme
as exciting as the prize matches. go
Tbo.e who gather annually at Norwich and exempt
-ooro, IN s hiches, development men from busnes
and professional walks OF life, whose favorte diversion
sr,,ror ia croouet and improve this occasion 10
spending their vacation in beautiful picturesque 'n
hosritable New England town over two and quartz
centuries old u boon open secret for me p'
v wears that there least one member VINO dd NJ
consider bounding the croquct ball Incompatible with e
,orns,no the Gospel. and who gratihed his "hlih
nlavinr on the wickcted field under harmless peuaohy
lie ands even here that the wicket do not cease ITO
troubling The players right iovial company Oh
| are always welcome here -.
The prizes during the past I'VE years have been won
! | follows 49,, ....
In 1ss3-Firs Dr.. Ira b Read, OF New hoth se'o1
Mr. George W Johnson, Ok Philadelphia third NJ
| charles uau Botsford, OF NewYork
In 1ss4-F,rst General Edward Hariand on Norwlc
Cam second Professor Charles Jscoous OF Ne"nru
wick n l.. rrd Mr.. George w.Johnson'ot Phiisdelphi
In 1ss5-rIrst Professor Charles Jacobus' Of Ne'
l. | prunsvick Y J. second Mr.. c. H. Botsiofd o' NC
york: third Mr. Maurcr OF Keypoft, y. D.
n Tn 1ssG-Frst Nj c. ii. Bots'ord' OF NV" ioU
q ocond Professor Charles Jacobus OF Ncw-bfuhs"lo
= \ J. third Mcssrs Bryant OF Northampton Mass
and vamhold OF staten Island. CThe latter gentle
cr tied and one left before the tie was PLAYED
Fash was given a third prize as the easiest manner
settling the matter) . ,.. ,,..,. so.or
In 1ss7-FIrst, Mr.. wambod. Of staten lsahu seco.
Professor Charles Jacobus Of New-bFuhs"ieh, ".
10 mir. Mr. A. W. Dckey, OF Norwich foufth' MI ~