Popular Pastimes for Field and Fireside, or Amusements for young and old

by Caroline L. Smith

8. The continuance of play is gained by virtue of the roquet, and not of the croquet. The croquet is merely a privilege consequent upon the roquet. Therefore to waive a croquet does not terminate the play. This principle once fixed in the mind will avoid much confusion in understanding and interpreting the rules.

[One author on Croquet, assumes to propound a set of rules on double points which are entirely new and at variance with all previously established principles of the game, inasmuch as they allow a player to waive any point made or privilege gained. It is an established fact in Croquet that a player may waive any privilege that he has acquired—but it is also as well established that a step once made can not be taken back. 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.]

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The Croquet and Roquet-Croquet.

IX. A player may croquet or roquet-croquet any number of balls consecutively; but he can croquet or roquet-croquet only those balls on which he has made roquet, and roquet on the same ball the second time in one tour without an intervening step does not entitle the player to a croquet.

1. If a player in the act of croqueting does not separate the balls, he is at liberty to take the stroke over again.

[Instead of the above the following rule is often given. A croquet is completed when the mallet makes a perceptible (that is an audible) blow against the croqueting ball, whether that to be croqueted move from its place or not. This rule gives rise to frequent disputes whether the blow was perceptible or not, and is not as generally acceptable as the one we have given.]

2. If a player in executing the roquet-croquet does not move the croqueted ball from its position, his tour of play ceases, unless by the same stroke he makes a point.

[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. Further, the argument that the universal use of the roquet-croquet tends to perceptibly prolong the game has been proved by actual test to be without foundation.]