Dimming of the Day

62 On 17 July the piece on Count Tisza’s speech in the Austro-Hungarian parliament had as a sub-heading ‘War as a last resort’, which was more or less Tisza’s view – he was at the most cautious end of the Empire’s response. It suggested that yesterday’s leader was being seen in some quarters as ‘an English warning to Servia’ and the assumption seemed to be that having seen this in The Times the Serbs would come to their senses (though the reports of riot and rampage in Belgrade which appeared in some of the Austrian papers were groundless). Georges Carpentier of France defeated Gunboat Smith of the USA at Olympia for the ‘white heavyweight championship of the world’. The shadow of Jack Johnson loomed large. At Tunbridge Wells the wicket was doubtful after rain and Nottinghamshire (captained this time by Arthur Carr) were all out for 137 against Blythe and Woolley. By the close Kent were 100-6. A.P.Day, on 38 not out, was the day’s highest scorer. Arthur Day was an amateur and two of his brothers also played for the county (and both also played football for the Corinthians). From the championship point of view it was the return of Middlesex (who had cunningly rested through the two Gentlemen v Players matches) that was of the most interest. They dismissed Essex for 168 at Lord’s (Hearne and Tarrant as usual) and then reached 137-5 with J.W.Hearne unbeaten on 55. There were fourteen amateurs playing: Essex’s crop of eight being far less distinguished than Middlesex’s six. There were more concerned letters about the state of cricket at Harrow, offering various remedies. On 18 July the papers reported that the setting up of a national council on venereal disease had been announced. The King was off to spend the weekend with the Fleet at Spithead. The cabinet had met twice to discuss Ireland and try to find a way forward. There was the usual whining on all sides following the Carpentier/Smith fight. At Tunbridge Wells Kent gained a first-innings lead of 33 as Blythe and Woolley bowled Nottinghamshire out again for 195, but Kent’s smallish target of 163 looked a long way off as they were 20-3 by the close. At Lord’s Middlesex had worked their way into a good position. They had reached 329 with runs down the order. There was 51 from Patsy Hendren, batting at No.7. In 1914 Hendren was an unremarkable county player, though he had first played in 1907. It would be very different after the war. The lead was 161: at the close Essex were 206-5 with mainly unreliable amateurs left to bat. Hampshire had beaten Worcestershire – from an overnight 136-9 Jaques and Livsey had added 107 for the last wicket, so gaining a lead of 88. Jaques and Kennedy bowled out Worcestershire for 179 and Hampshire won by 8 wickets. An ‘Old Harrow captain’ wrote to say that the school had been spending July 1914