The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-20
THE SPREAD OF POLO.

During the last decade polo has made astonishing progress and has vastly increased in favor alike with players and spectators. It is only necessary to watch during the season any important match at Birmingham or Ranelagh in order to realize the fact Either side has it's jealous partisans, and the teams cannot complain that their skill is not appreciated. The dashing run down the ground, the un- obstrusive stroke which saves goal or enables friend to win one, dexter ous passing, smart riding-off, all receive their need of applause, and fair ladies are not backward in expressing their approval of brilliant feats of horseman- ship. The rivalry between the various clubs and regimental teams has grown to a high pitch, and polo bids fair to take very prominent place among British national sports
 Nor is it strange that this should be the case. Rather one may wonder that a game so well suited to the sporting tastes of Englishmen was only intro duced to this country during the last quarter of a century. for polo had it's origin in remote days of antiquity. It was played in Persia 2,5OO years ago, and in certain parts of Hindustan and it's dependencies has been popular for centuries In India our soldiers first learned the game, and in course of time they brought their new pastime to England, where at the commencement it's progress was slow; for in early days the scientific tactics and principles of combination which now render the game so fascinating were not in vogue. The ponies, for the most part, were slow, illsuited for the purpose in view, and, lacking interest and excitement, polo failed to arouse much attention. From small beginnings it crept into favor. MT. John Watson, master of the Meath foxhounds, and still one of our leading players, was among the first to recognize it's possibilities. To him we are indebted for the backhanded stroke which so oftens serves to baff1e an enemy, and he was the first captain who thoroughly drilled his men and taught them combination rendered them more powerful whether for at tack or defence.
 Then came the days when the Free booters and the brothers Peat were in the zenith of their fame, and since that time polo has progressed with singular rapidity. The standard height of pom ies was raised to 14.2-the present limit-and the change quickly bore fruit as it became possible to ride blood animals, able at once to carry weight and to gallop. At one period no little difficulty was experienced in obtaining ponies of the right stamp But demand ever creates supply. and ere long breeding establishments were started in this country; ponies were imported from North America, the Argentina, and Egypt, and to-day use full animals can be bought for no more than 950. Fashionable ponies of es- tablished reputation command fash ionable prices, yet on occasion a veri- table treasure may be picked up for a trif1ing sum. The largest amount ever realized by polo pony at auction was 720 guineas, paid by Lord Kensington for Sailor at the Messrs. Miller's sale this spring. Sailor was formerly the property of MT. Gerald Hardy, who rode it in manly hard fought match, and who. 1t is to be regretted, has now retired from the polo-field; he played No. 1 for the Freebooters in the final of the champion cup at Birmingham last year, and has figured prominently in most of the important tournaments. At Messrs. Miller's sale at Rugby, re- ferred to above, thirty-one ponies were disposed of at an average price of 2S1 guineas; the figure may seem high, but it must be remembered that the ponies were selected with rare judgement and were all thoroughbred