The Washington herald., 1911-05-14
YALE POLO TEAM
EAGER FOR FRAY
international Tourney at
Lakewood, N. j., Nay 81.
BRIEF HISTORY OF SPORT
Game Said to Have Originated
Hundreds of Years Before Chris
tian Era and Named After Marco
PolO-American Ponies, Due to Ex-
tensive Breeding, Are the Best.

New York, May 14-Polo. the idol Of
the ''plute'' and the envy Of the plebe.
by virtue of the international contest, to
be held on the Georgian Court grounds
at Lakewood. n. J.. May 81. June and
Z. is making a stronger bid for public
attention than ever before. On both
sides of the Atlantic, those whose bank
accounts permit them to take more than
a passing interest in the game are watch
ing daily Lakewood dispatches telling of
the tryouts between the rival American
and English teams with an avidity that
was hitherto accorded only to the inter-
national yacht races.
King George, himself a rabid poloist
sanctioned the invasion of the British
team. selecting the best players of the
army. entertaining them at the royal
palace, biding them do their utmost to
regain the Challenge Cup. which for the
first time in twentythree years reposes
ir America, and even making elaborate
arrangements to be kept informed as to
the progress Of the practice. together
with special cable advices after the close
of each period of play during the inter-
national match.
Belmont and Gould Interested.
In America no less an interest has
been manifest. August Belmont. known
throughout the United States for his in
ttrest in things equestrian. is a constant
visitor at the Meadowbrook camp, TAX
ing an interest in the practice games be-
tween the visitors and the Americans.
which rivals that formerly shown in his
famous race horses. George Jay Gould,
on whose estates the teams are playing,
has given orders that the famous polo
G4II - ~
condition for the coming meet, and has.
it is said, Cancelled a proposed trip to
England in order to be present at the
international clash.
Polo, always a game requiring daring
skill and hardihood, is at the same time
one of the oldest and one of the most
restricted pastimes in the world. Its ORR
gin is traced back to the ancient courts
of pagan Asia. and it is said to have
been played hundreds of years before the
Christian era. In fact, some devotees of
the sport claim that that famous traveller.
Marco Polo, when returning from one of
his famous expeditions during the Middle
Ages. first brought with him the news
OF the game-hence its name. Whether
this be true or not is a matter of con-
lecture, but certain it is that the game
as played to-day has a distinctly Eastern
origin, for 1t was first made known to
members of the British East India Com
pany during the middle of the seventeenth
century. From the Indian tea merchants
the game rapidly spread to the army,
where both the leisure and the means Of
prosecution were at hand.
Its introduction into the army marked
the nucleus of a popularity that has
spread all over the world, though up to
a short time ago, comparatively. Great
v,,i1f 1lalx~
game as distinctly its own.
That this game of daring and skill has
never become popular with the proleta-
riat whose sporting instincts have for
ages Toasted upon other forms of sport,
Is explained by the prohibitive expense
Polo, like no other game known to
humanity, is the game of the rich. Its
very accouterments are redolent with
wealth. First, there Is the polo pony
When the game was young In this coun-
try 1t was considered that any old hack
would do SO long as he be young, wiry,
and Of good heart. To this end the mus
tang of the plain seemed peculiarly fitted,
and hundreds OF his breed were intro
duced in the East. 1t was soon found,
however. that there was one other requi-
site with which to Observation-Disclosures
Without this attribute in the pony both
player and mount were not only below
grade, but in actual danger of life and
limb.
The tenure of the mustang was short.
Wealthy Americans imported carefully
trained animals from the British neigh
bors and set about developing the sport
with distinctive American push and fer
vor that soon began to make its mark.
International matches were soon ar.
ranged and almost yearly contests took
place between the experts Of the united