78
OUR
ARM-CHAIR .
THE GAME
OUR ARM- CHAIR. THE MASON & HAMLIN CABINET ORGANS.-The Pittsburg Dispatch says of them :-" The highest musical authorities of the land have pronounced in their favor, as meeting a want which has long been felt, and combining more reliable qualities than any other instrument of the character now before the public. Among other advantages in their favor, they occupy little space, are gotten up in highly ornamental style, are remarkable for their great volume of sound, the ease with which they are played, the simplicity of their construction , and their adaptation to all kinds of music." CHEAPEST OF ALL.-The Essex (Mass.) Statesman says :"Peterson's Magazine, the cheapest of all monthlies, costing but Two Dollars per year, lies upon our table. The first engraving is a very spirited picture ; then follows the usual double-page fashion-plate, and page after page of mysteries only understood by the female sex. The stories are accorded to be equal to the best published anywhere. The receipts alone, every one of which have been tested, are worth the price ofthe book; besides, each number contains a new and fashionable piece of music, hints on Horticulture, Equestrianism ," etc. THE NATIONAL EDITION OF THE WAVERLEY NOVELS, in five volumes, octavo, illustrated, sent, pre-paid, for $15.00. Or three sets, with one extra to the person ordering them, (four sets in all,) for $45.00. Address, T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, Philadelphia, Pa. THE "WASHINGTON MEZZOTINT," or either of the " BUNYAN MEZZOTINTS," will be sent, postage paid, for $2.00 . Or any two will be sent for $3.00 ; or the whole three for $4.50. Address, C. J. PETERSON, Philadelphia, Pa. "Do You WANT TO KEEP YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTERS always in good spirits, and even tempered?" asks the Grayville (Ill.) Independent. "Then subscribe immediately," it adds, " for Peterson's Magazine."
OF CROQUET .
or may be, affected by this definition at every stroke. It is very important, then, to consider this definition in relation to its consequences. Before doing this, however, we must distinctly understand the technical words which occur in the definition, viz., "run a hoop," "roquet," "take Croquet," "point," and " turn." RUNNING A HOOP means, as everybody knows, sending a ball through it by a blow of the mallet. It must be run "in order" and in the right direction, and the whole ofthe ball must go through, or the hoop is not " run." If the ball remains under the hoop, and it is doubtful whether the ball is quite through, the question is decided by applying a straight edge behind the hoop, the hoop being, of course, perpendicular. If the straight edge (the handle of the mallet is commonly used for this purpose) touches the ball, the hoop is not " run." ROQUET is made by the striker driving his own ball, by a blow of the mallet, against another ball. If he is "in play" to the other ball, the " roquet" gives him the privilege of a Croquet off the hit ball. People frequently confuse between roquet and Croquet, evidently not understanding what a roquet means. We constantly hear such expressions as, "I have croqueted your ball," instead of " roqueted" it. The two terms " roquet" and " Croquet" must be carefully distinguished in the player's mind, and especially in the arbitrator's, or his decisions will be valueless. CROQUET is taken in this way. The striker places his ball in contact with the one roqueted, and strikes his own with the mallet. After the Croquet, the striker is entitled to another stroke. Croquet may be taken either with the striker's foot fixed firmly on his own ball while he strikes, when it is called a "tight" Croquet, or without the foot, when it is termed a " loose" Croquet. Loose Croquet may be varied in several ways. The two balls may be placed directly behind one another, so that they and the long axis of the head of the mallet are in the same straight line when taking the stroke. This is " ioose
THE GAME OF CROQUET. NO. II. CODE OF LAWS FOR CROQUET.-The laws of the Croquet Committee are very properly preceded by definitions of the terms used in the game. These are fortunately few. The term in order is well understood by every Croquet player. It signifies the sequence of hoops, etc., which have to be run. A player having run No. 1, must take No. 2 "in order;" that is, if he takes No. 3, or any other hoop, before having taken No. 2, he gains no point by it. Of course the game is won by the side that first drives all their balls through all the hoops "in order," and hits all the sticks "in order." The terms in play and in hand present more difficulty. As a great many nice points turn on the question whether a ball is "in play" or not, it is important to comprehend precisely the meaning of the terms, and they are by no means easy of definition. We quote the definition of the Committee, which we think very clear. " A ball is in play' as soon as it has run the first hoop. It continues in play till it makes a roquet, when it is ' in hand. A ball ' in hand' must take Croquet, and can score no point until it has done so. Having taken Croquet, it is again ' in play;' but it is not permitted to roquet again the ball or balls it has croqueted for the remainder of its turn, unless it makes another point. Having made another point, it is in play' again to all the balls, as at the commencement ofits turn." As a ball is either " in hand" or "in play" throughout the game, the privileges and disabilities of every ball are
Acol
(Relative position of balls and mallet in taking loose and rolling Croquet, causing ball or balls to roll in direction ofA.) Croquet" proper. The effect of a quick, sharp stroke under these circumstances is to cause the striker's ball to remain almost stationary, and to drive the other forward. Where the striker wishes to keep his own ball perfectly still, and yet not take tight Croquet, he may accomplish his object by striking his own ball below the center, the effect being similar to that of putting on sufficient screw to stop one's ball when playing for a " slick" hazard at billiards. At Croquet this is called a " dead" stroke. Another way of playing loose Croquet is to roll the balls on together. This is called " rolling Croquet." In making this stroke, the balls are placed directly behind each other, as before, but in striking, the mallet is allowed to follow the ball, and this causes the two balls to roll on in company. Yet another way, called " splitting Croquet," is to place the balls, not in the same straight line with the long axis of the head of the mallet, but at an angle to it. This causes the balls to fly in opposite directions, or to split. A splitting Croquet may be taken with as little disturbance as possible of the non-striker's ball. On some grounds it has been the custom not to insist on any movement of the second ball, { provided the two touch ; and hence this mode of taking splitting Croquet has received the name of " taking two
