The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-08
OPENED HIS EYES
Secretary of State Denton LIS
Given a Setback.
Claimed Championship HOners
as a Croquet Player.
GIVEN A SURPRISE.
DIR. Lyman Gives Him Exhibi-
ton on His Rogue Court. =
His First Insight Into the Game
Played Scientifically.

They play a great game of croquet
at Attica. the old home of c. E. Den
ton, secretary of state. and the secre-
tary was a star in the tournaments
held in his home town. so it was with
alacrity that he accepted an invitation
last night to go with friend to the
croquet court of DR.. Samuel Lyman
at 1243 Tyler street. On the way over
Mr.. Denton told of the great game he
had played at Attica. These city fell
lows" he said, have not monopolized
all the skill in the world. 1 want to
tell you that the country turns out
some great croquet players. They nave
nothing to do there some days but prac-
tice. I want to get in the game TO-
night and show them thing or TWO
about the free country strike and the
clear eye of the open fields"
He was warned by his friend that
DIR. Lyman was an expert. Mr.. Denton
snorted at the suggestion and declar-
ed that he would not disgrace his
friend If given a chance on the new
tangled court.
Now DR.. Lyman has a croquet court
Che calls it roque) under cover of
building in his back yard built for the
purpose. The playing ground has been
brought to the point Of perfection by
a heavy iron roller and sand. 1t is as
smooth as a billiard table and the balls
Toll over II Will perfect ACCURACY. n
Cushion" in the shape of a concrete
curbing surrounds the playing ground
and the players utilize this to make
carom shots just as a good billiard
player does the cushions or table.
The wickets are only wide enough to
allow the ball to pass through them,
leaving but quarter of an inch space
IN either side of the ball. Mr. Denton
was Supplied when he entered the
building and looked at this court. The
xrr41f SO xxyfOI rata IyY,11 cd i'm
Holy smokei" he exclaimed, do they
shoot full sized croquet balls through
those wickets' Then one of the play
ers, r. A. Richards, started run. He
used a short handled mallet and jug
gled the balls and nurSed them like
Slosson making a high run in cham
pionship game. After he had made two
shots clear across the grounds and hit
q ball each time and then made sue
cessful carom shot when he was
wired" on a ball, Denton mopped his
scalp with a bandana handkerchief.
say" he whispered to his friend, II
bar that man. I won't play him. I'm
derstand that. They don't play this
way at Attica. There ought to be law
to widen those wickets.' The players
were DR.. Lyman and Charles Paine on
one side and R. A. Richards and John
Paine on the other.
AS the game continued the players
warmed to their work and began to
make some really fancy two-cushion
shots around the grounds. When DIR.
Lyman 'roqued" a ball he marked the
exact spot where it would stop, safely
wired" behind a wicket and the others
were equally accurate. Mr.. Denton's
establishment changed to wonder and
then grew to awe He no longer talked
of Attica and the great croquet games
played in that village, but sat like a
man in a trance; his jaw dropped down
until it rested upon his breast, his
moustache dropped and his whole fig
ure seemed inert and without the am
bition that had characterized the man
at the moment of his entrance to the
court.
After the game had been finished and
DIR. Lyman's side had won, Mr.. Denton
partially recovered his composure, and
before any one could propose a game to
him he had offered to bet his automo-
bile that his friend who had led him
to this place could not place a ball in
position directly in front of one of those
accursed wickets and drive 1t through
In ten shots. He became excited and
walked about the grounds proclaiming
the terms of his wager. Some one press
ed mallet in his hands and after nine
efforts he knocked a ball through a
wicket. He threw the mallet in the
air, danced with joy and embraced his
friend. He boosted of his achievement
all the way home. But as he neared