SOME FAMOUS PLAYERS AND PONIES 343 



has earned innumerable laurels, besides more tangible proofs 

 of its prowess in cups, both in England, Ireland, and America, 

 than any other. Whether riding a boar over the blind Kadir 

 country in the North-West Provinces of India, sailing away 

 over the broad pastures of Meath and Kildare, getting across 

 the more cramped enclosures of his home country, or wielding 

 a polo stick in the Phoenix Park, or on Hurlingham's level 

 sward, Mr. Watson stands pre-eminent as a sportsman and 

 horseman. Endowed with the family gift of horsemanship, 

 added to length of limb and great muscular power, no man is 

 better able to steady a too-eager animal, or shove along a sticky 

 one. His apprenticeship to the game began early, as when 

 but a youngster, and before joining his regiment, he prac- 

 tised a great deal, making his first appearance in public in the 

 first formal polo match ever played in Ireland, in 1872. He 

 then formed one of the Carlow team that did battle with the 

 8th Hussars, and defeated them, much to every one's surprise, 

 by seven goals to nil. 



Ever since then, both whilst serving with his regiment and 

 subsequently, Mr. Watson's reputation has steadily increased. 

 No better captain exists. With a capacity for noting with 

 rapidity every turn and phase of the game, he knows almost 

 instinctively when to turn defence into attack, and by his ex- 

 ample seems able to inspire and inoculate others with his own 

 " enthusiasm to a degree which warms up the dullest player. It 

 was Mr. Watson who demonstrated by practical example that 

 taking the ball round was not the winning game to play, and he 

 it was who showed how a goal should be defended by back-hand 

 strokes. One has only to hear the remarks made by a Milesian 

 crowd about ' John Watson,' as they familiarly and affectionately 

 term him, to see in what estimation he is held in his native 

 country. Some of the best polo ponies ever known hailed 

 from Mr. Watson's stable, and needless to say he has always 

 some good ones. Amongst his best at present are Fritz, by 

 Kinsman, dam by Tom Steel, and an Arab named Joss, im- 

 ported by General Davis. Fritz, who, like many other good 



