and the striker's within it masked by one or more of the others, the marker must remove the masking halls, and replace them immediately after the stroke.

19. Any person playing before his turn, without being directed to do so, by either of the players, must be marked once, take up his ball, and pay a ticket to the number he played at.

21. If the striker forces either of the other balls over the cushion, it counts nothing.

The original rule is, that a ball forced over the cushion, shall be marked once; but this rule was instituted by cue players, by whom, in certain positions, it is easily accomplished, and the deficiency of the maceplayer in this point was never brought into view; so that in adhering to this custom, we shall continue to give the cue player an equalized advantage, and therefore, we thought proper to advise from it.

For the remaining rules, see the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 16th, 19th, 22d, 23d, 24th, 26th, 27th of the preliminary articles

18

THE GAME OF TENNIS

A TENNIS COURT is generally in length ninety-six or ninety-seven feet, by thirty-three or four in breadth. A line or net hangs across the middle, over which the ball must be struck, to make any stroke good. At the en trance of a tennis court there is a long covered passage before you enter the dedans, that is, a kind of front gallery where spectators usually stand; into which whenever a ball is struck, it tells for a certain stroke. This long passage or gallery is divided into different apartments, which are called galleries, viz. from the line towards the dedans, are the first gallery door, second gallery, and the last gallery: which is called the service side. From the dedans to the last gallery are the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, each at a yaru distance, marking the chaces, One of the most essential parts of this game. On the other side of the line are also the first gallery, door, second gallery, and last gallery, which is called the hazard side every ball struck into the last gallery on this side reckons for a certain stroke, the same as into the dedans. Between the second and this last gallery are the figures 1, 2, to mark the chaces on the hazard-side. Over this long gallery is a covering called the pent house, on which the ball is played from the service side to begin a set of tenris, and if the player fails striking the ball (so as to rebound from the pent-house) over a certain line on the service-side, it is reckoned a fault; two of them are counted for a stroke. If the ball rolla round the pent house, on the opposite side of the court, so as to fall beyond a particular described line, it is called passe, goes for nothing, and the player on either side must serve again.

On the right-hand side of the court from the dedans, a part of the wall projects more than the rest, in order to make a variety in the stroke, and render it more difficult to be returned by the adversary, and is called the tambour: the grill is the last thing on the right-hand

side, wherein if the bail is struck, it reckons for 15, or a certain stroke.

The game is played by sets. A set of tennis consists of six games, but if what is called an advantage set is played, two above five games must be won on one side or the other successively, to decide; or in case it should be six games all, two games all, two games must still be won on one side to conclude the set: so that an advantage set may last a considerable time; for which kind of sets the court is paid more than for any other. We shall now describe the use of the chaces, and how they decide or interfere so much in the game.

When the player gives his service in order to begin the set, his adversary is supposed to return the ball; and wherever it falls, after the first rebound, untouched, the chace is called accordingly: for example; if the bali falls at the figure 1, the chace is called at a yard, tha is to say, at a yard from the dedans; this chace remains till a second service is given, and if the player on the service side lets the ball go after his adversary returns it, and if the ball falls on or between any one of these figures or chaces, they must change sides, for he will be then on the hazard-side to play for the first chace, whichTM if he wins by striking the ball so as to fall, after its first rebound, nearer to the dedans than the figure 1, without his adversary's being able to return it from its first rebound, he wins a stroke, and then proceeds in like manner to win a second stroke, &c. If a ball falls on a line with the first gallery, door, second gallery, or last gallery, the chace is likewise called at such or such a place, naming the gallery, door, &c. When it is just put over the line, it is called a chace at the line. If the player on the service side returns a ball with such force as to strike the wall on the hazard side so as to rebound, after the first hop over the line, it is also called a chace at the line.

The chaces on the hazard side proceed from the bal! being returned either too hard, or not quite hard enough, so that the bali, after its first rebound, falls on this side the blue line, or line which describes the hazard side chaces, in which case it is a chace at 1, 2, &c. proviced there is no chace depending, and according to the spo where it exactly falls. When they change sides the player, in order to win this chace, must put the ball over

the line, any where, so' that his adversary does not return it. When there is no chace on the hazard-side, all balls put over the line, from the service-side, without being returned, reckon for a stroke.

As it is upon the marking that the game chiefly depends, it becomes necessary to explain it; and those who play at tennis ought to have a good and unbiassed marker, for on him may depend the whole set. He can mark in favour of the one, and against the other, in that manner as will cause the odds of two to one at starting, although even players. Instead of which the marker ought to be very attentive to the chaces, and to e to ally impartial to the players.

The game, instead of being marked one, two, three, four, is called for the first stroke, fifteen; for the second, thirty; for the third, forty; and for the fourth, Game, unless the players get four strokes each: in that case, instead of calling it forty all, it is called Deuce, after which, as soon as any stroke is got, it is called Advan tage, and in case the strokes become equal again, Deuce again; till one or the other gets two strokes following, which win the game: and as the games are won, so they are marked and called; as one game love, two games to one, &c. towards the set, of which so many of these games consist.

To avoid trouble, a number of balls are made use of at this game, although but one at time is played with. By which means they can play as long as they please without having occasion to stoop once for a ball.

The odds at this game are very uncertain, on account of the chances; and various methods of giving odds have been used to render a match equal.

A Bisque is the lowest odds given, (except choice of the sides,) and is the liberty of scoring a stroke when ever the player, who receives the advantage, thinks proper; for example, let a game be forty or thirty, he who is forty by taking the Bisque becomes game.

Fifteen, is a stroke given at the beginning of a game. Half thirty, is Fifteen given the first game, and Thirly the next; and so on to the whole Thirty, Forty. &c. Half-Court, is confining the player to play into the adversary's half court, and is of great advantage to the adversary. Sometimes it is played straightwise, and '

at other times across.

Touch no Wall, that is being obliged to play within the compass of the walls, or sides of the court, and is a considerable advantage given to the adversary, as all the balls must be played gently, and consequently they are much easier to take than those which are played hard, or according to the usual method of play.

Round Service, is serving the ball round the penthouse, so as to render it easy for the Striker out (the player who is on the hazard side, to return the ball.)

Barring the Hazards, is not reckoning the dedans, tambour, grill, or the last gallery, or the hazard side, &c. The game of tennis is also played by four persons, two partners on each side. In this case they are generally confined to their particular quarters, and one of each side appointed to serve and strike out: in all other respects the game is played in the same manner as when two only play.