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Les diagrammes suivants illustreht la m^thode. :a jre, ] m ;!'»iM'|yirwtat%iiii?w»>::«iiysffiiw;:#:JiK'.lr;jBiiB3 JtTiirT»iiiriwBii /. 1 ^ © <^J P^x^c; r^^" PRICE- — TWENTY-FIVE CENTVJ. CKOQUBT. TJ!E TORONTO LAWS. Pniy Sir, rerac rabcr when in advorsity. To keep jour temper,— so, if you're fortunate, Be not insultingly triumphant, Presf ntly you".! have to Itnuclclo untlrr. noB. C->rm. II. .'!. * * Strange was the Bight to me ; For all the letbl pasture murmured, sowBpi , . ■With happy faces and with holiday. • « » » no awore ho longed at college, only longed. All eUi was well, for she society. They boated, and they eriekcted— they tullred At wine, in clubs, of arts, of politics; But missed the mig:nonette of Vlvian-pluce ! The PRl^•CEfi8. TORONTO: W. C. CHEWETT & CO., KING STREET EAST, 1866. .•If -Y PRICE. -TWENTY-FIVE CENTS CROQUET. THE TORONTO LAWS. Pray Sir, rcmeraber when In ad'-ersUy, To kcf p jour temper,— so, if you're fortunate, Be not insuHiagly triumphant, Presently you'.l have to knuckle under. Hob. Carm. it. 3. • ♦ Strange was the sight to me ; For all the lktel pasture murmured, sown With happy faces and with holiday. * • • * He swore he longed at college, only longed, All else Wi3 well, for she sociaty. Th-y boated and they crioketed-thry talked At Tvinc.in clubs, of arU, of politics; £Mt missed the mignonette «: Vivian place ! Tub Pbihciu. » » t » I r • • • TORONTO: W. C. OUEWETT & CO., KING STREET EAST. 1866. I ^ t ■I ■■ i ■ I' I ': *r ^- 1' P\ u v^.^ Entered according to Act of the rrovinfial Legislature, in the year of our Lord one thoutiand eight liundred and sixty-six. by Thomas C. 1'atteson, in the Office of the Registrar of th,- I'rovince of Canada. i I PREFACE. Legislature, in ■d and sixty-six. Registrar of the Tho universal complaint amongst Croquet plaj-ers has always been that tliere are as many codes of laws as there m-e lawns on which the game is i)luyecl. Hence, at any Croquet gathering we hear endless confusion and argument, each player protesting, " we never do that," or "we always do this" — and the game proceeds, marred by mutterino-s aside, or manifest indifference. The object of publishing tliese ruk\s tlien, is to bring about " confederation," on t!ie acknowledged principle of give and take. Unanimity is cheaply i»urchased at the exi)ense of a few immaterial sacri- fices. It is not supposed that these rules will not hereafter require correction. The science of the game has recently made rapid strides to perfection, but it is not possible to be- lieve ourselves any wlicx-e near it yet, " The Toronto laws," it is hoped, follow the nice points of ihe game as far as they are at present develojjed, and they are in substance those adopted by the best })hiyers in England. A general preference has been shown for rules tending to encourage skill, to expedite the game, and to avoid discussion. With this view liberty, rather than restriction, has been the guiding principle in the selection. The kind assent of all the gentlemen of Toronto having Croquet Lawns of their own, with whom I have spoken on the subject, has encouraged me in this humble effort to faci- litate the play of deservedly tlie most popular outdoor game ever introduced into this Province. T. C. P. Toronto, May 1st, 1866. V it I fl I 1 1! Ill 1 1 i '....A INTRODUCTION. After an existence of less than ten yeRrs, Croquet has jitttiined a popularity that places it infinitely beforo any out-door amusement, shared in alike by ladies and gentlemen. In the summer of 1859, a set of croquet hoops, very scldon) patronized, were to bo seci. on the lawn of Government House at Toronto ; and these pro- bably were the first imported into Canada. The novelty of the game, the difficulty experienced in finding com- panions, and the allurements of games better understood, prevented a very general adoption of Croquet ; but above all, the contempt expressed for it by every muscular votary of the cricket field, the racket court, or tho rowlock, stood in the way. At first it was a girl's game, " so easy you couldnH help doing it;" and then it was " a bore," for after trying it was found not so easy after all. There was in fact tho jealousy to overcome, that was felt by " men" who thought a game was being forced upon them, in which the "muffs" and "exquisites" were to come in on even terms. Before very lone; however it became evident that a good eye and a steady hand were required for Croquet. Temper too and discipline were found essential ; and muscle ceased affecting to despise a game, in which the muff's only pull w^as that he stood an excellent chance of being beaten and laughed at by a girl with a better hand and eye than his own. Re- quiring a good nerve, and the accuracy and " touch" of a billiard player, admitting of any variety of match or handicap — amongst gentlemen and ladies, insuring the VI INTROnUCTlOy. Ijll I 11 fullest enjoyment of fine weather, necessitating exercise, unaccompanied by the tedious delays and promenades of archery, or the fatigue of more vij^orous pastimes, Cro quet has come to exercise its legitimate fascination on everbody owning a lawn, or owning a friend possessed of that essentia'. In common with gajues of greater severity. Croquet alfords unmistakeable evidences of character. A temper neither inllated by success, nor disheartened by failure, is a sine qua mm for a good player ; with a lively recollection of the homely maxim that "every dog has his day !" An earnest player may seem a bore to less enthusiastic admirers of the game ; but having once consented to play, a person is bound to do his best, to watch the progress of the game, to know his turn, and to do as he is told. It is best to elect a captain on each side, not necessarily to dictate each stroke, but to decide the policy of his side, and to keep the players working together for the end he may have in view. A player may differ from his captain in opin- ion, and perhaps be right: but having made his own suggestion ho is clearly rot responsible, and should do as he is ordered. The ship that has two admirals ou board, stands a bad chance of gettii^g into port. Any set of rules would be defective that did not, for the guidance of beginners, combine wilh it some few obser- vations on the ground and materials u^ed. THE GTIOUI^D. 100 ft. X65 ft. is the size of a perfect Croquet ground. The two posts should be about 70 feet apart, and there should be at least 10 feet behind the turning post, and 20 feet behind the winning post. By far the most ex- citmg part of the game takes place round tne winning post, where plenty of space and no obstructions are of I I g exercise, tuoDadcs of times, Cro dilation on possessed of greater idences of access, nor for a good ely maxim [)layer may the game; is bound to le, to know t to elect a ictate each ,nd to keep 3 may have ain in opin- io his own I should do idmirals on rt. not, for the li few obscr- f^-:-n »•■-»■ net ground, t, and there ig post, and he most ex- tne winning jtions are of H i OST. ;' i ' 51 Starting <9c winning post. I I XNTllODUCTION. vital importance. There is no greater mistake, and none oftener made, than to place the winning post at the very extremity of the grounu. Continual disputes and dis- satisfaction arise in consequence of balls having to be replaced that have been played or croque'd over the limits. It is better to contract the space occupied by the hoops, or to dispense with one of them. The ground should be a sodded lawn, short-shaven, perfectly flat, and free from holes. Frequent sweeping and rolling are of great importance, especially in spring. Where it can be done, a low sloping embankment should be run round the margin of the ground : in fact, wherever space and expense need not bo considered, every person now-a-days having grounds, should have a ground spe- cially prepared for Croquet. And here reference may be made to the placing of the hoops. Unquestionably the best game is afforded by the plan of placing a hoop in the centre, to be passed in going up to the turning post, and again in coming back. Supposing the posts to be 62 feet apart, nine hoops will be required, and may be set at the distances gi^en in the annexed diagram. Whatever alteration the shape or s-'::e of the ground may necessitate in the above distances, the wing hoops num- bered 3, 5, 12, 10, should be placed so as to enable a skilful player to make the third hoop, if he has played properly through No. 2 ; and the same with the others. It puts a premium on hold and accurate play, and the temptation sometimes brings a runaway to a check. ST I THE BALLS Should be ^ inches in diameter, turned perfectly round, and about 9 ounces in weight. Hard maple, apple and beech have been found the best material, both as regards durability and weight. The harder woods, as I Vlll INTUODUCTION. box or liynum vita, though standing better against tl»c blows of the mallet, besides being themselves too heavy, necessitatv^ the use of a mallet heavy in proportion. Every ball used in a game must be of the same size and weight. A chipped or indented ball should at once be discarded, for all skill is set at dciiance by a ball that is not perfectly round. The balls should not be left out when the game is over; nor should they be used on a wet lawn. There arc many ways of painting and di - tinguishing them : that way being the best that indicates not only the player, but the side to which he belongs. One glance is in that case sufficient to show the striker the relative positions of friends and enemies^ and he makes his game accordingly. If eight balls of any var- ieties of colour are used, a white ring may or jircle the four darkest shades, and a black ring the four lightest : the colours being placed alternately light and dark on the starting post. THE MALLETS. Every player is entitled to his own ideas in the choice of a mallet. With the balls it is different. They have necessarily to be uniform in size and weight : hence they must be provided by the owner of the ground. Nobody ever objected to a player using his own cue, or his own bat, and there is no more reason against the use of " a private mallet." There are three shapes mostly in use, viz: the plain cylinder, the barrel, and the cylinder slightly hollowed from the edge to the handle. What- ever the pattern may be^ the wood must be light or heavv as the balls are. The only rt.-tri'.tion it has been thought advisable to impose on the size of the mallet, is one that limits the diameter of the face to 3 inches. The sportsmardike and scientific player will avoid the use ol INTRODUCTION. IX r against tbe L*s too heavy, proportion, anie size and d at once be a ball that is •t be left out be used on a tin*;' and di - :liat indicates b be belongs. w the striker micSj and be s of any var- r or jircle the four lightest : d dark on the in the choice They have : hence they nd. Nobody e, or his own he use of " a [lostly in use, the cylinder idle. What- t be lij^ht or )n it has been tbe mallet, is inches. The )id the use ot a mallet, the weight and proportions of which may give him an advantage over persons unable to wield so for- midable a weapon. For those who persist in using " cordwood" for a mallet, ridicule is better than rule. The length of the handle will depend on the stature of the player, and its shape on the grasp and length of his fingers. THE POSTS Should be 2 feet in length, and have painted on them the colours of the balls in consecutive rings, a light and dark shade alternating for the purpose already alluded to. Much doubt is often expressed (even by the player himself) whether the post is touched or not. Obviously something analogous to the use of the bail at cricket is required. The following method is suggested. Bore a small hole through the post, four inches from the top. Through this pass a piece of fine whipcord, six or seven inches in length. Tie a knot at one end, and pass the other end through a hole in the edge of a halfpenny, and clinch that end also with a knot. Balance the halfpenny on the top of the post, which has been brought to a point flattened, to a quarter of an inch in diameter for this purpose. To count the post, a ball must shako down the halfpenny, which is to be at once replaced. However sensitive the balance may be, a graze may occur without displacing the coin ; but, as every wicket keeper knows, this is of constant occurrence at cricket. The chance is the same for all : and a difficulty that causes much mutual embarrassment is removed. CLIPS Are another appliance for avoiding doubt and discussion. In fact no gan\e should be played without something in the nature of a clip, to indicate the position of each 11 1 X INTRODUCTION. player. The pattern most approved is a double disc of tin the size of half-a-crown, connected by a barrel spring at the shoulder. The lower edges of the discs are kept pressed together by the action of the shoulder, which tits the wire of the hoop. The tin is painted the colour of the ball it represents, and on one side there is a star (black or white) denoting the side of the hoop from which the ball has to pass. Frequently the common clothes' clip, immortalized by Punch's picture of the swell who visited the Serpentine with one attached to his nose, is pressed into the service, and answers every purpose : being of course painted the colour of the ball. The use of Jaques' Croquet Indicator— a hoop with a horizontal bar at the top, on which eight coloured metal tallies revolve, the player's tally being turned over on each hoop as it is made "in order"-has superseded the use of clips at home, and might be made in this Province quite as readily as the ordinary hoop. THE HOOPS. These need not exceed ten in number, whatever style of placing be adopted. They are made of round iron wire, l^ inch in thickness, and should stand 115 inches clear of the ground. The span should not be more than 10 inches. It is advisable to have them painted white, and they should be sharpened at the points. A square shank will be found to hold better in the ground, and will better stand the shock of the balls, than a round one ; but all above the ground must be round. ATTITUDE. With regard to the attitude of the player when about to strike with the mallet, it is advised that no restric- tions be imposed on play that is compatible with the I! i m INTRODUCTION. Zi iouble disc of barrel spring discs are kept oulder, which ted the colour there is a star le hoop from the common •icture of the ne attached to and answers e colour of the 3ator — a hoop eight coloured rjK turned over las superseded made in this tioop. whatever style of round iron tand ll> inches t be more than painted white, nts. A square he ground, and m a round one ; yer when about hat no restric- )atible with the nature of a fair stroke, as defined in law No. 14. Mr. Jaques, an original pioneer of the game, has well re- duced the different styles of play to two great fiictions : (1) The tight or loose croquet party. (2) The advocates of '• the straight" or " side" stroke. The first of these will be found amply discussed under law No. 6. It is here proposed to deal with the second. In the " side" stroke, which is tl'e most difficult to attain with precision, and without doubt the most artistic, the player grasps his mallet with one or two hands, as he would a racket or bat, and hits his ball, holding the handle across his body. The " straight" stroke is when he swings the mallet per- pendicularly in front of his body, and strikes from between his feet. At the moment of contact, the head of the mallet must horizontally be in the line between the striker's ball and the object intended to be hit. This line of sight is more readily got and maintained by the "straight" stroke. There is no strain on the wrist, such as is caused by the poising and extcnaing of the mallet for the "side" stroke Moreover, in playing the side stroke, the eye is not directly over the line of sight above referred to. Many players intuitively bend the neck over the shoulder to get as near to it as possible : but a nicety of calculation only acquired by skill and practice, is imperceptibly brought to bear on the side stroke (proper). It has been said already that the mal- let's head must at the moment of contact, be in the line of direction, The difficulty to overcome then is the arc necessarily described by the mallet's head, which, ex- tended at arm's length, must, when moved, be traversing the circumference of a circle, the player's body being a pivot. Some players have adopted a compromise by play- ing with one hand, holding the mallet perpendicular to the body, but outside the leg. They thus obtain a direct line ^^ INTRODUCTION. of sight, and are helped by the line of the foot, which is planted parallel with the mallet's head and the line of di- rection. The real sportsmanlike croquet player makes his stroke with the mallet well extended beyond the toes, and the " touch" is free, bold, sharp, and springy. A flex- ible elbow, and a pliant wrist, will remove all doubts as to the application of Law 14. The shoulders should be parallel with the line of direction, and a player neglect- ing to move his fe'^t. after varying his original intention, is sure to pay the penalty of his carelessness. If the mallet be held on the right side of the body, the right hand will (in cases where both hands are used) be the lowest on the handle of the mallet ; and vice vem,- where the mallet is used on the left side: the latter i.i lact being the stroke of a lefthanded player. Want of knowl- edge of this obvious rule has given many players a habit they cannot get rid of, accompanied with a style that reminds one of Verdant Green's determination to put his oar in deep and pull it out with a jerk. A combination pf right and left-handed play in the same action is ■^ rather awkward :" and denotes neglect in the nursery. In this little pamphlet it is deemed inexpedient to enter into the play and tactics of the game. Hereafter when the science of Croquet has made that progress of which the writer now feels confident, he may venture to pubHsh the result of his experience. At present, the discussion of probable positions, and the best way out of them might be tedious. Quot homines tot sententim. foot, which is the line of di- ayer makes his d the toes, and ingy. A flex- D all doubts as ders should be )layer neglect- rinal intention, sness. If the 3ody, the right c used) be the ice terHi'i where 3 latter in lact ^''antof knowl- players a habit th a style that ition to put his A combination same action is in the nursery, inexpedient to ne. Hereafter, hat progress of may venture to Vt present, the best way out of ot sententim. THE GAME Is played by any number of persons not exceedin, eight: but the best game consists of only four. When two persons play, they should take two balls each. The game consists in striking the balls from the starting post through the five centre and two left hand hoops to the turning post, and back by the five centre and two right hand hoops to the starting post. That side wins of which all the balls first hit the starting post. If space prevents more than one set of hoops being used, it will be found lest when eight players are desirous of partici- pating in the game, for four to commence at each end : balls of the other game being taken up on request. Should, however, a ball of the other game be accciden- tally disturbed, that ball is replaced, the player's ball remaining where it lies. The terms generally made use of in the game, are as under : — Roquet— To hit another ball with one's own. Croquet— To strike one's own ball when in cont.'>,ct with a roque'd ball. In order— Implies the rotation of the hoops, as indica- ted in the diagram. Wired — Is having your ball in such a position that a hoop prevents the stroke you wish to make. Rover — A rover is a player who has made the circuit of the hoops, and remains in to assist his friends and annoy his enemies. (Law 13). Usually in fact all the players of a side become rovers, before any one 01 them voluntarily hits the winning post /C If I M r ti li . lu THE TORONTO LAWS. O 1. On commencing, each player must place his ball within a mallet's length of the starting post in any direction^ (^) and the first stroke played "with success" will be to pass tbrough the first hoop. 2. After the first stroke, whether " with success" or not, the player plays his ball (subject to the provision contained in Law ID) from lohere it happens to rest. Q) 3. The players on each side play alternately, according to the colours on the starting post, and the order in which they play cannot be altered during the game. 4. Each player continues to play so long as he plays "with success," i.e. so long as he drives his ball through Q the next hoop " in order," roquets, or croquets another ball, or hits the turning post {^) " in order." (1) To get the proper slant for hoop 3, or to avoid another ball lying io tho way, or for any other purpose consistent with the laws. (2) There has been much doubt as to this rule; but consideration and i experience have proved the efficacy of tlxO above. A concession may be mad*;, to a weak player, who by courtesy may be allowed to tate up his I ball, and play again from hand ; b::t ordinarily a bad stroke at the begin- ning sbould pay the same penally that it does later in the game. Fiu'ther, if it ba an advantage to play last, a wilfully bad stroke at the start should not enable the side who have lost the privilege fairly to obtain it unfairly ; land see note to Law 8, which is also intended to check flnessllig at tha I start. (8) Some players have made it a rule to stop after hitting the turning I post; but considering the dangerous position cf the player's ball, which is probably lying close to the post, this seems to be imposing a penalty on a stroke that ii: certainly harder to make than any of the hoops. 16 THE TORONTO LXWh. I 5. A player ^striking his own ball so as to hit anothc. at a distance is said to roquet it, and, having thus hit r ball, he may play again from where his own ball remains, or he may take the croquet, which may bo done in either of the two following methods., marked A and B : the adoption of one (*) or the other being absolutely agreed to before the commencement of the game. A He brings his own ball to the roqnc'd ball, places it in contact, then, with his foot pressing tightly on hxv own ball, he strikes his own ball with the mallet's head, so as to propel the other in any direction he may desire. He must in doing this retain his own ball on the spo whence he takes the croquet, and should he allow it t slip, he forfeits the ri^lit given by Law 4 to play again This is called tiriht croquet. Or B He adopts the method called loose croquet, whic' embraces also the system known as " two off." H brings his own bill to the roque'd ball, places it in con tact, and with or \ni\io\xi i^ut ting his foot on (•'') his ow ball, and with or without moving the roque'd ball, as he may prefer, strikes his own ball, and then plays R^-!,ain. (*) A combination of the two is impossible in the same game; ov.ing to the greater facilities afforded by B, B however does not hhort<'n tlic^ gamn fB much as might be supposed, whtn the same facilities of prO}."o^s and interruption are enjoyed by all. B reqniret a larger ground, ai d more experienced players than A. The time will probably arrive when l\ will be played exclusively, the splitting and fallowing shots admit tin,' of a display of skill nowhere exhibited in A. At present, it has been thought best to leave the optiv u with players themseh es. (6) Some skilful players prefer "putting the drag on" their own ball even when playing loose croquet; and when B is adopted, the penalty named in A cf course does not attach to a slip ; ihe slip being perhaps tho object of the stroke. No confusion can result trom this allowan ce if players, before the commencement of the game, decide to play A or B : and H is in accordance with the avowed princiiiles of free play, and no restrictions. 6. Al " in ord( it rolls I 7. A 1 the bant tho wire 8. No has pass roquet (' hoop, pr the play 9. A balls in cess,' 01 turn,, (^) next hoc 10. If i. c., str (8) Manj cussion re«i does not i\\\ is rtquirtc application C) Law : leave it tht being distv away, can i side of the get throut balls come old rule, ii bidden mil eflicacy of i (8) Tlie( fecond tin discusi-ion, sniiicieut ji THE TORONTO L. '3. 17 6. A ball played, roque'd, or oioque'd thr-jugh its hoop " in order," counts the hoop ; but not if from any cause it rolls hide («) again. 7. A ball has made its hoop if it cannot be touched by the handle of a mallet moved up and down the face of the wires on the side from which the 'oall passed. 8. No ball can croquet or be cro que'd until after it lias passed through the first hoop ; but a player may roquet O or bo roque'd before having made the first hoop, provided however that such ro;/jet does not entitle the player to another stroke. 9. A player may roquiit or croquet any number of balls in succession ; but he cannot roquet " with suc- cess, ' or croquet the same ball twice during the same turn, (^) without first sending his own ball tlirough its next hoop " in order." 10. If a player when roque'ing a ball makes a cannon, i. e., strikes two or more balls, he may croquet which (8) Many gronnds are 80 uneven that this frequently occurs, and a dis- cussion rt^nlts that is obviated by the adoption of this rule Of course it does not apply to calls struck back before the player's next turn. The law is r^iuirtd because the position of the ball cannot be tested by the application of Law 7, until it is at rest. (7) Law 2 allows a player to play his ball to any spot he chooses, and to leave it there ; but Law 8, as here laid down, exposes him to the risk of being disturbed by the next player, who though he cannot croquet him away, can at the risk of where he goes himself roquet him to the wrong side of the hoop. Thus a player may cannon off another ball, and so get through the first hoop, or hit it through and follow, when both balls come into the piivilej^es and penalties of the game at once. By the old rule, it was left doubtful what was to be done, a roquet being for- liiiklen unless it were accidentally made ; a fatal saving clause to the fflicaoy of any rijle. (8) The old ' 'lies did not allow any player to cro(iuet the same ball a ffccnd time, unless in the mean time he iiad made a hoop. This led to discussion, and was difficult to remember. During the same turn is a sniiicieut piutecliou. i v'w i 18 THE TORONTO LAWS. i i ball ho pleases, but must roquet the other again to entitle hirr to a croquet from it also. 11. A player going through his hoop in order after roque'ing a ball, coants the hoop necessarily^ and may also take the croquet. 12. A ball in the jaws of the hoop, I e., not through by tht test laid down in Law 7, is in position (®) to be put through, or to pass through at the next stroke. 13. i'aving passed through all the hoops in order, a playei may kill himself by striking the winning post, or he may ''rove;" in which case ho still has the power of roque'ing or croque'ing each ball once in every turn. 14. A player must hit his ball, and not push it. The sound of the stroke must be heard. A hill is pushed (' ) when the face of the mallet is allowed to rest against it, (0) Mr. Jatines hfis ruled, that as part of the ball may perhaps have never passed through the hoop from the side from which it had to come " In order." in aU cases the ball -iiiou! \ be playei bick clear of the wires. The above law is thought i ■ ;■ i-.ih> jr several reasonp, and is in accord- ance with the principles en, nciated in the preface. The opportunity is giveu for a clever stroke to any part of the ground, with the privilege of playing a^ain : by which a gam is often pulled out of 'he fire and made interesting at the very last moment. Law 12 makes the jaws a very advantageous position ; and righ.iy so. The ball hanging in the jaws was perhaps ruled not through by a strict application of Law 7. Then at the next stroke it would have to come back, and a third stroke would be required to set right a piece of bad luck at the outset. Such play is both irksome and disheartening, and opposed to the spirit of the game. The point raised by Mr. Jaques is of course correct, but it is not so clear thut it is an objection : the cases where the ball has come from the right side being probably in the pi-jportion of twenty to one. (10) 'I'his happens mostly with players who adopt the straight stroke. It is also to be guarded against when at loo.se croquet (B), the balls being in contact a player is desirous of placing both balls, even though he play with the f>ide stroke. A good player who happens to be " wired," or at any other disadvantage, takes ihe consequencei plays fair, and looks pleasant. Some players sneak and wriggle round difficulties, with an esprcsBion of countenance in which shaun* and Baiisfactlou seem to he and the br back. It i are put ba< 15. A p] tcJiatecer o of Law M. 16. A b strikes, or Mie provlsi 17. A d( once : and from the f 18. If a the wrong who follo\^ replaced o in neither to disconti must be I his stroke. 10. A b diatchj br from the i taken by t 20. The player is position, informatio of any bal contending fo no ohjcciiun ' with : but thi (,") See "A '. . .\ THE TOUONTO LAW8. 19 and the ball propelled without tho mallet being drawn back. It is no stroke, if decided to bo a push; tb. balls arc put back, and iho player loses his turn. 15. A player may use the mallet with his hands in whatever attitiu^e he 2)leases, ('^) subject to the provisions of Law 14. 16. A bail that has gone tbrouj^i\ all the hoops, and strikes, or is struck against, the Winning post (subject to Mie provision in Law 17) is "dead," and out of the jjdme. 17. A dead bjrll must be removed from the ground at once : and any ball disturbed by a dead ball bounding from the post is to be replaced in its former position. 18. If a player play out of his turn, or play with the wrong ball, or croquet the wrong ball, the adversary who follows him shall decide whether the balls are to be replaced or to remain as they are : the player in error in neither cast playing again that turn, and being bound to discontinue when the mistake is announced : which must be before the player next in rotation commences his stroke, 10. A ball struck beyond the limits mu&c be imme- diately brought back, and placed on the ground one "oot from the edge of the play, and in the line of direction taken by the ball in its course off the ground. 20. The clip is placed on the hoop through which the player is next going, and is decisive of the pkyer's position. If there are no clips, a player is entitled to information from any other player as to the destination of any ball in the game. contending for the mastery. They loly on the courteay of olhers to raise noohjcciiun beyond a jocular remonstrance, and that they can put ujt with : but the game is often thereby seriously prejudiced. \.^i) See "AtUludo'' iu lutroduelioD. < ■( ^0 THE TORONTO LAWS. 21. A hoop knocked out of true position, but remain- ing in the ground, may only he straiglitened (y^) when no part of any ball is cut by a line drawn from wire to wire of the hoop at its then inclination. No hoop shall be straightened for the purpose of applying Law' 7. {}-) This rule saves di>cu?sion as tc •when the hocp is upright, and ■will be ioiind to mui k wyll. In testing the pusition of a ball by Law 7, the mallwt should bo pussed down the wires so lii;htl.y as not to vary the iiiciiuation of the hoop. I remain- ') when wire to op shall 7. t, and will iiiw 7, the ) vary the