New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
CROQUET.
THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT NORWICH.
GREAT INTEREST IN THE GAME AT COTTAGE

CITY.
CrOQuet has not gone to grass. Far from IT, The
courts as mOdernly constructed do not allow sings
blade thereon, but made Of earth as level as
barn floor The evolution of the game is interesting
to study II stn has features common TO that gams
which English cousins introduced here thirty or
forty ago. But they features of increasing
difficulty and scientific perfection. The old-fashioned,
argeszed hoops and irregular wooden balls and long
handled malles and courts of particular size, sta
toned possibly sidehil, have given place to steel
arches firmly set in timbers beneath the ground The
balls Of hard rubber truly spherical and highly
elastic The mallcts a thing Of beauty and Joy
till they break extra difficult shot. first
class mallet costs about IS so. But it is a gem $50
TO speak, of the first water Measure the balls and
three inches and quarter will be the utmost limit Of
their dianeers while the arches only three inches
and one-half, and the CENTRE real rubicon to
the best players, is only three and three-eghths in
The clear AS you stand little back of it with
ball in its Jaws the ball looks larger than the
wicket and it proves to be the fatal place TO many
players otherwise brilliant
To make the usual arches 1t is requisite to get an
accurate position in front Of and very them It
is chance that takes player from stake to stake
in single turn. Now the grounds of the National AS
ISOLATION have borders Of pine oak, four by six
inches, and caroms are allowed The grounds also
have been made smaller, and thrtysix by seventytw
feet is now the established size.
In no place has there been such study
of aud attempt to develop its scientific feat
ures at Cottage City. The club there
recently established with Tufts, of Boston, and Rand,
Of Chicago, leaders, has got the thing down to a
fine point The latest fad is applying to the timber
borders semcircular band of soft rubber by which
the most wonderful carOms considering distance and
size of grounds) are made, extIicang the player not
infrequeDtly from most embarrassing positions, and
turning the tables completely upon ones adversary.
borders, daily res0unding with mallet strokes from
early morn till set Of sun, aid sometimes interest I'm
an unfinished game is so great that, on account OF
darkness, recourse is had to the holding Of handker
chiefs and the lighting Of matches to determine the
location OF the balls Cottage City is. during the
heat perfect paradise for the lover Of croquet.
The grounds, within stones throw Of the ocean, arc
usually delightfully."- cool, and can get his I'LL OF
ocean air and croquet at the same time.
Little is done to increase the national interest In the
game. The national tournaments, held at Norwich for
halfsco' of years. preceded by no great flourish
of trumpcts and there are very few meets" other
wise, except for friendly Tits here and there through
the year. Yet the game is making progress, and clubs
here and there are being formed
The simple fact is, not enc in a thousand has ever
seen really scientific game of croquet such as John
or Mauser put up TO say nothing Of others in
the first division at the national tournament. Tho
best players arc called giants" The word profes-
ferred. Much practice perfection, yet some
Of these knights OF the mallet would do good work
away from cIOquet ground for year or two. Poor
Judgment in the management OF the balls is the bane Of
many player possessed Of much skill, the strongest
game being that in which head and hand cooperate,
the former By planning, the latter by executing.
Eight grounds have been Constructed at Nor
wich Conn, the Mecca OF cfoquet-payers and much
money expended To establish tho meetings OF the Ma
tiOnal Association there permanently. The tourna-
ment will open on Tuesday next at o'clock. and the
rat.tattat OF the balls and malles will be music 70
many who show their devotion u the game by their
annual pilgrimage 20 this cr-quet shrine. The follow
Ing clubs have eady shown their desire 10 enter,
and the players from these will be divided
into three divisions, according 10 the merit Of play:
Adrian Mich. New London, Conn.,; Asbury Grove,
Mass Trenton, \. J. Keyport; ~ j. Matewan,
Penn Quaker CITY, PelladeiPhia Northampton.
sends IIarbor. Mass: Staten Island, v. Y: Blair
Hall Bairsown. y. j.. GlOvesville, y. Y. Cottage
CITY Mass; Rockville. Conn.,. New Brunswick. " J.:
BeI Rock Maiden, Mass; Troy. ". Y: Florence,
Mass NewtOnvle, Mass. Hightstown, ~ j.: Dan,
bury Conn; shelburno Falls Mass stanford Conn.
PLAYED BY each player with every other but thers
Is strong feeling this year. as there are so many
grounds than usual, to have each player at least
In the first division play two games with every other,
SO as 10 give better and extended opportunity
Of determining excellence by increased number
OF games
Jacobs OF Springfield. Mass. 20 offer prize OF ~ny.
thing In their line Of goods up to $40 In value for
the quickest game Of the tournament.
Great interest Is promised. and the best tournament
Of all Is believed % DO ut hand