The sun., 1908-06-21

quire too great strain on the mental organs.
Here and there are benches marked -Pri-
yate.' These are for the croquet players
of the clubs, who like to sit down and talk
things over occasionally and who enjoy
one anothers plays better when they can
vieT them from the vantage point of shade
iand rest.
There are perhaps forty or fifty players
every pleasant day during the croquet
season, but there are only two organized
clubs, the New York and the Union. These
have by right of seniority and prestige
preempted certain favored locations. on
which the other players never cream of
intruding. Flagpoles. which also act as
coat and hat hangers, mark the site of
each, and from the apex of one floats tn
red and blue signal Of the New York club.
and the black and yellow OF the Union
s.cG the other.
just as soon as it is sunup every day
park attendant places the wickets and
stakes Of the clubs with mathematical
exactitude. and at noon coming from diff
ferent points of the compass, from the
apartments of Central Park West. from
the elevated roads, from nearby homes
on Madison avenue and from further afield,
the croquet players begin to foregather.
passing the time of day as they meet and
preparing slowly and carefully for the
onerous duties of the afternoon, which do
not end until o'clock.
Very much to the ohagrin Of the players,
the first Saturday in May has been allotted
to the May parties, and 80 pervasive are
they that the first meet of the croquet fans
has to be delayed until the first Monday
Ak<G CT, <J,.r
On that day they greet one another and
speak jokingly OF rheumatic joints and
stiff wrists and ankles. Every day there
after. at the same hour, there 10 always a
quorum, and the games 60 on until Thanks
giving Day. when the park permits are
withdrawn
Some Of the members drop out during
tho summer vacation season, but they
manage to steal back to town occasionally
for days sport, explaining their reappear-
arice by saying that they felt the need Of
q little real exercise; that mountain climb
ing. rowing and sailing. even fishing anda
swimming, we're all we'll enough in their
way. but 1t is a way that does not especially
recommend itself to the veteran croquet
player who knows real sport when he sees
it. and simply cannot be satisfied with any
shadow Of the reality.
After Thanksgiving Day the Union club
retiree into the solitude of winter Not
SO the New York.
Undaunted by storm and stress, its
members obtain special permit. and in
sheltered nook. midway between the
Zoo and Fifth avenue. keep the bali rolling
straight through the calendar months.
They say that they would get terribly
rusty IL they did not do this. and for the
!..se Of them they cannot see how the Union
club gets along without this constant
exercise.
Ine New York club 10 more child COM
cared with the Union. but makes up in
excusiveness what it lacks in numbers
and years. It's members are all retired
men Of wealth The majority are fathers
of families.
EAsy say that the history OF the croquet
player Is always the same--that he takes
up the game at first because he has nothing
ese 70 do and ends by playing it because
no would rather do that than anything
else' 10 play croquet Is. according to them.
: 'ne only rational and entertaining pursuit
o. mlddle age and the years that represent
me downward slope.
r one oi the junior members who Is still
on inc sunny side Of the slope, gives It az
me- opinion that when man has come to
hs tlme OF life and his business interferes
~i'h his croquet playing there 10 only one !