The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-04
PLAYING FOR The LEAVE.

The days when croquet was regarded
as a crooks game, meet only for old
women and young curates, have long
gone by. 1t now takes its place, and no
contemplate place either, among the
national paStimeS. 1t is recognized as
skill, and one Of the most scientific of all
games of science. Even its enemies
speak of 1t with respect, and admit that
it demands a firm nerve, a true eye a
steady hand and an alert brain on the
part of its votaries.
And, in truth, he who would pit him
self, with any chance of success, against
the best players, cannot afford to neg
lect any precaution whatever that
makes for physical fitness. He must
nurse and train himself as carefully, if
not as laboriously, as does an athlete or
an oarsman. Early hours, regular hab-
its, systematic exercise, tobacco and al
cohol only in the strictest moderation,
these must be the daily portion of your
aspirant to croquet honors. For not only
must his eye be keen and true, his
nerve inhexible and his hand steady as
q rock. but he must also have more
than ordinary powers both of mental
and bodily endurance. The strain of
crOquet played seriously and scien-
ILLEGALLY against serious and scientific
players is intense; its demands upon the
brain and upon the physique most ex-
acting.
I have a friend. young Cantab, who
has made his mark in aquatics and
who in the classical Tripos, emerged
third wrangler. He knows what it is to
row Furnishing race He knows what
il is to pilot his way through the be-
vvfidering intricacieS of an abstruse
mathematical problem. Yet he assures
me, and 1 can well believe him, that
when he has had a hard afternoon on
the Cam, topped up by an evening Of
severe mathematical study, he has gone
to bed appreciably less weary goth in
Nt,.av, J. 1,a- ont
his day upon the croquet lawns, playing
say, half dozen serious matches. And
he would far rather, he says $50 far as
mental fatigue goes), have to Wrestle
with the most complex indeterminate
equation that the devlish wit of an ex-
arniner ever invented than find himself
IN the corner of a croquet lawn with all
four balls, at a crisis of the game, and
have to maneuver them out of it to the
best advantage.
Now I have spoken of the necessity
Incumbent upon the would-be successful
croquet player to be regular in his hab-
its, temperate in his food, drinks and
tobacco systematic in his exercise, in
order that he may keep his eye true, his
brain clear, and his hand steay. But
this is not all Croquet makes other.
and greater, demands upon him. And
one thing par excellence must he eschew
"a thing that more, than aught else
plays old Harry with ones croquet. He
must eschew the tender passion
To keep late hours is bad; to eat,
drink, or smoke to excess is pernicious;
but to love to excess is (croquet-ically
speaking) the very devil. I speak by
the book Experto crede. You shall
hear what befeI the humble croquet
player who writes the present story
The idea of holding a County Cham
pionship meeting and first originated
with the Earl of X, our lord lieutenant,
himself a most enthusiastic croquet-ite;
who not only put down &25 towards
the expenses, but further placed the
gardens of X castle at the disposal of
the committee formed to carry out the
scheme.
Backed by so an influential a promo
ter. and pushed by a most enthusiastic
committee, the thing caught on. The
entries were so numerous that 1t was
found necessary to extend the meeting
over four days. But they comprised no
PLAYERS who on public form, had any
pretentions to be in the first fight. In
decd it was generally considered that.
bar fukes, the challenge cup lay De
tween old General Horncastle and my
self-with the odds at about to in
my favor.
Personally, I was pretty confident Of
nv capacity to out the general For
though he was a safe, steady. and long
headed player, yet twenty years in the
tropics had left him with a liver SO
sluggish. and a temper so correspond
fngly active, that calmness in the face
of provocation was a thing impossible
to him. When fortune smiled on him
at crOquet when he was playing VIM
ming game Gas he usually was, against
our local performer) then he was serene
enough. But let matters get the upper
hand of him, and leave him wired for
half a dozen shots in succession well