^^^i^ :^^^%^^^. I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. f|i«P ■'- ipm^i to. I UNITED STATES OF AMEIilCA '■*wwvv, ^m^Kjy^^r^^mj^^^ ^^^^^:.^ VMw^.^ WW^VVwW*^^ vvXvJ,^'ywe/Vi WV ;/VV^^^W, -^VV^V/V^^ ,VV>^' ''^.5>g(\^.' V^' ^ V' '\- .^:^^^^^^^^y^^. VVvVVvv^->v^ OiTv-t-'^- ^ ry^ y^i.^ OROQ^ ^^ OF OEISTESEO, ISr_ ^ST- HAND-BOOK OF CROQUET. r CROQUET. TERMS, SUGGESTIONS AND RULES, UNIFOKM AND CONDENSED UNDER DIRECTION OF "^L/P/ THE AMERICAN CROQUET COMPANY, 0:F G-EIiTESEO, UsT. "y. ©fetteseo, W. IT.: ^ REPUBLICAN STEAM POWER PRESSES. ^ V 1871. V m^ ',; ■^-^^ A5\ s Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by the AMERICAN CROQUET COMPANTof GENESEO, N. Y., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. I E€»o- -e/m i r — ^ — " — ^ PREFACE. I T will be observed that this edition of our hand- book of Croquet contains considerably more mat- ter than those which have preceded it. Doubtless, much might have been omitted without very serious detriment. We have, however, endeavored to be as concise as possible, and at the same time give an in- telligible history of the game, and a satisfactory expo- sition of the manner in which it is played, and the rules which regulate it, While Croquet may be kept so simple that even chil- dren can learn to play it with much satisfaction, yet it may be made, and is made, of so systematic and scien- tific a character, that considerable study becomes neces- sary to understand the quite formidable array of rules and regulations which are thrown around it. While we may differ, on a few points, from some other writers on this subject, we are quite of the opin- ion, that all the rules we have included in our manual ^ .i rg^3 ~- -e/^ ^ PREFACE \ will be found to be well sustained bj the majority of the authorities. At the present reasonable rates (for which our Com- pany is entitled to much credit), no family should be without this recreation, in which all its members can join, and which tends, so greatly, to keep within the home circle the younger ones of the household. t^ ^ -^ r -o^ ! CHAPTER I. CROQUET. .lELD or lawn croquet is fast beco ning in this country, as in England, a national game, and one which our fair countrywomen will never re- j linquish. Erom its pleasurable excitements an. I and health-giving influences, and from the fact that it is the only pastime which necessarily leads our gentler sex into the open air, we can safely predict for the game as much of a success in this country as it has already reached in England and many parts of the Continent. Ladies and gentlemen being able to join in one com- mon amusement, and that of so refined and scientific a character, is, in itself, a sufficient reason for the won- derful popularity of this modern gaxe. While Croquet may be made so simple that even children can play it yet it is undeniably a game of science, in which head- work must accompany a correct eye, steady nerves, and much practice. s^^- -^^^ I CROQUET. \ An enthusiastic and well known English author does not hesitate to predict that, " at no distant day, Croquet will become not only the national sport of England, but the pastime of the age." It has been said by a scientific player of billiards, that while croquet is inferior to that game in opportunities for very delicate and dextrous manipulations, it surpasses it in the field it opens for the exercise of the higher qualities of combination and foresight. Whist exercises the memory and the faculty of calculating probabilities; chess, the imagination and the capacity for abstract reasoning; while croquet, though it taxes these mental qualities less, more than compensates by associating them with the delights of outdoor exercise, and a more extensive sociality — call- ing into requisition fresh air friendships, which are the most effective appetizers and promoters of health and happiness. And now a few words as to the origin of Croquet. About ten years ago, the game was quietly introduced into England ; so quietly, however, that no one now knows whence or how it came. It took immediate hold of the public taste, and spread, wonderfully quick, ojter the entire surface of that country. Punch was at once enlivened with graphic sketches of the sport ; it took as well with the aristocracy as with the gentry ; and the public squares were thrown open for its full enjoyment. fee- ^ -ej w^ -^ / CROqUET. \ The name itself is a singular one, and no one lias yet giren, and no one probably can give, a satisfactory reason for its appropriateness. Tke Frencliman makes his compliments to John Bull, Esq., and thanks him for the game, but would like to be informed what connec- tion there can possibly be between the manner of the game and his vocable " croquet " — a sort of cracknel, or hard gingerbread nut. The Englishman returns his obligations to Johnny Crappau, for the name, well aware that its very strangeness gives additional piquancy to the game. Some forlorn old bachelor has bethought himself that the name croquet is probably a subtle veil- ing of the word coquet. Cynical, unhappy old creature 1 There is in French an expression, viz. " croquer le marmot," which means, to dance attendance upon; and this is, most likely, what was in the mind of its author when the name of Croquet was given to this delightful game, in which so much fascination consists in the jolly attendance we continually dance about one to another. Assuming this to be the most probable meaning of the term, we would suggest to our readers co use the word croquing, instead of croqueting; and say a person is croqued, rather than croquetted. It might look like an affectation to call a gentleman a croqueur, and a lady a croqueuss, but these terms would nevertheless be appro- priate. <| 9 J v^— ^ / CROqUET. \ The word roquer (ro-ka) means, at cliess,. to castle. Castling is a means adopted to secure a king from an attack ; it consists in moving the king to the second square to the right or left of that where he stands, and then placing the castle on the square over which he leaped, as his defense. "We can fancy this as the reas- onable meaning of the designation roquet, when a friend gets in between another and an adversary and croquets the latter far awaj, acting, thus, the part of the rook, or castle, in chess. Bowls, that celebrated game of our forefathers, from which we have the designation of Bowling G-reen, New York ,• and Quoits, and Cricket, and Curling, and Base Ball, are all men's sports, while Croquet is the only out- door amusement with which is connected the chastening influence and dehghtful companionship of woman. No wonder it is popular. fee e^ CHAPTER II. IMPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC. SET of Croquet is composed of EIGHT BALLS, TEN ARCHES, EIGHT MALLETS, TWO STAKES. Foreign woods are too heavy for the proper playing of croquet, though the sets made from them are, indeed, beautiful. The best of our native woods are the apple, rock maple, oak, and sycamore. In beauty of color and finish, no foreign wood equals the apple wood of our own coimtry ; it is too heavy for balls, and we use it, only, for mallets. "White ash furnishes the best mate- rial for handles, because it never warps, when properly prepared. The sycamore, on account of its elasticity and tenacity, is pronounced, both abroad and at home, a most excellent wood for balls. For highly finished balls, however, rock maple is the superior, and we are, at present, using no other. Our mallets are made, ex- clusively, of apple and rock maple, which afibrd suSi- ^^ -e4. IMPLEMENTS, €f ROUND, ET€. cient weight without clumsiness. Our arches are en- ameled white, so that the playing may bo continued later in the evening, if desirable. The stakes, to be set as in diagrams, are marked, as will be observed, in eight col- ors, corresponding with those on the bails and malleta. The colors act as a guide to the players, and are arranged, alternately, for the two sides. The size of the ground must, of course, depend upon the space which can be allotted to the purpose. Sixty feet by thirty is a large ground, which may be made much smaller without sacrificing the enjoyment «f th« game, — the smoother, of course, the better. Where ■the ground is slightly inclined, a little practice will en- able the player to make the necessary allowance for that; but, for the inequalities of the surface, the best of players can never accurately calculate the proper direc- tion and force of the strokes. With the very best of grounds, there can be no scientific playing unless the balls are perfect spheres. In Bowls, spheroids are ne- cessary; but, in Croquet, unless the balls are perfectly round, the game is quite as much a matter of chance a« anything else. Any one who cares for accuracy can test, with calli- pers, the sphericity of our balls, which, made in our patented machine, are necessarily round, and are, in fact, the only spherical balls manufactured. 4^ ^ — — ^ ?j =&©- ^^ IMPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC. I m/tt\Cfi u I 14 ^^a- I -e^S te^- IMPLEMENTS, GBOUND, ETC. -^-^ I g% ■^^-^..J. ..^' >>•" J 3 'I I Tl 15 i ■^^"^ / IMPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC \ The arches may be set according to either of the dia- grams herewith shown, or differently, as experience Qr fancy may suggest. The first is the simpler one, and is recommended to young players. The course of the balls is indicated by the dotted lines, though it is just as well, and perhaps a little more natural, to play towards the right flank, instead of the left, as indicated. Some play- ers prefer to have the aches marked 3 and 10 in first diagram, advanced to a line about three feet forward of No. 2, which would make small angles at 3 and 10, with a slight chance to run them on the first play from the second arch, and still would call for the highest skill. Even in this case the player would hardly accomplish it unless, having made the first two arches at a single stroke, he take his mallet's length backward, and thence play. It will be understood that if arches 3 and 10 are changed, as suggested, the other end of the arena must be made to correspond. The first arrangement is re- commended for the six and eight ball games, in which the course is made less torturous to compensate for the increased dangers from belligerent rovers. Whatever the plan of the arches, one thing should be settled at the start, that is, the boundaries of the arena, within which balls are to be replaced when driven be- yond. I 17 IMPLEMENTS, GB UND , ETC. \ The first diagram may varied, so as to make the play- ing a little more complicated, by placing the arches 4 and 9 at right angles to others. The second diagram is recommended for the four or two handed game. Though there is an arch less in this than in the other, the player makes nothing, as he has to pass twice through the central arch. In connection with first diagram, in which the arches 3 and 10 are advanced three feet forward of arch 2, as mentioned before, and to give to new players some idea how the play proceeds, let us suppose that the first player — we will call him Mr. Black — has been success- ful in going through the first two arches at one stroke, and then aims, quite confidently, at the third arch, but reaches, as lie most probably will, some point more or less above the arch he misses. Now the next player is Miss Orange, if you please. She, also, is fortunate in running arches 1 and 2 at one blow; but, instead of attempting, like Mr. B., to make the difficult play, directly at the third arch, she aims right at Mr. B. himself, and steals a roquet from him, that is, hits him — though it 's a pity to suggest that a lady would hit a gentleman. Now she has Mr. Black for a roquet-croquet, so what does she do, and so charm- ingly, too, that the poor fellow cannot take offence ? She puts her ball in just such a juxtaposition with his that fco- ^® — ej niPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC. f with one blow, called a splitting blow, she drives her own ball just in front and B.'s just in the rear of the third arch ; and then, taking her privilege of another j blow, she runs her arch, and at the same time, if she is i careful, treats B. to another roquet, which she at once j follows up, as she ought to, by giving him a good round ! box on his ear, called, in our parlance, a croquet, which j leaves her to travel on her course unmolested, while i poor B. is whirling, confused and crestfallen, to the fur- thermost corner of the arena. There may be a good deal of fancy about this, but it is, indeed, what we often witness on our play ground. -fe^ e/^ r ^ — ^ CHAPTER III. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. RENA — The space included within the bound- aries of the croquet grounds. Booby — A ball which has failed to run the first arch. Carrom — The act of hitting two or more balls success- ively during the same run of a ball. Concussion— The displacement of a ball by another driven against it by roquet, croquet, carrom, or roquet- croquet; that is, whenever a ball is not displaced by a direct blow from a mallet or by the playing ball. Croquet — (cro-ka) — The title of the game; also, a privilege gained by making a roquet is called a croquet, if it is used. Croquing- — A ball having roqued another, it is taken up and placed in contact, at any point desired, with the ball on which the roquet is made ; the player then seta i 20 j) g.^3 ■ : e^ TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. his foot upon his own ball, pressing it firmly so as not to flinch, and with a blow delivered upon it, drives by concussion his adversary's ball in whatever direction he chooses. Dead Ball — One that has made its tour and hit the starting stake, or been driven against it. Distanced — One that has not, at the close of the game, tolled the starting stake. Flinch — When, in croquing, the player's ball slips from under his foot, it is called a Flinch. Following Stroke — When, in roquet-croquet, a player places his ball and strikes it so as to follow the other. Front — The side of an arch from which a ball must come (either up or down) to run it ; the other is the reverse side. Grand Rounds — When one has run all the arches in tlieir due order, and tolled the turning stake, he has made the G-. R., and may continue as a Rover or strike out. Match — 'The best out of three games. Points — Runniug an arch in its due order, tolling a stake, and any roquet which confers the privilege of a croquet. Position — One is in position when his ball is in front 21 fg^3 _ e/^ / TEEMS AND DEFINITIONS. of its prop IT arch, with a prohabiUty of running it at a single blow. Proper Arch — The one which is next in order for each player to run, is his proper arch. Push — Only distinct blows count, pushes are entirely out of the game. Rb-roquet — When a ball is roqued twice during the same turn, but without the second privilege of croquet. Ricochet — Same as Carom. Roquet — {ro-Tia) — It is a roquet when a player's bail^ either from a direct blow or a rebound from some other ball, or an arch or an inequality of the surface, comes into contact with another ball or other balls. Roquet-Croquet, or Croquet Sans Pied— Same as a croquet and subject to the same rules, except in making this play the foot is not placed npon the ball, whereby both balls may be driven either in the same or any divergent directions. See Splitting Stroke. Rover — One which has made the grand rounds but has not been struck out by hitting the starting stake.- See G-rand Rounds. Running an Arch — When a ball has been driven through its proper arch, and from its proper front, whether it be from a direct blow or from a roquet, a ^ ^ ^3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. croquet, concussion, carrora, or roquet-croquet, it has run its bridge or arch. Salt River — A side is up Salt River when none are out at the conclusion of the game by the other side. Splitting Stroke — A player, after he makes a roquet, can place his ball in any juxtaposition with the roqued ball he chooses (whether it be a friend or an adversary), and then hitting his own, drive both balls in any diver- gent direction he chooses. See Following Stroke. Stakes — There are two, the starting and the turning stakes. Staking — Tolling or hitting the turning stake. Step — Running an arch or tolling the turning stake, are called steps in the game. Striking Out — After the grand rounds a ball is struck out when, from any cause, in the due order of play, it is made to hit the starting stake. It is then a dead ball, and must be removed. Taking a Stroke Off — This is when the player's ball is put in such a contact with another, that a roquet" croquet will but justmo\e the one, while the player's ball may be sent on to any distance desired. Tolling— See Staking. Tournament — The best out of three matches. 23 ($g^3 — ^ &^ w^ — ^ y TERMS AND BEFINITIO:^JS. V Tour — The proper course of a ball around the ground. Turn — A player's turn continues so long as lie makes a point. See Point. Wired — Such a position that an arch prevents the blow desired. Probably it is best to explain here, though it is else- where, that in running up the course the arches all front towards the starting stake, while in running down, they all front towards the turning stake. ^- -e4 ^ CHAPTER IV. SUGGESTIONS TO BEGSNNERS. HE game gains much of its popularity Trom its very graceful character ; it is, in fact, the most pleasing type of calisthenic recreation. There- fore, avoid all roughness and unseemly attitudes* Do not swing your mallet as though you intended to slaughter an ox, or whack your ball as if it was your intention to split it. It may seem smart, to some, to drive an adversary's ball to some dim distance, but excellence in croquet very rarely consists in such playing. Tap the balls gently, but firmly ; such blows will, on good ground, amply disarrange your adversary's calcu- lations, and promote the chances of 3'our own side. Study to master the beautiful and various problems of roquet-croquet, so as to be always ready to assist your friends and annoy your adversaries. The science and pleasure of the game inhere in such playing much more 25 w^ ^ / ^SUGOESTIONS TO BEGINNERS. \ than in simply running arches, etc. Practice will soon make a player quite proficient in executing these split- ting strokes, and when they are mastered the game will have acquired much more of interest. There should be no favoritism shown, for the game depreciates very much where the rules are not inflexibly adhered to. A thoughtful lady will always have her dress so ar- ranged as not to be an annoyance to her companions ; besides, she. as well as the gentleman, needs the free ' use of both hands and arras to balance herself properly and play with accuracy, which she cannot do when one hand is employed in protecting her skirts. Bear in mind, that it is much more fascinating to be able to run unexpectedly, to assist a friend in distress, or to retard a too confident adversary, than it is to matte your own uninterrupted progress. In defeat or victory, be master of yourself; mind your turn ; do not subject your companibns to the trouble of keeping the run of the play for you, for no game can be interesting, to any one, where there is such indiffer- ence. Far better the game where there is the deafening racket, when, at some comminghng of balls, the next player is besought, teased, adjured, flattered to do a dozen different things at once, and to play thus and so in the interest of seven other players, and warned, threatened, \ 26 J 5^6/3 &^^ SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINJ^ERS. I supplicated not to do any one of them, and the confusion of rejoicing and mourning when, at last, the play is made — such playing is really invigorating. Eemember to keep your own ball as far from your adversary's, and as near to your friend's, as possible. When you are well in advance, and see a chance to turn back and roquet an enemy, and so croquet him away from a friend, make use of it fearlessly, unless you think you can make more by hastening through and be- coming a rover. "Whenever you have an opportunity, be sure and cro- quet a friend through his arch ; and when you see an adversary in a favorable position to run his arch, make for him : it is the disconcerting of such nice arrange- ments that arouses the full merriment of the game. Before croquing, always carefully survey the field, so as not to send a friend in the immediate neighborhood of an adversary, or, contrariwise, an adversary toward a friend. A careful player, noting the positions of all the other balls, will play so as to leave himself in such a position that, at his next turn, he can either run an arch or ro- quet a more careless player. As this is a refined and scientific amusement, ic should be the pleasure of all to adhere strictly to the rules of the game, and frown down, at once, any attempt at cheating. 27 ^ e^S^ SUGGESTIONS TO BEGI:JNERS. Always strike fairly, standing by the side of your ball, and not behind it, and hold the mallet with only one hand, as it is the rule, and much more graceful, and never attempt to pas 3 off a push for a blow. Calculate the distance and the direction you want to go, then, after thus carefully getting your aim, let your eye rest, rather, upon your mark, and only so much up- on your ball as will make you sure to hit it. If you are a Rover, keep yourself close to your friend, and aid him by the croquet, or roquet-croquet; or, get in advance of a forward adversary, and delay his pro- gress as much as possible. If you are near a friend, let him croquet you toward an adversary who may have played last, and thus put you in a favorable position to make a roquet upon him. It will be soon understood that an expert rover can be of the greatest service to his friends, and the sooner you succeed in forcing out such a dangerous foe the bet- ter; but, by no means force out of the game a poor rover, as he cannot be of much avail to his friends, and they cannot possibly win the game as long as he is kept in the field. A position directly under or just in front of an arch, puts you in command of the field beyond it. Running the arch, of course, gives you an extra shot, and, may be, enables you to take a roquet^upou some ball you want to croquet. SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNERS. Do not attempt very difficult shots, except under des- perate circumstances ; but, sometimes, the very desper- ation gives success to the shot. Never despair because you are behindhand; the fortune of the game is con- stantly shifting: nor be too confident when you are ahead; now, your ball is in a splendid position for your . next run, along comes an adversary, or worse yet, a blundering friend, displacing you, or knocking you to the farthest end of the field. It is very true, that the game is never out until it is played out. It is this nice adjustment of chance and skillful play- ing which gives the game its freshness and attraction. In making roquet-croquet shots, which, as we have already said, are susceptible of the most scientific play- ing, practice will soon show you. that if it is desirable to drive your adversary's ball much farther than you wish your own to go, you must give your ball a sharp, quick blow, proportionate, of course, to the distance you wish your own ba]l to go, cutting off the momentum of the blow the very instant the mallet has hit the ball. Suppose your aim is to send both balls along together ; then let your mallet have a good full swing, and come down with a more sweeping blow. If you want to pake a splitting stroke, sending the balls in divergent directions, which practice alone will enable you to do well, the blow must not fall in a hne i 29 j) #^ ®^ /{ SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNEBS. \ with the centers of the balls, but, more or less, to one side or the other of the rear ball. Practice this : put two balls in various juxtapositions, and see in how many different directions you can send the balls by varying blows upon the hindmost one. Dr. Franklin's Morals for Chess are very appropriate for Croquet. 1st. Foresight — which well considers the consequences attendant upon any action. 2d. Circum- spection — which takes good note of the situation of all the pieces (balls), and their relations. 3d. Caution — not to move too hastily, or desperately. 4th. Hopefulness — persevering in the search for resources, remembering that the game is full of events, turns, vicissitudes, and the pleasure there is in discovering means of extracting one's self from supposed insurmountable difficulties. Too great success often produces a presumptuous inat- tention, while misfortune son^etimes induces such care- fulness as enables a player to snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat. As it may be overlooked elsewhere, we state here, that while one, only, is a Kover who has run all the arches, yet any one, at any time after running the first arch, can assume ihe character of a Rover, but such is not advisable, unless the player be a very export one. To show how differently a good player would play, 30 SUGGESTIONS TO BEGmNUBS. V HDder certain circumstances, from an inexperienced one, let a few illustrations suffice. Let us suppose that two balls are situated, any way differently, in front of an arch which is the next one for each player there to run -place two balls in position well separated, but in front of an arch. A new player would take it for granted, that the best course for him would be to drive his ball at once through the arch, and so get as far ahead of the other as possible; but an ex- pert player would first endeavor to mr.ke a roquet upon the other, and then, if it be a friend, croquet him through the arch, and himself follow; then, as he would have an extra blow, roquet the second time, and then croquet the frieud into a position for the next arch, &c. : but if It be an adversary, the first roquet would be followed up by a splitting stroke, one which would send the adver- sary just outside of and in advance of the arch throu-h which the player's ball would at the same time go, and tlien be in a position to take a second roquet, to be fol- lowed by another splitting stroke, or a croquet, as might be most advisable. Almost any player, from this descrip- tion, ought to be able to execute this illustration. Take the case where a ball is nearly on a hne witli tlie arch to be run, but some distance at one side- an inexperienced player would probably play for a position very near the arch, in front, in which play the slightest 31 K^e w^ -^ /T SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNERS. \ inequality of the ground, or mistake in hitting with the exact amount of force, would cause the ball to fall short of, or run entirely too tar for, a good a position. Now, in this instance, a better player would endeavor to drive his ball in a direction of about forty-five degrees for a position, which, while it would be further off, would en- able him, with a certainty, almost, to make his arch at his next turn, Suppose an adversary is just in front of an arch through which you have to pass (place a ball just in front and another at one side of an arch, and some little distance to the rear) ; for this rear ball to make the arch two turns £re necessary ; it would be absurd, if you were the rear ball, to run yourself close up to the other, thinking to run through at the next turn, for the adver- sary would certainly come a roquet upon you. You should, under such circumstances, be content to reach some point in front of the arch, as in last illustration, from which you could next run your arch, and at which point your adversary would not, probably, attempt to make a roquet upon you. Place an adversary in front of the fourth arch, and yourself in front of the second ; it is your turn to play. "Would you just go through the second arch, and then make for a position at the third, expecting to run it next time ? A better player would drive his ball sharp- t 89 ^ rv>o / SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNEBS. \ Ij through arch ISTo. 2, and as near the other ball as possible, then take a roquet, to be followed by a croquet, and then play for a position in front of arch No. 3. Take another case. A. is close to the arch he has next to pass. B., a rover on the same side, is on a line with him, but some distance off. If B. should play di- rectly at A., he might probably carry him out of posi- tion. The true plan would be for B. to play for a spot about half way between A.'s arch and the next one to it. A. could then take a roquet on B., after running the arch, then croquet B. through the next arch, then, run- ning that arch also, take another roquet on B., and so on. At the end of the chapter on Implements, &c., will be found an illustration which we thought best to bring in there. "We have only introduced these few simple illustrations to show how attractive the game may become where some effort is made to get acquainted with its rules and principles. "We might fill a volume with these exam- ples, but if one is really interested in the game, practice will call them out as fast as necessary. These examples, simple as they are, will be much more easily apprehend- ed and understood if the player will place the balls as suggested, and practice accordingly. t 33 i> ?J CHAPTER V. RULES. ■ HOOSING- SIDES— Two of the party, acting as chiefs, play for the lead. The usual way is for each to play from under the first arch for the starting stake. The sides are then chosen alter- nately, commencing with the winner. The balls and mallets are distributed as follows : First Side. Second Side. Black, Orange, Green, Yellow, Brown, Pink, Blue, Eed. The sides play alternately. Parties — A full party consists of eight, though, of course, a less number can as well play. If there be an odd number to play, the smallest side can have a player with two balls. Parties of four and under can make fce e4 ?? £S/e— «sv^ BULES. fco if the playing more interesting by using two balls to each player. The Start — Place the ball about half way from the starting stake, on a line drawn from it to the center of the first arch. Striking — The player must stand one side of the ball and strike— never push — the ball with the face, not the side, of the mallet. Counts — The stroke counts whenever an audible sound is made^ certainly, when the ball moves; other- wise, the blow may be repeated. Contact — If a player's ball, at the commencement of his turn, is in contact with another's ball, he has the same play as though the balls were separate, though the moving of the other ball, in playing, would not count for a roquet. Taking Ground— "When a ball is driven through the first two arches at one blow, the player has two more strokes. {Note. — Wq would advise skillful players to forego this right, as it enables the first player to get so far ahead as to deaden the enthusiasm of the game.) If any other two arches are run in their proper erder, and from one direct blow of the mallet, the player can take up ground a mallet's length in any direction, but 35 w^ ^ / BULES. \ this privilege cannot be used to place the ball in position under or on the reyerse side of the next arch the player has to run. MiSPLAY — 1. If a ball played out of its turn is chal- lenged before another is played, it must be returned to its proper place or remain where it is, at the option ol its adyersary. Any damage done by such misplay must be fully repaired, and any benefit derived must be sur- rendered, if the opposite side demands it. If the opposite side permits the misplay to stand, or does not in due time challenge it, then the misplayer simply forfeits his next turn. MiSPLAT WITH WROxa BALL — If a player use a wrong ball, and it be challenged before the next player's turn, the ball must be placed back, all the consequences rectified, and the misplayer be deprived of his next turn. If the misplay be not in due time challenged, the game must proceed as it is, with the forfeiture of the mis- player's next tnrn. 3. If a misplay has taken place so that the balls are being played out of order, but the original misplay can- not be discovered, in such case the player must complete his turn, and immediately after the right order be re- sumed. 4. If two partners are found playing in succession, 36

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