Back to Album belonging to Colonel F F Colvin 9L (1860-1936). Contains newspaper cuttings and paper ephemera
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Item 0064
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| Accession number | 912L : 2124/6 |
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Polo . HURLINGHAM . I attractions of Hurlingham last Saturday , nor can I IS NOT my on all the devote space to a description of who was there , to all the intricacies of hundreds of dainty toilettes , or even to the more congenial theme of describing the ponies and horses that were exhibited at the Horse and Pony Show , which will , of course , be referred to elsewhere . I can only add that the ponies in Class I. , for registered polo ponies , and in Class II . , for Arabs and Barbs , the property of members of Hurlingham , comprised a score or more of as good - shaped animals as man would wish to see . Of course the show ring was crammed , and , of course , it was grilling hot . This latter , however , we are getting accustomed to , and when we take our pleasure in such tropical weather we must be thankful that we do so at a place like Hurlingham , where all the accessories are so charming , and where everything is so well managed . Brilliant as the function was , however , I am compelled only to regard it from a Polo point of view ; so now to describe , as best I may , what I saw . By six o'clock the judging was all over , and then everyone settled down to witness a game between the 13th Hussars and a Hurlingham team . can The soldiers were , however , heavily handicapped . They had only arrived in fresh quarters at Edinburgh on Thursday , after a long march , and so have not had many opportunities of practising . Then a weary night journey of some hundreds of miles is not the fittest preparation for either men or ponies . All honour to them , though , for undertaking the task , and right well did they acquit themselves against the host of talent they had to meet . As the game came under the heading of a trial match , the names of five officers appeared in the 13th Hussars ' team . The object of this was to give two or three members of the team an opportunity to practise , with a view to decide who should play for the regiment in the Military Polo Tournament . The respective sides were composed thus : 13TH HUSSARS . Captain K. McLaren ( back ) Captain Smithson Captain Dormer Mr. E. N. Pedder Captain Ogilvy HURLINGHAM . Mr. T. S. Kennedy ( back ) Mr. James Peat Earl of Harrington Mr. Gerald Hardy Umpire : Captain Barry . The Hussars At Play begins by Mr. Peat , on that smart pony , Grasshopper , getting away with the ball at once . Mr. G. Hardy backs him up , and soon the ball is hit behind . then bring the game down , but soon the Hurlingham men rush it up , and keep on hitting behind . last the 13th , thanks to a real good run by Captain M'Laren , shift the arena of contest down by the Walnut Tree . But soon Mr. Kennedy , on Umpire ( fresh from his triumph in the show ring ) , and Mr. Peat rush the ball up to the Chestnuts , and after a hit behind , Mr. Peat scores first goal for Hurlingham , and shortly after Mr. G. Hardy does ditto . Thus ends the first twenty minutes , leaving Hurlingham two goals to love . Well , the upshot of all this is that the little chestnut eventually gets away with a couple of lengths lead , and " divil a bit " can any of the Hurling ham men catch him , ride as hard as they can . Captain McLaren , too , makes some brilliant strokes , and never missing the ball once , scores a well - won goal for the Soldiers . Then Hurlingham hit behind twice , and this the 13th also do shortly after . Up and down the battle rages with varying success ; Mr. Peat makes some of his wonderful rushes . Mr. Hardy is ever in the thickest of the fray on his well - known veteran white Rosealba ( who , I may here state , was got by an Arab horse out of a New Forest pony mare ) , and Captain McLaren makes some very pretty inside back hits , little Blair ex celling himself . Hurlingham , however , keep the ball down by the stables goal , and the game goes circling round and round in dangerous proximity to the Hussars goal . The warriors play so well , however , and with such unity , that in spite of all the Hurlingham assaults , by the time the bell rings , the game only stands Hurlingham , two goals ; 13th Hussars , one . to For the final phase , Captain Dormer goes out , and Hur lingham begins by rushing the ball down ; Captain McLaren , however , gets hold of it , making a splendid run on a very smart bay pony , and though Mr. Kennedy tries hard up to the chestnuts pire , the ball has travelled nearly before he accomplishes his object . Then once more Mr. Peat shoots to the front , and in spite of all opposition sails onwards , and with a very fine drive scores a third goal for his side . Backwards and forwards the game goes on , with changing fortune . Good scrimmages , good races , good hits are all witnessed , Mr. Peat in parti cular playing most scientifically , till at last he scores again , after a hit behind . Captain Smithson , on a smart brown pony , does some good work for his side , and some very lively play takes place , but the Hurlingham men are too strong , and besides , their ponies are not only better all round , but they are fresher , having had a good night's rest in comfort able , well - ventilated stables , instead of being cooped up in horse boxes , so it is not to be wondered at that shortly ere " time " is called Mr. Peat rattles the ball on towards the stables , and Lord Harrington backing him , the latter scores a fifth goal for the home team , making the final result , Hurlingham five goals , 13th Hussars , one . A very good game , most pluckily played by the Hussars , and for which they deserve all credit . the game the draw for the Military Polo Tournament took place , when the following teams were pitted against each other . 10th Hussars v . 1st Royal Dragoons , 9th Lancers v . 16th Lancers , 13th Hussars v . Royal Munster Fusiliers , Royal Artillery a bye . After On Monday , when the first game of the tournament was played , the weather was everything that could be desired . A soft summer haze hung over the elm trees by the river , and a cool breeze , grateful alike to man and beast , tempered the air . A few ladies graced the lawn with their presence , and a good many men ( mostly soldiers come to see how their brethren in arms ac quitted themselves ) were clustered in knots about the Pavilion . I was unfortunate in not witnessing the beginning of the gan e between the 10th Hussars and the Royals , but for this I was not to blame . On Saturday the hour for play to commence was fixed at 4 p.m. , and when I reached the ground at 3.30 the game was in full swing ! The explana tion , that it had been resolved to play off two matches in stead of one - Hinc illæ lachryma ! -and judging from the rest of the game , I must confess I regretted not seeing the earlier portion between the following teams : Before alluding briefly to the second period of the game , I must say a few words regarding one of the most wonderful ponies I have ever seen . I had spotted the little animal some time previously , and shrewdly suspected that he had Deccanee blood in his veins . And I was right , for his owner , Captain McLaren , was kind enough to give me a brief outline of his history . Blair Athole - abbreviated to Blair - is a bright chestnut pony standing only 12.3 , got by an Arab stallion out of a Deccanee mare . Low as he appears , and small as compared to ponies of the day , yet he is wonderfully made , possessing all the good points a polo pony should have . The He belonged originally to a grass - cutter in the Poona Horse , but Captain McLaren has owned him for some years , and brought him home from India . Well has the trouble repaid him , for a light weignt could not possess a better pony than Blair . As his owner cantered him off , on play recommencing , I noted a smile of commiseration and amusement on the face of more than one of the cognoscenti , a smile , however , that was soon changed to one of admiration and astonishment when they saw how the little Indian " tattoo " acquitted himself , even after his long journey from Edinburgh , and how he put to shame better - looking and higher - priced ponies . But to play . Captain Smithson now comes into the game , vice Mr. Pedder , the rest of the team remaining as before . Soon after the hit off Lord Harrington gets in possession of the ball , and , with a clear lead , races away with it . chances seem fifty to one that he will score , but his final Now to the game itself , which had been going on for some drive lacks direction , and the ball rolls behind the goal ten minutes prior to my arrival , during which Captain posts , but not through them . And now there is a pretty bit Fisher had scored a goal for the light cavalry men . of play . Captain McLaren hits off with a good drive , and first thing I see is a good scrimmage up by the lawn , and allows up the ball , which he brings down by the Pavilion . the 10th carrying the ball up , hit behind at the " Chest Now , mark you the despised Indian " tat . " Look at him nuts . " Then Mr. McMahon , who played most brilliantly as he twists in and out of the melte , following the ball like all through the game , takes the ball along , backed by Mr. a dog , and playing to such perfection that he seldom shoots Mesham , and matters promise well for the Royals , but at past it , thereby giving his owner every opportunity of a critical moment Mr. Mesham's pony cuts it , and launches indulging in some very pretty strokes . Look , too , at the out from the line in a series of arching bucks , varied by an good little beast as Mr. Kennedy , on Deception , a big man occasional kick , that would have unseated a less practised on a big pony , tries to hustle him ! Why , mere weight horseman . Why the animal so conducted himself t'would must tel , you think , independent of pace ! Not a bit . be hard to say , for the pony is a good one , and performed well Blair has got inside place , and , what is more , keeps it , and , subsequently , but perversity is as often observable in the best later on , holds his own in several good scuffles even with of the equine race as it is in the human , and often the wisest Mr. Peat's well - known Dynamite , justly reputed one course to pursue is to give in , pro tem . This Mr. Mesham of the best and fastest ponies at Hurlingham . Of course , though , it must be remembered that Blair had far less weight to carry than either of the ponies I have alluded to ; but still , when one remembers that he is 5in . less in height , his performance must be stamped as a very high one . does , and quickly changing on to a fresh pony is soon in the thickest of the fray once more , and so well do the heavies play up that Mr. McMahon nearly scores with a rattling hit . Indeed , the ball is almost through between the goal posts , but Captain Fisher , with a capital back hander , averts the threatened disaster temporarily . But this is not delayed for long - the Royals mean to have a goal , and , after some good tussles and scrimmages , they getit , for Captain Burn scores at the stables . So ends the first twenty minutes , and the game stands at the even score of one goal each . On play being resumed , the 10th get the ball down , Captain Allsopp doing good work for his side , one very fine hit of his being specially noticeable 10TH HUSSARS . Captain Hon . H. Allsopp ( back ) Captain R. B. W. Fisher Mr. A. Hughes Onslow Mr E. W. D. Baird Mr. F. McMahon Umpires : Sir H. de Trafford and Captain F. Middleton . 1ST ROYALS . Mr Percy Browne ( back ) Captain C. R. Burn Mr. Arthur Mesham slower I ought , perhaps , here to mention that , in accordance with custom , all the boundary boards had been taken down , for the reason that many ponies not accustomed to play at Hurlingham do not understand them , and in a scrim mage are apt to bungle over the timber in a scuffle . That the fact of their removal makes the game one cannot , I think , be controverted , and though The Field takes exception to the manner in which many poloists play for a rebound from the boards , yet , in my humble opinion , backed by that of a good many players of experience , these boards are , in the main beneficial to the game , and making it a quicker and better game , in the same ratio that the back wall of a racket court makes rackets a more lively game than lawn - tennis . Another noticeable alteration was the substitution of thin for thick goal - posts Thea move in the right direction , we think . 10 tice But rode an old veteran , Telescope , once the property , we believe , of the Messrs . Peat . This fact of itself is sufficient to proclaim that the pony knew all about the game . what is this breedy chestnut that looks nearly 15 hands high , but who really , we believe , passes the standard , on which I rd Harrington is knocking a ball about , and that , in te of an occasional reaching at her bridle , seems te to enter into the fun of the thing ? This , gentle nuen , is a horse you should know if you have waded through all the late tedious Turf libel cases , for it is none other than Gaton , late Tessy , who won many a race as a two - year - old , and then stopped growing . Got by Glendale - Leonora , she is well bred enough for anything , and ought , even now , if trained , to win a good race or two and it seems almost a pity that she should be put to play polo , for she has a wonderful turn of speed . A past racing career is not most conducive to making an animal play polo well , but certainly Tessy seems to take to it , and if she does , I don't believe there is a pony will touch her for pace on the polo ground , unless the little lady gets too excited , after the manner of her kind . She is now the property of Mr. E. Kenyon Stow , and in such good hands we shall no doubt hear of her again . But now it is time for the game to begin . Herewith a list of the players : 10TH HUSSARS . Captain the Hon . H. T. Allsopp ( back ) Captain Fisher Mr. Onslow . " } Mr. Baird . substitutes The game , though a foregone conclusion , yet proved a real good one , productive of some rattling play all round . The issue , however , was never in doubt , and the 10th won " hands down . " Captain Allsop and Mr. Onslow proved themselves real good players . Cela va sans dire , that , belonging to a regiment like the 10th Hussars , they are good horsemen . Mr. Baird , too , played remark ably well , scoring four out of the five goals the 10th obtained , the fifth falling to Captain Fisher , and right well was this won . Captain Fishor's abilities are too well known for such a humble individual as your scribe to enlarge upon , so I shall not attempt the task . For the Gunners no one did better than Mr. Schofield , though under such strict disciplinarians as Captain Jeffries and Mr. Watson he was occasionally roused up . Still , at times he displayed considerable dash and vigour , and his name will , I venture to predict , be better known in the future annals of polo . Captain Jeffreys , it is needless to say , kept up his reputation as being quite in the front rank of polo players , and his defence and manoeuvring was admir able . Well as the Gunners played , and great as was the assistance they derived both from Lord Harrington and Mr. Watson , yet they could not avert defeat , and by the time the game was finished they had not scored a single goal against their rivals , seven , though they made many a gallant fight . But they were over - horsed , for few teams can bring such a lot of good ponies into the field as the 10th Hussars . A real good game , and one which I wish space permitted me to enlarge on at greater length . But I have many more games to notice , so I am compelled to cut this and others shorter than I would wish . Tuesday was a lovely day , bright and hot , but there was a very small attendance , owing to the Windsor Show . What few spectators there were had , however , a treat in store for them , for the game was a capital one , viz . , the 9th Lancers v . the Freebooters . As the players were all soldiers ( for Mr. J. Watson , the only quasi civilian , served for some years in the 13th Hussars ) , it is needless to say punctuality was strictly observed , and the game began soon after three o'clock . The 9th Lancers undoubtedly possessed the strongest team , for the first three members on the list formed part of the old regimental team that earned such a name for themselves in India . The Freebooters , though Mr. Watson was a host in himself , and they had the services of such a good and well known player as Captain Spicer , were much weaker . Still they made a good fight of it - indeed , what team would not under such a gallant and enthusiastic leader ? The Lancers had a nice lot of ponies , and we specially noticed a useful grey , a bay Arab , and a very cocky bay barb , ridden by Captain Lamont , a smart chestnut ridden by Captain Jenner , a couple of bays , the property of Captain Little , a bay Arab , and the well - known chestnut , Dick , once the property of Mr. Herbert , played by Captain Colvin . The teams were composed as follows : 9th LANCERS . Captain J. H. Lamont ( back ) Captain Jenner Captain M. O. Little Captain Colvin ROYAL ARTILLERY . Captain Jeffreys ( back ) Captain de Robeck Mr. Schofield Lord Harrington Mr. J. Watson FREEBOOTERS . Mr. J. Watson ( back ) Captain J. Spicer Captain Ferguson Mr. Fenwick Umpire Lord Harrington . On play beginning hardly a moment elapses ere Captain Little scores a goal at the " Chestnuts , " and then Captain Colvin repeats the performance with equal rapidity , when sides are changed . Quick work this . Captain Spicer how ever , soon gets away with the ball on Smuggler , and carries it well up . There is a rare race between Captain Little and Mr. Watson , the latter by a good backhander just beating his opponent . However , the Lancers get the ball down , and eventually hit behind after a bit of a scrim mage . Mr. Watson then takes the ball up in a series of brilliant drives . Mr. Fenwick backs bim up to perfection , and things look better for the Freebooters ; but the 9th , headed by Captain Colvin and Captain Jenner , swoop down , and with irresistible force , carry the game forward and hit behind . On the ball being hit off , Captain Spicer , on that lovely mare Kit - Kat ( sister to Mr. Watson's well - known Fritz ) , makes a gallant bid for victory , but he is stopped , and the Lancers carry it down , Captain Colvin scoring again . This Captain Lamont shortly supplements with another goal , and at the close of the first twenty minutes the Lancers stand four goals to love . The first period of the game is generally prophetic of what the final issue will be , and it certainly was in this instance . On play being resumed , the Freebooters alter their tactics . Backhanders , however good , they find are unavailing , so on every possible occasion the ball is brought round by Mr. Watson and Captain Spicer , and this certainly had a good effect , for soon Mr. Fenwick , after a good bit of play , scores e first goal for the Freebooters . Then , after some very vely play , Captain Colvin , with a drive which I can only describe by the slang expression of " thundering good , " scores again . It is a near thing , however . The ball rolls slowly onwards . Mr. Watson does his best to stop it , but it has too much start , and even Joss , that speedy Arab , cannot overtake it in time , ere it dribbles through the goal posts by the Chestnuts . Soon after Captain Colvin scores again . Then for a time the Freebooters get the best of the game , and just before the bell rings they hit behind , leaving the score thus at the end of the second twenty minutes : 9th Lancers , six goals ; Freebooters , one . Mr. The last phase of the game was , perhaps , the most exciting . Play might aptly be described as fast and urious , and , had empires depended on the result , the com ants could not have struggled harder for victory . Tatson surpasses himself ; dashing on and hitting the ball ith unerring accuracy on both sides of his pony ( and what ondrous hits he does make on the near side ! I don't ppose any man is his equal in this difficult stroke ) , ilst with his eyes never off the ball , he encourages his alands oft ... LL followers with directions . Captain Spicer goes bounding ended . two . ell Hussars favour home - bred ' uns the most . At last Captain Colvin gets along on the speedy Kit - Kat . Mr. Fenwick demonstrates ld of the ball out of a scrimmage , and , sniggling it past that weight can tell in a scuffle , and all the Free - to of his opponents , who try to baulk him , carried it on . booters play up so valiantly that at last Captain Spicer ptain Little backs him up , and the combat rages fierce scores another goal for his side . An uphill game , however , wn by the stables ; so hotly are the 16th pressed , that in is proverbially a hard one to fight , and one in which success If - defence they hit behind their own goal - line . This does not always crown the most gallant efforts . So it was ves rise to some difference of opinion as to how close the on this occasion , for after some of the hardest tussles , and h may come to the goal - line , and the umpires are appealed some of the best polo it has ever been our good fortune to Their decision is : - " When one side hit behind their witness , the Lancers scored a seventh goal through the yn goal in self - defence their adversaries may come up as medium of Captain Colvin , and then this hard - fought game ose as they like to the goal - line to await the hit off . " So Result : -9th Lancers , seven goals ; Freebooters , cordingly the 9th range up pretty near , and , preventing e ball going far by this manoeuvre , keep it down by the Well they deserved to win , for had they not come all the ables goal , where , after some scrimmaging , Captain way from Manchester , whither they returned the same amont scores a goal with a fine hit . This ends the first evening , just for this one game . There energy for you ! venty minutes , when the score stands thus : -9th Lancers , il What team will win the Military Tournament next week , vo goals ; 16th Lancers , one . when H.R. H. the Duke of Cambridge is to present the On play being resumed Captain Colvin , on that good pony P prize , ' tis hard to say , but the issue should lie between the ick , makes a fine run , and though Captain Babington foils o old rivals , the 9th Lancers , and the 10th Hussars , though m at the critical moment , the 16th cannot save the goal , e rumour has it that there is a dark horse in the shape of the hich Captain Little short y scores . ' Tis time , however , he 13th Hussars . The 9th Lancers seem to favour Arabs , for at the tide of fortune were turned , and so Captain Calley , 1st they played at least five or six to - day , whilst the 10th stting hold of the ball , makes a brilliant run ; there is a e re race between him and Captain Lamont ; as they tear i If we saw a good game on Tuesday , we witnessed an even iwards towards the " chestnuts ; " the 9th Lancers back d better one the following day game full of dash , vigour , anages to ride off his opponent , but Captain Dugdale is in and manoeuvring . That it was hot - the weather I mean - acking up in rare style , and as the two leading men shoot a everyone knows , so hot that one felt inclined to follow ist the he gets a e ball , leaving it untouched , Sidney Smith's suggestion " to take off your flesh and sit in pod drive at it and scores . Two all now , and ed your bones ! " Yes , it was positively grilling , and it must be contest is getting keenly exciting . How well Captain ce have required not only the greatest energy , but a real love of abington does play ! Just look at him now rushing to the ly the game to play polo in such a temperature . Yet here were ont , and lifting the ball - why that hit must be close on a te the 10th Hussars eager to do battle with a Hurlingham team . andred yards , if not more - now darting back , keen on e All honour to them both for it , and for affording us such a efending his goal from any assault , and with his eye ever brilliant display of horsemanship and play . It is such games the ball . Then his back - handers - how wondrous good l as this that make us Eaglishmen what we are , and it cer- ley are ! Bravely as we have seen him play this season , tainly is fine training for a soldier . If there is one game e have seldom seen him in such good form . After some calculated more than another to make a good horseman it is uffles and a hit behind , Captain Lamont gets a chance , polo , for he has not only to possess a firm seat , good hands , and hich he is not slow to avail himself of , and , shooting to a quick eye to follow the ball , but he has to learn the art of he front , scores a goal . Going on the principle of " tit riding by balance . This is a necessity , for he will be calledr tat , " Captain Dugdale , after a fine run , shortly on to strike the ball in all sorts of positions , and on each side oes the same for the 16th , assisted by Mr. Beau of his pony , when going at full speed ; and though it may ont , who aids his comrade by riding off Captain seem comparatively easy , believe me , you who have never amont , who threatens interference with the ball . O tried it , it is very much the reverse . And now " forrard in the ball being hit off , Captain Dugdale brings it down on , " for the sides are ranged up thus : i fine style , but there is a shout of " off side " from the 9th , , nd the game is stopped whilst the umpires are appealed to . e o us , on the Pavilion balcony , there seemed no question f doubt , and that Captain Dugdale was not off side . This roved the opinion of the umpires , for the claim was dis Umpire : Capt . Babington . llowed , and the game begins afresh . Then Mr. Beaumont Play begins by Mr. J. Peat getting away with the ball and lakes a real good run , and , after some scuffles , Captain hitting behind . Soon after Mr. Fenwick nearly scores , but abington hits a fourth goal for the 16th . A scrimmage just fails , and after a very quick bit of play the ball is again hen for some time , and it seems as if the ball had taken up hit behind by Hurlingham . Then Mr. Baird , on the chesnuts abode amid the ponies ' legs , but at last Captain Jenner Euphrates , brings the ball along in capital style - one stroke acceeded in getting it clear , and after a fine run , scores a in which he hit the ball when it was in the air , being oal , in spite of all Captain Babington's strenuous efforts to specially noticeable , for it is a feat performed though often top him . Then time is up , and the game stands - 9th attempted . After the usual amount of scrimmaging and ancers , 5 goals ; 16th Lancers , 4 . racing , Mr. Alfred Peat , on Seagull , scores the first goal for the home team . On the hit off the 10th play up well , then Captain Spicer , on the barb Spider , plays a pretty game , for he hits the ball on one side , thereby turning the enemy's he game is keenly contested as the ball travels up and flank and giving himself a more open field . So gradually own the ground ; but at last Captain Colvin scores for the Hurlingham work up towards the " Chesnuts , " then , after th . After some rare quick play , during which Captain about as fast a bit of play as could be seen , Mr. J. Peat sabington makes a splendid back - hander , which , at the again scores . The soldiers take exception to this , claiming a istance the ball was from him and the pace he was going , foul , but on appeal to the umpire the challenge is disallowed , eemed almost a matter of impossibility ; the 9th at last and at the end of the first twenty minutes Hurlingham . rce the ball down by the stables , and eventually Captain stands two goals to love . ittle scores . The end is now fast approaching , and ough the 16th nerve themselves for a supreme effort , and ground , the are against them , for the 9th are every whit s keen on increasing their score as are their opponents on ecreasing it . Captain Little , on that good - shaped , wall yed bay Arab , makes a rattling run , and then Captain amont scores an eighth goal for the 9th . But three iautes more remain , and in those brief moments some ruly gallant play is witnessed , Captain Little making a arvellous run nearly down to the stables , only to have his fforts defeated by Captain Babington , who , sweeping the all round , sends it with two strong drives up by the band Onslow tand . Here the 9th again get in possession , and , bringing t down , hit behind . Then the time bell rings , and the 9th re proclaimed the victors by eight goals to four . So ended bis capital game , in which the 16th Lancers , though lefeated , may truly be said to have earned not only the raise , but the sympathy of all onlookers . Not that I 10TH HUSSARS . Capt . the Hon . H. T. Allsopp ( back ) Capt . Fisher Mr. Hughes Onslow Mr. Baird With the game so even , it seems a toss up who will win . aptain Lamont and Captain Jenner play splendidly , as , deed , do Captain Babington and Captain Dugdale , and On play being resumed Mr. Baird gets hold of the ball , and in splendid style brings it along . Captain Spicer tries to ride him off , but Euphrates has the legs of Spider , and lay most splendidly to regain lost ites " Mr. Baird , never once missing the ball , sails triumphantly on and hits the first goal for the soldiers . A truly brilliant performance this , and worthy of record . The 10th have now got their dander up , " and mean to avenge their previous defeat , for Mr. Onslow brings the ball down to the stables in grand style , his comrades all back him up , and Mr. Baird adds the finishing touch by scoring again . Fortune now favours the soldiers , for again they outride their adversaries , and Captain Fisher scores at the " Chesnuts . " A fourth time do the soldiers carry the war into the enemy's country , and add another leaf to their crown of victory - Mr . this time being the hero . It is difficult , nay impossible , to describe every phase of the game , particularly such a quick one as this proved , so I must be content with lavishing oceans of praise on all the players . Up and down the ball goes , Mr. Baird , both the Messrs . Peat , and Captain Spicer all calling forth admiring shouts of " Well played , " " By jove , nean to detract for one moment from the merits of the 9th what a good stroke . " At last Mr. J. Peat gets an opening . Lancers , but to an unprejudiced and impartial onlooker the He is not the man to lose a chance , so with one of his veaker side must necessarily appeal for sympathy . ' Tis but human nature ; and though we may congratulate the wondrous rushes he shoots through the throng , and soon a triumphant " Whoo - whoop " announces the fact that he has trong victor , we sympathise with the weaker vanquished . scored . Thus , at the close of the second twenty minutes , All honour , however , to both sides , and good luck to them the game stands , 10th Hussars four goals , Hurlingham three . in the future . down ? And now for the final bout . Captain Allsopp makes a good On Wednesday the Fulham world was all agog at the run , but Mr. Alfred Peat cuts him out , and , being well prospect of seeing the Shah on his way to Hurlingham , and backed , his side gets the ball behind at the Chesnuts " from the bend of the road down to the chief entrance the twice in quick succession . Then Captain Fisher and Mr. road was thronged with spectators . Elaborate prepara Baird , by dint of good play , reverse the order of things , and ions , too , had been made on the lawn , and a gorgeous tent for some time the ball hangs down by the stables goal . Mr. of the Persian colours ( red and white ) had been prepared J. Peat , however , manages to get away with the ball , but or his Majesty's reception . But the crowd was doomed to not for long . Nasr - ed - Din had to go to the City and See , can anything be more exciting than lisappointment . this mimic warfare as all the players come thundering aste the hospitality of the civic ædiles . A jaunt to Hur Mr. Baird is in possession of the ball on that ingham after such an ordeal would have proved too much good black pony . Mr. Alfred Peat , on Seagull , is doing exertion for the great man whom we delight to honour , so his level best to oust him . Down they race as the ball Hurlingham had to go to the wall , and some who had con rolls along by the boundary board , and the odds are even as idently looked forward to his Shahship presenting a quar to who will reach it first . Aye , ' tis a gallant sight , better sette of dark - eyed houris from his harem to the winning team Of course we are not in the confidence far , in my humble opinion , than any contest for pure pelf . were sold ! See , too , how behind them Capt . Spicer is keeping off Capt , of kings and potentates ( even dusky ones ) , but we cannot Fisher ; how Mr. Onslow divides the space between them and help thinking that even Oriental apathy would have been the other couple of antagonists , Capt . Jenner and Mr. Fen- stirred to admiration by the good game that was got up for wick . This is playing the game , when a man does not merely think of hitting the ball ; most men can do that with prac . tice , but to play well self - abnegation is required - the will and kudos . And right well do all the champions périou are ! part , some taking the more active part , some the apparently more passive . Well , all this results in the soldiers carrying the ball nearly down to the stables ; then Mr. Alfred Peat changes the venue , and circling round brings the ball more into the centre of the ground , and from thence on up to the " Chesnuts . " There is a rare race between him and Capt . Allsopp as the ball rolls onward , t ll it is on the very goal line , then sma h - crash - bang ! A goal post flies one way , a pony and its rider roll over the other , and there is evidently an accident , though Hurlingham have got their goal The prone warrior is Cap : Allsopp , who has been trying which is the hardest , his head or the goal - post ! Soldiers have ever the credit of being hard - heid d , and the gallant Hussar proves the truth of the assertion , for he is soon up and in the saddle again , plus an ugly bump on his forehed and " one lovely black eye " ! A lucky escape , on which I con gratulate him , if a stranger may take such a liberty . This incident opened up an argument regarding the goal - post at Hurlingham , some asserting that they were too solid , t HURLINGHAM . Capt J. Spicer ( back ) Mr. Alfred Peat Mr. J. Peat Mr. Fenwick |
