Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-21
QUAKER CITY ROGUE CLUB PLAYS
GREAT GAME ON PARK PLOT
Expert Pointers NeIO Sport That Is Gripping PadepaRS
HOU to PIay-DimcuitieS of the Camel. C. Kirk
One of Leading Players in This City.

In Fairmount Park near StrawberrS
Mansion, are the six courts and club
house of the Quaker City Rogue Club,
To the initiated these plots of perfectly
level ground, bounded by solid border
and having arches at regular intervals
on their surfaces, appear TO be minia-
ture tennis courts turned to another use.
These courts represent to those familiar
Wlth the game, an outdoor sport con-
sldered the most scientific in the world,
Unlike most outdoor games, rogue must
ne understood thoroughly in order to be
enjoyed by the spectator, One must. at
ieast' have 1t first-class playing knOwl-
edge OF the pastime. even If he is not a
Hrst-class player. And to acquire good
general knowledge of rogue, a careful
study of the game is necessary.
Rogue was derived from the game of
croquet, Years ago devotees of the lawS
sport set out to make the game more
dihcult. They began by making the
arches much narrower and the playing
course more level and gradually added
other features until the game of croquet,
as played by these experts, was vastly
HiHerent from the one commonly in
vogue, They then changed the name of
the improved game to rogue, forming the
name by dropping the first and final let
'ers from the word croquet.
border of heavy timber was the next
feature introduced on the rogue court,
shortly after which a border of rubber
was added Many of the roque courts
To-Day contain concrete borders, which are
better than the rubber banks. The mod
ern rogue court Is practically a large
uuilatd table on the ground; It has been
called ground billiards. The regulation
court Is 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, 1t
70 made of carefully screened soil, topped
with layer of white bar sand. The
sIound requires constant rolling, to make
~ ~ Tree from the slightest imperfectiOn.
mere Is balk line, Is inches from the
poIaef, running around the field. The
paiis that stop outside Of this mark must
ne brought in on the line at right angles,
ana played from there Two small stakes
are placed at either end of the course.
tour pals are used i'm game. They
aie made OF the finest grade of hard
Iuooer and will Withstand hard driving.
me mallets are made OF a variety of
selected woods, from ebony TO boXwood,
@ containing hard and soft rubber faces in
e.Iher end. They are necessarily eNPen-
sNe' Tor they must be accurately ball
shced and skilfully turned. Bands Of
olSss and steel hold the hard and soft
FIoner tight in their sockets.
ne arches are made OF tool steel, S4s
tlShes being the space allotted for the
pan' OF 3a inches, through which to
pass. This leaves only clearance OF
ehe-eighth Of an inch or a margin of one
sixteenth on each side, In which to make
me arch. In addition to this difficulty
me arch Is fastened firmly In heavy
wooden block, which I'm turn Is imbedded
~ concrete below the surface Of the
court leaving about 10 inches of the
NIe above ground II Is hardly neces-
safy TO add that in order to make an
sleh constructed in this manner the most
seeurate kind of shooting Is required. In
ne centre Of the field double arch or
h41ard called the basket" is placed.
MS Is the most difieult point to sur
mount In the course OF the game. mas
n'Aeh as Il must be scored exactly 10 the
s4me manner as the single arches are
-'eaF PLAYERS may participate n game.