Cricket 1885

OCT. 29,1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 4 4 1 part of tlie paper, gives a very grati’ fying account of the hearty reception and hospitable treatment received by the Englishmen everywhere during their visit. I have heard from more than one source the warmest appre­ ciation of the kindly welcome given to the team by their cousins on the other side of the big drink, and it is pleasant to feel that the ties of relation­ ship between the two Countries are likely to be still further strengthened by this interchange of cricket visits. Mr. F. M. Bissell, the Hon. Sec. of the GermantownClub,seems tohavespared no effort to promote the enjoyment and comfort of the team, and to him inparticular their warmest thanks are due. I believe it is as certain as such things can be that another Philadel­ phian teamwill visit England in 1887. A c o r r e spo n d e n t has sent me intelligence of the death of another good cricketer to add to the already too lengthy list of those who have passed over to the majority during the present year. On October 5, at Thorp, near Whitby, died Herbert Marsh Sims, Yicar of St. Cuthbert, Hunslet, Leeds, aged 32, eldest son of the Rev. H. Sims, Rector of Henderwell, Yorkshire. So ran the announcement in a daily paper, re­ calling to me, like many others, memories of more than one good fight on the cricket field in which the Yorkshire clergyman took part. T h o u g h born in Devonshire, Mr. Sims was altogether and wholly identified with Yorkshire cricket. Educated at St. Peter's School at York, he subsequently figured promi­ nently at Cambridge, forming one of the University eleven in 1873 and two succeeding years. He was played chiefly for his bowling, but singularly enough did not fulfil expectations in that department. In his last year, however, in the memorable Inter-University match won by Oxford with only six mns, he proved of great use as a batsman. His 39 was, indeed, the highest score in the second innings of Cambridge, andas his wicket wasthe ninth to fall, he was vary nearly successful in saving the match for his side. While at Cambridge he played for the United Yorkshire Eleven and on a few occasions for the County. Of late years, though, most of his cricket had been in connection with the Yorkshire Gentlemen, and several good scores were registered to his name during the club’s annual visits to the South. He was a very fast round-arm bowler, a good field, and a dangerous hitter when set. A writer in the Times o f India of the 14th ult. gives the following amusing illustration of the spread of the English language in our Eastern Empire :— A short time back Mr. Bright delivered a speech welcoming the Marquis of Ripon back to England, and dwelling on all the advan­ tages which therule of his Lordship had pro­ cured for this country. Among other things Mr. Bright said he was glad to learn that our noble English language, the language of Mil­ ton, was becoming better known in India, and was spreading to the masses of the people— or words to that effect. The other day, hap­ pening to be walking by the barracks, I received a striking proof of the correctness of Mr. Bright’s assertion. Three very small native boys were having an improvised game of cricket. The wicket was represented by a piece of board resting against a large stone, the bat was a snlint from some old box, and the ball was old and angular. The day was hot, and the three little cricketers had dis­ pensed with cricketing costume. In fact,they nad nothing on but the shiny brown skinwith which kind Mother Nature had endowed them at their birth. But they played the game with the utmost earnestness and vigour, as they had often seen the soldiers doing outside the barracks. “ Pla-a-a-y!” shouted the bowler as he delivered the ball from a distance of about five yards. “ H’out,” exclaimed the wicket-keeper joyfully, as the board tumbled down. “ D—m !” said the youthful batter energetically as he gave up the bat and took up the ball. Truly, I thought, as I watched this scene, Mr. Bright is quite right, and the knowledge of our noble English language, the language of Milton, is decidedly filtering down to the masses of the people. S e v e r a l correspondentshavewritten to me during the last month, suggest­ ing that the publication of a reliable list giving the rames and addresses of the secretaries of the chief wandering and leading Metropolitan Clubs, in one of the earlier winter numbers of C r ic k e t , wouldbe agreat boon. There seems to be a consensus of opinion with regard to the utility of such a compilation and I therefore propose to publish as complete a list as is obtain­ able in the next issue of C r ic k e t , which is due on November 26. To be really of general use it should be full and authentic, and to ensure its utility, I shall be glad to re­ ceive the names and addresses of secretaries of wandering clubs as well as those in the neighbourhood of London. The information should be sent to the Editor of C r ic k e t not later than tho 20th of next month. A nother correspondent advocates very strongly the advantages of a meeting of the Secretaries of the prin­ cipal Metropolitan Clubs, in order to arrange the programmes for the next cricket season. A gathering does take place under the auspices of the London Suburban Association every winter with this object, but it has not secured the co-operation of what I may, without the smallest idea of making invidious comparisons, term the more influential clubs. My corre­ spondent, the hon. sec. of a club of thehighest position, always shudders, he says, to think of the time approach­ ing for the arrangement of matches, on account of the difficulties and delays in getting answers, &c., and in some cases his picture is not over- coloured. T he conference of County Secre­ taries at Lord’s may be cited as the most conspicuous instance of the kind, and its utility will be universally acknowledged. Unless I am in error, the chief Metropolitan football clubs, Rugby and Association, have their separate meetings on the same lines, and for the same purpose, and al­ though there may appear to be some slight difficulties on the surface, I cannot see why such a gathering as is suggested, of the secretaries of the chief Metropolitan clubs, should not only be capable of organisation, but be really of great use. That it would save an infinity of time and trouble the experience of similar meetings has fully proved. Another winter it might be arranged with advantage. M r .W . S a p t e , ju n ., agentlemannot unknown to Metropolitan cricketers, hasjust givento theworld, through the well-known publishing firm of Messrs. J. and R. Maxwell, a little book in­ tended to amuse cricketers, and called in the tone of playful irony which pervades the work, “ The Cricketers’ Guyed ” for 1886, a title singularly appropriate just at this period of the year, with the Fifth of November so close onus. No doubt some fastidious critics will possibly take exception to anythingwhichburlesques ournational game, but theirnumberwill, I feel sure, be very small. For myself, I have read Mr. Sapte’s book with consider­ able enjoyment. It is a little difficult to sustain the humour throughout a work of this kind, but, taken as it is meant, in the light of a little harmless satire, it will give amusement. Any­ thing novel and original in the shape of cricket literature is indeed a rarity, and should be welcomed if only fcr tba reason. Next Issue November 26-