70 HERDS AND FLOCKS AND HORSES. 



POLO PONIES. 



POLO originated in Persia over a thousand years ago, and 

 from whence it spread after several centuries to the 

 North West Provinces of India, and from there was ac- 

 quired by the British after their occupancy of that country. 

 Today it is the best and most manly of all games, and is by far 

 the most popular among military men, although it is played 

 a great deal by others who can afford it. England is the home 

 of modern polo, and while the game is played more extensively 

 in India than any other country, still more money is expended 

 on the sport in ponies, clubs, grounds, etc., in England than 

 anywhere else. America, as is well known, has taken the game 

 up in earnest, and has produced such marvelous players within 

 the last few years as to be able to defeat the mother country at 

 her own game, and wrest from her that coveted trophy, won 

 by her in 1886 and retaken by a team of young Americans last 

 year. 



Here again is another example of a game, sport, pastime, 

 or whatever you like to call it, with the horse as the central 

 figure, and which is absolutely notwithstanding the fact that 

 America is today the champion polo nation of the world still 

 in its swaddling clothes. America, with the exception of a few 

 places in the East and on the Pacific Coast, is new to the game ; 

 it does not know its fascination, its excitement, its speed, its 

 thrilling dash and the beauty of its play, but it is learning fast 

 and becoming so enthusiastic over it that the country in a few 

 years from now will play more polo than the combined coun- 

 tries of Europe; she has the wealth, enthusiasm and the de- 

 sire to compete and win, but with all this she has not got the 

 ponies. 



