The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-18

also calm judgment. and, above all things.
an imperturbable temper. At any given
moment one player has the most COM
plete command of the balls. and the other
has TO submit to being deprived of all
chances OF making progress. His turn
may come If his opponent makes a mis-
take. or II he can succeed in the appar-
entity hopeless task of hitting single ball
at the other end Of the grounds. more
than thirty yards away. and even this
slender chance may not often be afforded.
Crack players are careful to wire an
adversary for whose long shots they en-
terrain any respect finishing each break
by placing the ball liable to be picked off
under the shelter of one or more hoops.
1udEious antagonist. when he has es-
tahlished a lead. Will take the utmost care
not to lose IL by riskng brilliant strokes
or by weakly showing mercy TO his rival.
In making a long break-in other words
making several hoops in the same turn
the skill of the best players is chiefly
shown In the admirable tactics employed
TO keep one ball under due control and an
other waiting In a central position to be
used when required.
In striking this second ball, great pre-
cision is exhibited in first getting such
position near IL that i, can he forced to-
wards the hoop which is next made. Gro
quet this year is played both upon lawns
and upon sanded fields. For some reasons
the first is the most pleasant but when II
comes to actual skill in playing the sanded
field should have supremacy. There is
greater opportunity for clever shots there
are no obstacles In the way OF concealed
twiGs. and il becomes a game where sci
ence and brains always overmatch ignor-
ance and lack of skillfuness. on the
lawn. accidents sometimes favor the poor
player. on the sand. provided the field is
in good condition. the PLAYER must depend
altogether upon his Judgment and his
cleverness in handling the maliet.
Another fact that Is making croquet
rather popular this season is that none Of
the expense which attaches 10 golf and
also tennis is caused by II. The ordinary
dress for croquet Is that which every one
wears. Neither knickerbockers nor short
skirts are necessary. One does not have
IN wear a cap neither is he Obliged 20
provide himself with sticks or other
equipment The host or hostess is bound
IN provide the balls and mallets for the
guests and this relieves them of an In
finite lot of bother II Is not the rule In
croquet. as In other games that one has
a favorite mallet or a favorite ball. One
may prefer a certain weight mallet but
that can he selected Just as a man who
goes into billiard hall TO play a game OF
billiards selects his cue of certain
weight.
II IS tho general opinion Of persons who
are familiar with croquet that there are
two reasons for lawn tennis having gained
supremacy over IL. One ia that grounds
have been especially prepared for tennis
The second IL that tennis was something
new Now however. tennis has neen
played for sufficient length OF time that
the supremacy OF the two games may be
decided upon the merits OF each. In the
cF 50
ton that croquet has the hes, claim. for
the simple reason that IN the long run IL
is the better able 20 hold the interest. be-
cause IL really requires infinitely more
skill and science.
No one can say at what time this wear
croqnet forced Itself upon the thoughts OF
people Perhaps the first sntlmation o.
this was the formation of croquet clubs
The first amused. the second caused in
quiry. the third resulted In investigation
Now II happens that croquet clubs are
being formed right and left and Dame
Fashion herself has SCI the seal Of an
prevail upon the revival Of the old-tIrna
society amusement. II Ia fact that II
society often wanders after strange gods
IL invariably returns sooner or later 70
the best that Is offered TO IT, No one
familiar with The two games can deny
that croquef Is as scientific as billiard.
ways VIII be. e. favorite pasttrne The re-
vivai ~ croalet Indicates ina; hereafter
II will be considered in the same cate
CORY.
Very many persons have in soma way
gained tho impression that since croous.
has comparatively ceased to be a national
amusement II In nothing at all Far from
this being trus- there is national Gro
qnet association which meets in Norwich
Conn, this year on-ttc Monday preceding
the thIra Tuesday In August
There 80 10 better grounds In fhe
country than those 20 be found in New
York city at the corner OF Eiehtv-elgh,h
street and Madison avenue. and sandea
grounds. tno. ard not lawn odaty
enough. sailors Snug Harhor. on the
west side Of Staten island. boasts ~ de-
Hghtfal grounds. where the old salts
enjoy themselves. Their. are croallet
grouna- 40 Twenty second aud Brown
streets. faiisde.paia. Leominsser. Mass;