Cricket 1886

MAY 13, 1886. CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECORD OF THE GAME. 125 (£0rrcsj?0itbcnxc, [We are not answerable for the opinions expressed by our Correspondents.] THE LATE ALFRED MYNN. To the E ditor of “ C ricket .” Sm,—I send you a curious anecdote of the late Alfred Mynn. I saw him myself do the feat. It is recollected, perhaps, by myself only. I forget the name of the match, but I think it was Herts v. England at Lord’s, and, to the best of my recollection, the date was about 1846. A. Mynn, who was bowling, delivered a ball off which a catch was given to N. Felix, who was standing “ point.” Now Felix was a jocose, amusing fellow, who even during the process of the match would play antics. On missing that catch he immediately fell to the ground, held his head down, tucked up his knees, and folded his arms round his knees, in fact, made himself as much into a ball as possible. Mynn (I recollect the occasion as well as if it had been yesterday) walked up to him, took hold of him by the collar of the flannel jacket, and in a jocose manner also held him up, with one arm ex­ tended at full length for a second or so. Now Felix, though rather short, weighed, I should guess, 'about 11 st.—I have not the “ Scores and Biographies” by me. This anecdote will prove Mynn’s great strength I think. I saw it myself, when looking on from the Pavilion at Lord’s. In a Kent v. England match at Lord’s about 1846 A. Mynn was standing slip and W. Dorrington keeping wicket, which he often did when E. G. Wenman was away. The batsman made a bad hit off the bowler at the other end, and the ball went high between the wicket-keeper and slip. A Mynn and Dor- rinton, gazing up in the air after the ball, both went for the catch, and not seeing each other coming, came together with violence and with no advantage to either—a fairly level collision. Mynn was not moved or over­ thrown, and did not even stagger, but Dor- rinton fell backwards prone, and his heels literally and truly went up high in the air, though luckily he was unhurt. Now Dor- rinton was a man of good size, powerful and strong, but this little event is an additional proof of Mr. A. Mynn’s remarkable power. His heart was as good, I believe, as his strength was great. Respecting the number of steps taken by Mr. A. Mynn, I think now that “ F.G. ” is correct in stating that he took six steps exactly. Also, when about to deliver and before he started on the six steps, he always, as “ Sexagenarian ” remarks, stood with the right leg foremost. His figure and indeed his appearance altogether then was grand. He loved Cricket for the game itself, and I am sure it was not profitable to him. Yours, &c. A n O ld H arrovian . THE LATE W. H. LEVERELL. To the E ditor of “ C ricket .” A las ! poor Levereil, I knewhim well,Horatio— A kinder fellow never broke bread, or a better cricket reporter, or reporter of any kind of all matters within his ken, never lived. He had a quick perception for any point in any sport, and a fund of dry humour which was inex­ haustible. He was in the Commissariat during the Crimean war, and his stories of scenes in a French cafe in the French lines, to which a favoured few got a pass, were inimitable, as was his description of the midnight swim of Miss Beckwith, and the behaviour of a mena­ gerie of foreign birds, which were on show at the Aquarium, and unaccustomed to gas-light all night—one of which birds got out and made night hideous. He made a vain effort to establish a weekly paper Afloat or Ashore , which failed for want of funds just as it was getting its head above water; it had great promise, but there were too many cooks, and too little backing with money. There was one very good story of his of a sculling match on the Thames in which one of the competitors was an amateur boxer. I saw him spar and admirable he was, and after­ wards he turned professional “ pug.” Some one remarked in the Press boat, “ That fellow is a duffer, and can’t scull; ” and a “ lady ” who got on the Press boat under her own recom­ mendation as a “ thorough lady and mother of one of the competitors” (which she really was, the boxer being her son), turned round to the speaker, “ You white-livered cur, you say my son can’t scull—uh! I should like to see you at t’other game, and standing up without your shirt before him, and me giving my son a knee!” She wasproud ofherson, as a“ thorough lady” would be. I met poor Levereil a few months since in the iStrand, and it was ,pretty clear that he knew that he was only hanging on for awhile, and that the game was up. F. G. P laying for United Westminster Schools v Marlborough C. C., on May 8, W. M. Heller in the first innings took 5 wickets for 6 runs, and in the second innings 6 wickets for 7 runs. p R IC K E T SEASON, 1886. A few Second-hand ^ M arquees for Sale Cheap, in good condition, suitable for Cricket Clubs.—John Farrer and Son, Ceres Works, YerneyRoad, S.E. O AK C. C. (17, Grove Farm, Gospel Oak) desire match for Whit-Monday, about 20 miles out. Could play return on July 17, if desired.—E. H. Quicke, 41. St. Paul's Road, Camden Squar«, London, N.W. CT7ANTED, Lillywhite’s Companion, 1870 and ** 1872. First, second, and third Australian teams in England ; C ricket , vol. 1; and any of Fred. Lillywhite’s Guides.—Green, Beresford, Malvern. The GOLD MEDAL, London Medals Awarded at International Exhibition, 1884. Six Exhibitions. JEFFERIES *-1 COMPANY MANUFACTURERS AND PATENTEES OF CRICKET AND LAWN-TENNIS. Cricket Bats. Gauntlets. Batting Gloves. Ash or Lancewood Stumps. Cricket Balls. “ JEFFERIES” Best Match Balls. Treble and Double Seam Cricket Balls. “ JEFFERIES” Lawn Tennis. “ JEFFERIES” Lawn Tennis Balls. “ JEFFERIES” Improved Lawn Tennis Bats. “ JEFFERIES” Patent Poles. N O T I C E . J E F F E R IE S ’ 11IN V IS IB L E SPR ING ” C R ICKET BAT, Patent This Bat has given universal satisfaction during the whole of the last season, and is pronounced to be the most perfect Cricket Bat, both for its durability and ex'ra driving power, that has yet been brought before the public. CAT-GUT SEWN CRICKET BALLS, made Of the very best hides procurable, and warranted not to lose their shape in the wet. CRICKET BOOTS and SHOES, and every requisite in connection with the game supplied. The “ CHAMPIONSHIP ’ Ball for Season 1886, JEFFERIES’ make. The “ PERFECT” BAT (Patent). “ UBIQUE” BAT (Registered). Tho " TIGER” (Registered ^ra,Th'> Shapes of J. & Co.’s Bats are of the very latest design, brought out so as to meet the requirements of the game as it is now being played. 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