Entered according t© Act(^ Congress, in the year 1875, By R. a FERRIER. < In the Office of the Librarian at Washington THE NEW Lawn and Parlor Game, "AMERICA/^ Its Principles and Rules, BY THE INVENTO NTOJl. l\ . J . J^n-trt/ < 1 1^ - Patented September, a^^ ^^ %/.-^X "AMERICA" GAME AND PUBLISHINO't^Bjl^AlWT" NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 1875. JOURNAL STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINT, NORTHAMPTON, MASS. LC Control Number tinp96 026364 INTRODUCTION. " America" was first introduced to the public in the latter part of September, 1874, and owing to the lateness of the season, but few games were sold ; yet, wherever the game was introduced it was received with great favor, owing, no doubt, to its simplicity and beauty of construction; while its cost is no greater than that of the ordinary ($3.50) Croquet set. Several new lawn games have been presented to the public within the last four years, and nearly all of them have proved failures, because they were so complicated that it was difficult to learn to play them, and the cost of the game so great, but comparatively few per- sons could afford to buy a set, Croquet alone, standing the test of time. "America" is not designed to supplant Croquet. We offer to the public a game highly interesting in itself, combining all the healthful exercise of Croquet ; a game which admits of the skill of the best Croquet and Billiard player, and yet so simple, so easy to comprehend, that a child can soon learn how to play it. Not only has the game these advantages, but the additional one, that with the same materials of which the game is constructed, any one desiring, can play Croquet. We shall endeavor in the following pages of this manual to explain the " principles and rules" of the game clearly and fully; and show the manner of changing "America" into Croquet. Trusting our efforts will be duly appreciated by the lovers of pleasing and healthy out-of-door exercise, we remain, Yours, respectfully, ^^AMEEIOA" GAME AND PUBLISHING CO., R. O. FERRIER, Geii'l Agent, Northampton, Mass., Lock Box 192 DIAGRAM No. 1. Foot of 1 — i Ground. k 0\ • ^^FT O 0) a X -♦J ^FT ■ k to (D c-t- ^ ^FT o ■ CD ^AT ■ • \ k 1 k Starting Point. : ■ Description of Game. GROUND. Any piece of ground that is suitable for Croquet, is equally adapted for " America." ARCHES. The arches are the wire hoops or wickets through which the field-balls are driven, being the same as those used in Croquet, except that they are numbered respec- tively : I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The arch at the starting- point is unnumbered. The player does not win the game by being the first party out, as in Croquet, but accomplishes that end as in Billiards, by count. Those players who best succeed in driving the field-balls through the arches and score the largest count are the winners. ARRANGEMENT OF ARCHES. Diagram i, on 4th page, represents an area forty feet long and twelve feet wide. The arches are arranged as shown in this diagram ; blank arch being the head (starting point) of the ground, and arches Nos. 6, 7 and 8 the foot or end. The distances between the arches are as follows : 4 ft. between blank arch and No. i; 6 ft. between Nos. i and 2 ; 7 ft. between Nos. 2 and 3 ; 7 ft. between Nos. 3 and 4 ; 7 ft. between Nos. 4 and 5 ; and 9 ft. between Nos. 5 and house. If the nature of the ground will admit, the arches can be set farther apart to good advantage, and if the ground is limited, the arches should be set nearer together, care being taken that the same relative distances are observed. AMERICA. DIAGRAM No. 2. / / / I// •i y 1 4 ^"■fti / 30 DESCRIPTION OF GAME. DEFINITIONS OF DIAGRAM 2. O, Player's ball ; A, blank arch — starting point ; GO, field-balls ; B, arch No. i ; C, arch No. 2 ; D, arch No. 3 ; E, arch No. 4 ; F, arch No. 5; G, arches Nos. 6, 7 and 8. These last three are called the house. Any field-ball hav- ing passed through any one of the arches which form the house has had its run. FIELDS. The ground is divided into six fields, called respectively: One field (the space between blank and arch No. i). Two field (the space between arches Nos. i and 2). Three field (the space between arches Nos. 2 and 3). Four field (the space between arches ]>fos. 3 and 4). Five field (the space between arches Nos. 4 and 5). House field (the space between arches Nos. 5 and 6, 7 and 8, or house. FIELD-BALLS Are those balls in the set which are unpainted. These balls instead of being played with as in Croquet, are played upon. There are three in a set. PLAYERS' BALLS Are the same as used in Croquet, and are painted to match with colors on mallet-handles. In half-sets there are four balls; in full sets eight. MALLETS. The mallet-heads are made of hickory, thoroughly seasoned ; the handles are eight-cornered. There are four in half-sets and eight in full sets. The handles are colored to correspond with colors on balls. DIALS Are the numbered cards with pointer for keeping tally of the game. AMERICA. COXJNTEIl. The counter is made of two upright stakes with wires running- across the top, on which are placed buttons. These buttons can be slid back and forth on the w^res. The stakes are fastened together in the centre by a ferule, and can be taken apa^t, the lower portion serving for stakes when " America" is set up for Croquet. General Directions for Playing. THE GAME ^'AMERICA" Can be played by two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight persons, and one great advantage which the game presents is, that it can be played as sides by an odd as well as an even number of persons, or each individual player can play tor himself, making as large a score as possible, regardless of any, or all players. THE GAME COMMENCES By A placing his ball half a mallet's length outside of blank arch on a straight line with fi^eld-ba41s, and striking it so as to drive field-balls through arch No. i into field two. It should be borne in mind that the field-balls are not to be struck with the mallet, but must be driven through the respective arches in succession by a player's ball strik- ing against them. See Rules and Regulations, Rule i. All the field-balls should be driven through arch No. i into field two, before any are put through arch No. 2, and all the field-balls should be put through arch No. 2 into field three betore any are put through arch No. 3, etc. throughout the game, until all the field-balls are pnt through the house. See R. and R., ;Rule 2. RULES AND REGULATIONS. As will be seen, the object of the player is to drive all the field-balls through all the arches in regular succession until all are put outsi.de of the house, and to score as high a count as possible. In doing this to be careful that his own ball is not passed by himself, or driven by an opponent through an arch through which field-balls are passing, for -that takes from his count as many as the number on the arch through which his ball passes. See R. and R., Rule 8. To sum up: A having had his turn and missed, should when his turn comes again, play from whatever position he may find his ball from field-balls, likewise every player after the first turn. The field-balls must be kept moving toward the house and never be brought back when having once gone fairly through an arch. When all the field-balls have been put through all the arches and the house, they have made the tour of the ground and the game ends. The party or parties having the largest count win the game. Sixty-nine is the highest number that can be scored. Should A succeed at first stroke in driving one or more field-balls through arch No. i into field two, he is entitled to another turn and can roquet a field-ball, and having roqueted a field-ball he can croquet or roquet- croquet it through an arch. See R. and R., Rule 3. Shojjld A fail at his first stroke to drive a field-ball through arch No. i into field two he misses and must wait until his turn shall come round again. See R. R., Rule 4. B commences by placing his ball half a mallet's length outside of blank arch in any direction he may choose, and it is optional whether he goes through the arch or not, and if A is within his reach he plays on his ball, as this entitles him to the roquet (see R. and R. Rule 5); but if A is not within his reach or is in a field ahead of field-balls (see R. and R., Rule 6,) B plays upon the nearest field-ball. C, D, etc., following in succession, taking any angle they choose half a mallet's length outside of blank arch. See R. and R., Rule 7. 10 AMERICA. Rules and Regulations. Rule 1. Field-balls must be put through the arches by a player's ball coming in contact with them, and never by a blow irom the mallet. Rule 2. All the field-balls must be passed through the arch through which they are being driven before any are put through the preceding arch, etc. Rule 3. Any player who drives a field-ball through an arch, when his own ball does not pass through at the same time, is entitled to the roquet. Having roqueted a field- ball, he can croquet or roquet-croquet it through an arch. Rule 4. A player misses when he fails to drive a ball through an arch ; when he attempts to hit an oppo- nent's ball, and misses ; and when he fails to make the roquet, and he shall then wait until his turn comes before he plays again. Rule 5. When a player has driven a field-bell through an arch; hit any player's ball — opponent or friend — he is entitled to the roquet. Rule 6. Should a player wish to protect himself against a succeeding player, he can, by a regular stroke, place his ball in a field ahead of field-balls. Thus should A, after having passed one or rnore field-balls through Arch i, see that it was impossible for him to get any more field-balls through with his only remaining stroke, he can place his ball in field two, or any field ahead of field-balls, and B could not play on A's ball until he had succeeded in driving the field-balls into the field where A's ball lies. Rule 7. Every player shall start half a mallet's length outside of blank arch. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 11 Rule 8. Should a player's ball be passed by himself, or be driven by an opponent through an arch through which field-balls are being passed, he shall be set back as many as the number on the arch through which his ball passes: i. e., should A, in attempting to drive a field-ball through arch No. i, send his own ball through at the same time, he would be set back one, etc. Should B, when his turn came, ^rive A's ball through arch No. i, A would likewise be set back one, etc. This rule is only applicable to arches through which field-balls are being passed, a player being at liberty to go through any other of the arches. Rule 9. If a field-ball does not pass through the arch, but is driven by, into the next field, or in any manner gets into a field where it does not belong, the umpire o chief, or the party displacing it, shall place it in the centre of the field from which it was displaced : i. e., if the field-balls were in field one, and a player, in attem^pting to drive them through arch No. 2, should drive one or more of them into field two without , putting them through arch No. I, they must be placed in centre of field one, etc. 12 AMERICA. Tecliiiical Terms Defined. Arches. — The numbered hoops through which field- balls are driven. House. — Those arches numbered 6, 7 and 8. Blank Arch. — The arch at head of ground. Start- ing point. Fields. — The space between the arches. Field-Balls. — Those balls in the set which are played upon. Smashing or Scattering. — When the first player at commencement of game drives his ball against field-balls and scatters them. Passing. — When a field-ball is being driven through an arch. Passed. — When a field -ball has made an arch. Set-back. — A player is set-back when his ball goes or is sent through an arch through which field-balls are passing. Roquet, — A player's ball makes roquet on a field-ball when, proceeding from a blow of the mallet, it comes in contact with it. Croquet. — ^A player's ball having struck a field-ball, is taken up and placed in contact with the field-ball it has roqueted. The player sets his foot upon his ball, pressing firmly upon it so as to hold it in place, and with a blow of his mallet delivered upon his own ball sends the field-ball through the arch. TECHNICAL TERMS DEFINED. 13 Roquet-Croquet. — The same as croquet, except that the player's ball is not held beneath the foot, but both balls are free to piove in acordance with the blow of the mallet. Dead Ball. — A field-ball that has made ail the arches and passed outside of house. Flinch. — When in the croquet a player's ball slips from beneath his foot. Match. — A certain number of games or points to be played for. 14 AMERICA SET UP FOR CROQUET. DIAGRAM No. 3. \ c^: — ■;/) X II \ CROQUET VOCABULARY. 15 Vocabulary of Croquet Terms. [For the convenience of those who desire to change "America" to Croquet, we have compiled the following vocabulary of tech- nical terms used in the latter game. The changes needed for a Croquet ground can be seen by reference to Diagram No. 3, on the preceding page. The necessary rules for Croquet may be found in any ordinary hand-book of that game.] Booby. — This name is applied to a ball which fails to go through the first arch on the first shot. Arches. — The iron hoops through which the balls pass. ^ Concussion. — The displacement of a ball by another driven against it by roquet, croquet., ricochet, or roquet- croquet, and not hit directly either by the mallet or playing ball. Croquet.— ( Pronounced Cro-kay.) The title of the game. The Croquet. — Any ball having struck another, is taken up and placed in contact with the ball it has struck. The player sets his foot upon his own ball, pressing firmly so as to hold it in place, and with a blow of his mallet, delivered upon his own ball, drives the other in whatever direction he may desire. Dead Ball. — One that has made the grand round and hit the starting-post. Down. — The course from the turning-post to the starting-post. A Flinch.— When in the croquet, the playing ball is driven from under foot by the blow of the mallet, it is called a flinch. 16 CROQUET VOCABULARY, Push. — A stroke in which the ball remains in contact with the ball after the stroke. Playing Ball.— The ball struck with the mallet. Position. — A ball is in position when it lies in front of its proper bridge, with a possibility of running it by a blow of the mallet. Ricochet. — (Rick-o-shay.) A ball making roquet on two or more balls by the same blow ot the mallet. Roquet. — (Ro-kay.) A ball makes roquet on another ball when, proceeding from a blow of the mallet, it comes in contact with it, either directly, or by rebounding from a fixed obstacle in the ground from another ball. Up. — The course from the starting-post to the turning- post. Under a Bridge. — A ball is under a bridge when, if the mallet-handle is placed across the bridge on each side, it will touch the ball in both positions of the handle. Roquet-Croquet. — The same as croquet, except that the playing ball is not held under the foot, but both balls are free to move in accordance with the blow of the mallet. A Rover. — A ball that has run all the bridges and has not hit the starting-post. Starting-Post. — The stake from which the play pro- ceeds. See Diagram 3. Striking Out. — A ball struck against the starting- post after havmg run all the bridges in their proper order, is struck out and is out of the game. The Turning-Post. — The post opposite the starting- post. LIBRARY OF 019 953 882 "AMERICA. 4 ' X '•ri y rv"' CX 9o