to the way in which the ball is driven. Many
thoughtless players think nothing of driving a foe
close to a friend, or in the hope of assisting their
side, send a friend in the immediate neighborhood of
a foe, thus improving the position of the adverse
side and damaging that of their own.

When a player has gone the rounds and reached
the starting-stake, he may either “peg” and retire,
or not strike it and be a “rover,” with the privilege
of traveling over ground to assist players on his own
side or damage the prospects of those on the other.

In regard to the rules of the game, each family
is a law unto itself, but to give a few general in-
structions is the aim of this book to supply.

Rules and Regulations

1. All games may be opened by scoring from
an imaginary line through the middle wicket, and
playing two balls each (not partner balls) towards
the home stake. The player whose ball rests nearest
the stake shall have choice of play, using that bail.

2. The payers on each side are to play alter-
nately according to the colors on the starting-stake;
and the order in which they play shall remain un-
changed during the game.

3. On commencing, each player may place his
ball at a distance from the starting-stake not ex-
ceeding the length of the mallet-handle.

4. The first stroke must be to pass the ball
through the first arch.

5. The ball must be struck with one of the faces
of the mallet head, never with its side.

6. The ball must be fairly struck and never
pushed. A ball is considered to be fairly struck
when the sound of the stroke is heard. A ball is
pushed when the face of the mallet is allowed to

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