CROQUET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1240, 4 September 1875, Page 19

CROQUET.

Pall Mall, the head quarters of the club world, a spacious thoroughfare between St. James's street and the Haymarket, derives its name from the game of paiUe maille, which was introduced into England from France in the reign of James I. The game, however, was not generally played until the rei»n of Charles H. ; as in a little work, "The French Garden for English Ladies," published in 1621, occurs the following passage : "A paille maille is a wooden hammer set to the end of a long stoppe, to strike ahoute with, at which game noblemen and gentlemen in France doe play much." In 1670, however, the game waa well known. In the edition for that year of Blonnt's " Glossographia," we are told that "paille maille is a game wherein a round bowle is with a mallet struck through a high arch of iron ( standing at each end of the alley), which he that can do at the fewest blows, or at the number agreed on, wins." This game was heretofore played in the long alley near Sfc. James's, and vulgarly called Pell Mell. The Mall which at present exists in St. James's Park, was arranged by Charles II. ; but the Mall, on which now stands the street above mentioned, was used as a ground for this sport as early as the reign of James I. The Apple-tree Yard — St. James's Square of the present daywas then a piece of pastime ground known as Pell Mell Close, and evidently derived its name from the locality where the game was played. That the game was very popular during the reign of the Merry Monarch there can be no doubt, as the king is often described as excelling fit pall mall, and evidently was a zealous player. The Duke of York, afterwards James 11., was also a good player, as, in fact, were most of the courtiers. Pepys records in his diary for April 2nd, 1661 : "To St. James's Park, where I saw the Duke of York playing at pell mell, the first time that ever I saw the sport in this country." Taking Waller's poem as an authority, many writers say that Charles 11. introduced the game into this country, whereas we know it was occasionally played in the reign of James 1., as already stated. Prince Henry, however, played on the ground now occupied by the Btreet, Pall Mall, which was then merely a walk made for the purpose, and lined with trees. In Charles I.'s reign, however, the game seems to have fallen into desuetude, as during the Commonwealth the alley, or avenue, had already begun to be converted into a street, and therefore Charles 11. was compelled to arrange the avenue in St. James's Park, now known as the Mall, for the purposes of the game, and also to appoint men to keep it in good order. Our gossip, Samuel Pepys, in his diary for loth of May, 1663, informs us how this was managed. He writes : " I walked in the Parke discoursing with the keeper of the Pell Mell, who was sweeping of it, who told me of what the earth is mixed that do floor the Mall, and that over all there is cockle shells powdered, and spread to keep it fast, which, however, in dry weather turns to dust and deads the ball." The Mall was rolled regularly, and kept in beautiful condition with the greatest care, and was, according to a contemporary author, "of a reasonably good length, straight and even, and if oneThad a paille maille, it were good to play in the alley."