Caroline L. Smith

“ The exercise attendant on this game develops all the physical powers and calls into action every muscle and sinew in the human frame. There are few sights more exhilarating and captivating than a well contested match game between evenly matched clubs. Such a spectacle rarely fails to draw admiring throngs, and to be considered a first class player is a distinction of which any American youth may feel proud. As our readers will find this subject fully treated in professional works, we do not propose to enter into any lengthy description of the origin or progress of the game of Base Ball. ”

“ How often do we see the striker, the moment his predecessor has made his first base, stand still at the home base and await the moment when the player on the first base can avail himself of the failure of either the pitcher or catcher to hold the ball while tossing it backward and forward to each other. ”

“ One of the most undesirable positions on a Base Ball field is that of the umpire. He cannot fail to displease some one by his decisions, though he govern himself by the strictest rules of the game. Great firmness here is necessary in supporting a decision, and on any doubtful point it is better that he adhere to his first impressions as they are most likely to prove correct. No one should be allowed to approach, or converse with the umpire during a game. ”

“ On Sundays they always, even in midwinter, ornamented their social table with flowers, for they are God’s smiles. Therefore, my friends, I speak from observation, and from seeing the effect of an opposite course. If you wish to lessen your doctor’s bill, and give the beauty of robust health and happiness to your children, girls or boys, give them a garden and let them plant, weed and water it. If your children bring you even a simple field daisy, express your pleasure to them, and let them not see you cast it aside. ”

“ The beauty of Croquet is in a great degree due to its simplicity, and the granting of the above right to players adds one-half to the difficulties of the game, without adding in the least to its interest. A game of Croquet in which all the players except the rover are denied the privilege of roquet-croquet, and in which the right to waive a step is introduced, becomes at once twice as intricate, requires double the rules to explain it, and loses one-half its interest. ”

“ It is not natural to love intensely a stiff, ungainly object.
I have often thought, as I have roamed about the farming districts of New England, and have seen the many great, stiff, square houses, with not a graceful tree, or flower to relieve their nakedness, (though now and then a syringa, or lilac bush, or cinnamon rose, and perhaps a stately old butternut, may be seen,) the sons and daughters of those households will surely emigrate. Utility is our hobby. Some farmers think it waste time to plant a flower, as it yields no fruit. ”

“ Then, I entreat you, fathers and mothers, assemble your children around you, devote your time for an hour or two in being children with them, join heartily in all their plays; let them tell what has interested them during the day; draw them out, and encourage them to open their little hearts freely and confide in you.
Some think it childish and silly to play games. Yet if we would only keep our hearts young and happy, we should retain our youth longer, and love our friends and homes better. ”

“ The thousand changing forms of beauty with which she clothes the woods, the banks, and the very ground we tread on, ought to be to all, but especially to lovers of beauty and truth, objects of the purest joy and delight. ”

“ When a player has passed through all the bridges, he becomes what is called in the technical language of Croquet, a rover, and is privileged to rove about all over the ground, croqueting his friends and foes. It is therefore obvious that a good player can prove, when thus situated, of immense advantage to his side, and should generally avoid hitting the starting post till all on his side have passed through the last bridge. The excitement towards the end of the game, often becomes intense, and each stroke is watched with the keenest interest. ”

“ Unlike most of out-of-door sports, it does not require the possession of great strength or powers of endurance, or severe muscular exertion on the part of the player. Excellence in it is almost equally attainable to the weakly and delicate as to the healthy and robust. Old and young meet on its arena on more nearly equal terms than in any other known game of skill. ”

“ There is no game that can afford so much amusement to a circle of friends as that of acting charades. It affords a scope for the exercise of both wit and ingenuity.
A word must be chosen, in which the syllables may be rendered into some kind of a lively performance, and the whole word must be capable of similar representation. Then the plan of action must be agreed upon. Old-fashioned garments, gay shawls, scarfs, old coats, hats, aprons, gowns, &c., must be looked up for the occasion, and speedily converted into various and grotesque costumes, suited to the representation to be made. ”

“ To the gentlemen we would say it is no proof of skill in executing the croquet, to swing your mallet with both hands, and give a blow hard enough to kill an ox. If you want to do that sort of thing—it would be more agreeable to all concerned for you to go off alone somewhere and split wood. An easy skillful stroke will send a ball anywhere within the bounds, and a ball out of bounds may be brought in, so nothing is gained by “sledge hammering,” except injuring the implements, irritating the players and delaying the game. ”

“ I will not say that your meaning will at once be plain to every one, nor indeed is it likely to be so to more than a few, but still the working with a deliberate idea in your mind will give a unity and completeness to your design, which will be entirely wanting to one worked out at random, or with a view only to prettiness—the most noxious idea it is possible to conceive, and the rock upon which nearly all modern illuminators make shipwreck. ”

“ A striker has no right to avail himself of the advantage derived from standing back of the line of his position, thereby increasing the distance between himself and the pitcher, and obtaining a better opportunity of judging the ball. Besides which, a poorly hit ball which would strike the ground in front of the home base—if the batsman stood on the line of his base—and lead to his being put out, is changed to a foul ball by his standing back of his base, and he thereby escapes the penalty of his poor batting. ”

“ Such exercise invigorates the frame and does more for permanent health than can be accomplished by medicine. Exercise, to be beneficial, must have some pleasant excitement connected with it.
It is a pleasant sight to see a home circle, old and young, joining in a lively quadrille, or an old fashioned contra dance, in the early evening hour, either the mother or a daughter presiding at the piano. How joyously even children of three and four years old make their tiny feet move in time to merry music. ”

“ Each one of the company writes a single word on a slip of paper; the more unusual and difficult the word is to rhyme with, the more amusement it makes. These slips of paper are placed in a hat, and each one of the company, in turn, draws one, and then writes a couplet, in which the word [208] drawn shall stand at the end of a line, and the word at the end of the other line shall rhyme with it. Of course, each may write as much more as he pleases. Where the company are witty and ready, and have a faculty of making verses easily, the game is a pleasant one. ”

“ When a baulk is made by the pitcher, every player running the bases is entitled to one base, without being put out.
[The striker cannot take a base, on a baulk, as he is not considered a “player running the bases” until he has made the first base and ceased to be a striker.]
Sec. 9. If a ball, from a stroke of the bat, first touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other object, behind the range of home and the first base, or home and the third base, it shall be termed foul, and must be so declared by the umpire, unasked. ”

“ If it is in dispute whether or not the ball has been moved as above required, the question shall be decided by the umpire if there be one, if not, by the chief of the side opposing the player. Some authors allow the roquet-croquet to the rover only—but as it is one of the most scientific operations of the game, the majority of players are not willing to give it exclusively to the rover, especially when it is considered that a person who is able to become an early rover, will naturally have advantage enough without any extra favors. ”

“ When each one is in his appointed place, the captain of the fielding nine calls out “ready,” to which the umpire promptly responds “play!”—and upon the first ball which leaves the pitcher’s hand the game commences.
The batsman or striker stands at the home base on a line drawn through its center, parallel to one extending from first to third base and extending three feet on each side of it. The batsman requires considerable judgment to assist him in effectually striking at balls. He must have a quick eye and ready hand to meet the deceptive pitching of an experienced player. ”

“ All must be quiet who are not playing. When all are ready, one person claps his hands, and the first one must proceed to do what he was told; the others must not speak or laugh, on penalty of a forfeit. Each one in turn must act his or her part. It must all be in pantomime. When all are through, each person must turn and shake hands with his or her neighbor, saying: “Friend, how dost thee do?” It is important in this game that the one who gives the parts should be full of humor and of quick perceptions, so as to adapt the game to the persons playing. ”

“ For example, take a basket and knit like a garter pieces of different shades of moss colored worsted; then dip in hot water and press them; when dry ravel nearly out, only leaving an end which can be fastened on to the basket with sewing silk or green glace thread and a large needle. A basket tastefully covered in this way looks as if it were made of moss, and it retains its beauty longer; a tin dish should be made to fit it, and painted green; keep it filled with natural flowers. I should prefer such an ornament to costly porcelain. ”