The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-18
ClOQUET IN ENGLAND
A Melancholy pastime-But as For Law Breaking in
Scotland, I'm an Avt0--i

and got into position for number four.
With a feeling that l would never give
up trying TO WIN, nc matter what happened.
l sent my ball back across the lawn and by
good luck ! got into u position hat a tap
would win me the passage Of the arch.
But my opponent was also playing to win
and he knocked me out Of position and then
sent me to the limit in a new direction. He
h made two hoops, planning each stroke
with a elaboration that sent chills up my
already cool spine.
l would have jumped and shouted but
that would have been too cowboyish and
~undignifed for my friend. who was extra
English, so l refrained. The rocks were
cawing coldly and blacklist clouds swept
across the gray sky and the vino in the
yew trees made a Novemberish sound.
l glanced at the four men who were hav-
ing a9battle royal of tennis. How warm
and happy they looked They we're doing
something, while l had not even begun to
get ready to commence to do any thing
I looked at my watch. l had been half
an hour trying for a chance to enter the
game. / shivered and my opponent told
me that he must make the six arches-hoops
twice before the game was at an end.
Once more l tried for position and this
time did not get il, but that very fact left
me untouched by my opponent. who gave
ten minutes chess thought to the problems
on the avn and then missed a hoop.
This encouraged me. Now 1 would go
through. | took careful aim and hit the
ball softly and did no more than get into
position to go through next time.
But there was never to be a next time for
me. 1 hadn't begun TO play and l didn't
begin to play at all.
We were on that chilly lawn for two solid
hours and in that time my opponent made
every hoop and rested from his labors
when he had hit the stick and the last
stroke l made l just missed that first hoop
by six inches. l think that with practice
l could have made it.
Chilled to the marrow. | reverently laid
my mallet away in it's box forever. while
my friend assured me that l would make
a good player because l was not too cock
sure. as so many beginners were. He said
like so many beginners we're, because
that's considered good English.
But "croky" is not for me. l o a brisk
walk to avert a chill and when my blood
was once more circulating the cawing of
the rocks sounded friendly and the dull
skies gave promise of merry sunshine on
the mo rrow.
And / then and there resolved that nothing
should ever tempt me to stand outside a
hoop knocking in vainI for an entrance.
To take up a more cheerful topic,
Why is il that when we are in Rome We
do as the Romans do? Why will | play
tennis on Sunday in England when refuse
to do it in New Jersey for fear of nat
my neighbors will say? Why is it that when
return from England | do not acknowledge
hat l did play tennis on Sunday in Eng
land?
Won't some one please answer me-?
Take also the matter of motor speeding.
At home ave always been one of the
mouthfrothers at the unconscionable speed
ing Of our motors Every time one has
passed my house at the rate of thirty miles
an hour or more l have asked whoever
happened to be near me:
What are we coming tor Do we own
the roads or do a privileged few own them?
Shall we offer up our children to these
juggernauts, meekly submitting to express
train service on suburban streets. or shall
we appeal to our legislators to put an end
TO any speed above ten miles an hour?"
And my %neighbors have always answered