New-York tribune., 1901-08-18
THE NEW CROQUET.
ROGUE PLAYERS TO MEET FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEK-HOW
THE GAME HAS BEEN
DEVELOPED

Norwich. Conn. Aug. l7.-In this city the
twentieth annual tournament of the National
Rogue Association OF America will open on Tues
day next and continue for the remainder of the
week. During that week the best rogue players
OF the country will assemble to determine the ma
tiocnl championship for the comirS year. which
IL now held by Charles 6. Williams a young Wash
iugton player. who has held IT for two years The
association officials expect this most sue
cessfui OF any Of its tournaments in view OF the
improvements at the grounds this
Seven OF the eight courts OF the grounds have
been equipped with rubber borders In place Of the
wooden which have formerly served. There
has been much fault found with the wooden ones.
which fairly satisfactory long as they re-
main sound. but the least sign OF decay spoils their
usefulness. number OF players in past years
have preferred the Cottage City grounds 10 those
here account OF the rubber borders. but their
Introduction here viii revive the popularity OF the
game. Each court has also been equipped with
eight incandescent lights to allow OF the play con
tiuuing into the evening.
AS far the name rogue is concerned. the term
IS yet in its infancy although its attainment has
been the result OF a long process OF development.
Those who have welded tho maliet for years. pos
sbly back 20 first days over thirty years ago,
can trace the many changes that have been made
and yet hardly recognize the game then the one
Of to-day. The old game was carried 10 its very
limits. and even beyond. The sodded ground and
neatly kept turf in beauty where the game is
called croquet gave way superior features OF
scientific play, In which accuracy could never be
assured grass courts. What is the Ma
tonal Rogue Association organized in 1852
I'm New York City. with Dr. Ira B. Reed. of New
York City, It's first president. under the name
of the National Croquet Association OF America
II continued under that until 1900. when.
after several years of endeavor, the name was
changed from croquet to rogue pronounced rokel.
distinguish II from the lawn game OF wide arches
and long handled mallets. The association coined
the name by dropping the initial and last letters
OF tho word croquet.
ROGUE. enthusiasts think is fully as scientific as
billiards and gives great field for strategy and
the exercise OF Judgment, nerve. ability and a
trained hand and eye. Clubs in the following
cities are members of the National Rogue Asso-
clation: Norwich Conn; New London Conn.
Trenton. N J.: New Brunswick. n. j.; Washington,
D. c; Cottage City. Mass; Langdon Club. Hutch
inson Club and Capitol Hin Club. of Washington.
d. c Blair Hin. n. j; Danbury, Conn; Stamford
Conn; Quaker City. Philadelphia; Staten Island
New York: ew-York. Keyport. N j.; Hightstown,
n J.: Troy. Newtonville. Mass: Sheburne Falls
" MIddIetown, Conn: Chicago. Ill. Onarga. Ill.
Ssbury Grove. Mass: Norwood, Mass; Springfield
Mass Providence. Townsend Harbor. Mass; NAL
den Mass Westboro, Mass; Wilmington, Del.
and Ontario. Cal. .
one of the features at each tournament is the
contest for the possession OF the Van Wckle gold
hadge for. the United States championship of In
dvI9luaI play. determined by winning four OF
seven games.