A RETROSPECT. 253 



polo players had In those days, but which we seldom 

 now enjoy. At present in London, it is a very rare 

 occurrence to find eight good players in an ordinary 

 game, and we generally take for granted that good 

 polo can be found only in matches. But in 1892, I 

 often took part in members' games with such masters 

 of polo as the Brothers Peat, Mr. John Watson, Lord 

 Harrington, Mr. F. Mildmay, and that accomplished 

 player, the late Mr. T. Kennedy. They and others 

 of the same high class were regular attendants at 

 members' games, with the addition of a few really good 

 soldier players. 



At the time in question, the only important polo 

 events which were contested in England, were the 

 three tournaments just mentioned, the annual Autumn 

 Tournament at Barton, and an Open Tournament 

 at Abergavenny, which is the headquarters of the 

 Monmouthshire Club, and the home of the Herberts, 

 who were the chief pioneers of English polo in 

 its early days, before the Peats had made themselves 

 known. 



Within a radius of ten miles from Charing Cross, 

 there are at present (1902) no less than ten well- 

 patronised polo grounds : namely, two at Hurlingham, 

 two at Ranelagh, two at Eden Park, one at Wim- 

 bledon, one at the Crystal Palace, one at Kingsbury, 

 and one at Cricklewood. L^\j^. 



[in the season of 1901 at Ranelagh 132 members 

 played at least once on the ground. Sometimes three 

 matches and a members' game have been played there on 

 one day. I have counted nearly forty players on the 

 two grounds at Ranelagh on a Saturday. Hurlingham 

 has similar difficulties to contend with, though to a 



