Drive a croquet stake into the ground in some level spot, and draw a circle around it having a radius of two mallet lengths. Arrange six balls around the stake, placing the remaining two, called "marteaux," five mallet lengths from the ring. Let the player who has first "heurt" drive his ball toward those in the ring and endeavor to displace them. If he touches one or more of the balls he is entitled to another turn, and now tries to drive one of the balls outside the ring, naming his choice by color. If he succeeds in knocking out a ball, he again tries, continuing to play until he fails to touch a ball. The second player then drives his ball toward the ring, having the further advantage of hitting his opponent's marteau. Doing this, he may, (1) if the other's marteau is within the circle, knock the same outside, thereby gaining all his opponent's balls; (this play is called a "gagnant"), or (2) he may make the usual croquet shots with the ball.
The game is played until all the balls have been knocked out, the player winning the game who has the greatest number of balls in his possession. The chief feature of the game is the gagnant play. To avoid being played upon in this manner, it is a wise plan to place the stake between the two marteaux.
Vincent V. M. Beede.
A Visit to Baden-Baden.
The most beautiful summer resort I have seen while travelling in Europe is Baden-Baden, situated in the Black Forest. Many people go there, one-fourth of whom are Americans. The air of the pine forest is very healthy. It is said that the climate in winter is very cold, so there are not many foreigners; but in the summer it is lovely. When you go walking in the woods you do not notice you are climbing, as the roads are so well kept.
Most of the hotels are situated on the large "Lichtenthaler Allee," which goes from the railway station along the little river Oos to a village called Lichtenthal. Every hotel has a small garden in front, which is connected with the allee by a small bridge crossing the river, so that the whole place looks like one large garden. There are quite a good many pretty villas on the hills and in the town.
The forest deserves its name Black Forest, because the pine-trees stand so close together that from a distance it looks as black as coal. The prettiest walk near Baden is near a lake in the woods. On the way there one passes the Russian church with its gilded domes. It is so pretty to see the gold against the dark forest. You can see the church from nearly all the surroundings of Baden, and it often serves as a guide.
About twenty minutes' walk from the church is the lake in the woods. When you reach it and are tired of walking, there are plenty of benches to sit down on and feed the swans. To go home you have your choice between half a dozen roads, no one prettier than the other. I found some little American friends in Baden to play with, but no members of the Round Table. I hope that some members will go there and enjoy themselves as much as I did.
Max Lilienthal, R.T.K.
Wildungen.