DANGERS OF POLO. 71 



the faster the pace, the more dangerous will be a cross, 

 and the more distance will have to be allowed. 



4. IVild Jiitting. — I regret to say that there have 

 been lately one or two very serious accidents from 

 blows of sticks. Players should be extremely careful 

 about the manner in which they wave their sticks, 

 and about hitting^ hard in a scrimmao-e. On such 

 occasions, dribbling is much more effective, and 

 obviates the risk of giving a fearful blow to a man 

 on the face, possibly resulting in the loss of an eye, 

 or other serious injury. Some men appear to make 

 a practice of hitting as hard as they can in a scrim- 

 mage, with total disregard of what may happen to com- 

 rade or adversary ; and they finish every stroke right 

 up in the air, whether or not there happens to be a 

 man or pony within striking distance. Such wild, 

 dangerous strikers are usually found among second 

 or third class players. The umpire should certainly 

 give a foul for any accident caused by such practices. 

 Players as a rule are not half considerate enough 

 about the legs of other people's ponies. 



No man should let drive recklessly, and hit as 

 hard as he can, when there is another player in front 

 of him. I know some players w^io are most 

 dangerous, on account of acting in this manner. They 

 seem to think that they may hit where they like, and 

 that they are in no way to blame, if they knock a 

 man off his pony by a blow on the head at 10 yards 

 distance. 1 maintain that if they look where they are 

 hitting, the risk of such an accident is reduced to a 

 minimum. 



When riding along with an adversary on one's left, 

 one is very apt to hit him in the face if one tries the 



