24 



CHAPTER II. 



THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLO. 



Combination — Duties of No. i — Duties of No. 2 — Duties of No. 3 — Duties of 

 Back — Captaining a side — Umpiring — Hitting out from between the goal 

 posts in consequence of an exacted penalty — Dangers of Polo — Cruelty in 

 Polo Playing — Fair Play. 



COMBINATION. 



Polo is one of the most scientific of outdoor games, 

 although an uninstructed observer may be able to see 

 in it only a medley of galloping ponies, and the ball 

 hit here and there, apparently without system or 

 combination. Some people, even many of those who 

 frequently watch the game played, take this view of 

 it. I once overheard a lady in India say, " I don't 

 see much in polo. It is nothing but a cloud of dust 

 and bad language." Fortunately we have no dust on 

 English polo grounds. Strong words are, as a rule, 

 used only by a few extra energetic Captains, are 

 generally taken in good part by the players, and would 

 not signify much, if we were always able to restrict the 

 expression of our feelings to particular parts of the 

 ground. Unluckily, the strongest expletives have an 

 unhappy knack of escaping from our control just 

 under the Ladies' Stand. I am glad to say that of late 

 years' as great an improvement has taken place in 

 " language," as in other departments of the game. 



