Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
COMING ROGUE TOURNEY
CRACK PLAYERS OF THE SOUTH TO
MEET HERE.
How the Old Game of CrOquet Has
Been Developed Into Scien-
tific Sport.

lust one month after the rogue tourna-
ment at Norwich the local clubs hold one
on their courts at 9th street and Rhode
Island avenue northwest 9th street near
r and 18th street between Q and r.
This tournament Is for the champion
ship of the south" and there will probably
be a large attendance Of out-of-town play
ers. and the games will undoubtedly be
hotly contested. In addition to the usual
tournament, games, there will be contests
for two gold medals. known as the van
Wickle medals" The medals are donated
to the association by Mr.. Geo.. 5. Van
Wichle of New Brunswick. who for many
years has been greatly interested In the
game.
The first one was presented to the asso-
citation in 1891 and Is to be contested for
by members of the association who play In
the first division, the games to be the best
four in seven At present this prize is held
by s. L. Duryee of this city.
The second medal was donated last year.
This one is for the players Of the second
and third divisions, and Is to be contested
for under the same rules as the first. Frank
H. Foss Of Norwich, Conn.,, holds this at
present
The National Rogue AssOciatiOn.
The National Rogue Association. as It's
name implies, is an association Of all the
clubs In the country which send representa-
tives to the annual meeting at Norwich,
Conn
This meeting Is held annually at the club
house the third Tuesday In August. and
during the week the tournament for the
championship of the United States Is held
on the association courts
At the meeting this year there were thir-
ty-one members present, representing SIX
teen clubs These clubs are located In VIII
mington, New London. Springfield Nor
witch, Northampton. Mass; Townsend Har-
Dor, Providence. Pomona. Cal; Trenton.
Chelsea, Spring City, Brooklyn and in this
city.
In witnessing a game of rogue one can
scarcely realize that this most scientific
game has evolved from the old-fashioned
game of croquet; but such is the fact
First Of all, the uneven grass yards have
been done away with, and in their place
hard-rolled and perfectly leveled clay-sur-
faced courts. thirty-six feet wide and sew
enty-two feet long. have been substituted.
Then the large wire wickets gave place to
three and three-eighths-inch tool steel ones.
The next step in the transformation Of the
game was the change from the soft wooden
balls. which were so easily battered out Of
shape. to the present hard rubber ones.
These balls are three and one-Quarter inch
es in diameter. or just one-eighth CT on
inch smaller than the arches.
addition Of a 4xs-inch border. with eight
foot corners. The stakes were also short
ened to one and one-half inches in height.
Then came the small malk 8. The heads
inches in length and from one and three
quarter to two and one-auarter inches In
diameter, while the handles are about ten
inches in length. OF course. there are q
great many different styles OF mallets. az
each player Is at liberty to suit his own
taste In the selection Of one.
Center Wicket Changed.
Later on. the center wicket. which in the
old game was no more difficult to make
than any of the others, was changed into
two arches. and these were placed facing
the sides Of the court and perpendicular to
the other arches.
These two wickets are called ''the cage"
and are considered as one. This cage may
be made in one, two more shots. pro-
vided that the ball, after entering the first
arch OF the cage. remains In such position
that a straight-edge. placed inside and rest
ing against the sides Of the cage, touches
the ball The ball Is then said to be ''in
position to make the arch.
In the old game the balls had strip Of
paint about an inch wfdo midway around
them. while in rogue the balls are painted
all over. The colors are red. white, blue
and black. and the balls are played in this
sequence. The red and blue are partner
balls and so with the white and black.
How the Name Was Derived.
A. the game - 1t Is now played . prac-