Cricket 1891

476 CRICKET j A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME; NOV. 26, 1891 higher views of life than I had then. I would still, had I to live my life over again, give many of the early hours to the greatest of games.” T he brilliant success which has greeted the efforts of Lord Sheffield’s team in their first match, against South Australia, it is to be hoped, is only the forerunner of many triumphs of a similar character. Though the ground in this case was suf­ fering from the effects of rain, it is sig­ nificant—and Thoms will, no doubt, have been hugging the sweet consolation to his soul—that the gentle tappers were very much in evidence, as they are usually on the run-getting wickets provided on the principal grounds in the chief cricket centres of Australia. That the Grand Old Man himself did not begin better will, of course, be the subject of general regret. He is, however, too unselfish a cricketer to care about this in the glorious victory of his side. His trusty henchman, Mr. A. E. Stoddart, was very much in evidence, as were two other batsmen who can claim the triple dis­ tinction of the yokel, “ hitting blooming hard, blooming high, and blooming often." Maurice Read and Briggs were the pair in question. The latter’s success will give great satisfaction at home, considering that he was not in the best of luck as a batsman last summer. E a s t and West, South and North, cricket is slowly but surely extending itself everywhere. Such a remark might appear to be superfluous, only the de­ velopment of the game has been singularly marked during the last few years. The magnificent welcome ex­ tended to Lord Hawke’s Team just lately in Philadelphia, particularly on the occasion of the first match, was of itself a substantial proof of the “ boom ” cricket has made and is still making in some parts of America. The latest evidence of the progress of our national game comes from the Pacific Seaboard. California, it will interest C r ic k e t readers to know, has now a Cricket Association consisting of five clubs, California, Alameda, Pacific, Burnaby, and Oakland. T he players are mostly English and Australians, amongst whom are some really first-class men. There are two grounds, one at Alameda, the other Klin- kerville, near Berkeley; they have con­ crete pitches with matting over, which play perfectly true and fast, while the fielding ground is also very fair. The Clubs have also an incentive in the shape of a pennant to be given to the winning side. A Californian team, too, recently went to British Columbia. An eleven chosen from the Association elubs and the best that could possibly obtain leave of absence, left, and played at Victoria, Vancouver and New Westminster. They lost at Victoria by 8 runs (quite unexpectedly), played a draw with Van­ couver, and won by 31 runs at West­ minster. The trip, which is described a s very .“ jolly,” has done a great deal of good to cricket in California, and the players there expect to be visited by the British Columbia clubs next season. T he news that Mr. S. M. J. Woods is not returning to the Colonies, as was generally expected this winter, will be welcome intelligence to all who value the continued presence of a sportsman of the very best type in English cricket. What is the loss of New South Wales will be England’s gain, Mr. Woods, every one will be very glad to hear, will be able to give the valuable assistance of his fine all-round cricket to Somersetshire, in whose development as a county he has played an important part, for some time at least. I learn on the best authority that he is devoting his attention to brewing. Certain of the]Colonial papers have been recently speculating on the effect of his return to the Colonies so far as cricket is concerned, and some have gone so far as to predict his success for Australia in the representative matches against Lord Sheffield’s Team. I f for nothing else, 1891 will at least be memorable for the fact that three English teams have been on their travels. Lord Hawke’s amateur combination had not returned home before the powerful team collected by Lord Sheffield were already on their way to the Southern hemisphere. And now a third party is off to star in South Africa under the captaincy of Mr. W. W. Read. Truly cricket has to be reckoned with now as an important commercial as well as educational factor. T he Melbourne Club has granted the free use of its ground to Lord Sheffield’s team for all their matches in Melbourne. C. T . B , T urn er , the famous Australian bowler, began the season well on October 3. Playing for Carlton, he took six Sydney wickets for 42 runs. M i d d l e s e x proposes to play out-and-home matches with Somersetshire, Kent, Yorkshire, Notts, Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Sussex and Surrey. A C eylon Team will play a series of matches in Madras at the end of the year. They are to play Madras on December 28 and 29, the Presidency onDecember 31 and January 1 and 2, and against |Bangalore, at Bangalore, on January 5 and 6 . I n the New South Wales Assembly, last month, reference was made to the proposed Australian Eleven for England. The Minister for Lands was asked what leave of absence Mr. Cohen, the manager and promoter of the venture, was to reoeive. The Minister replied to the effect that when Mr. Cohen made his application it would be dealt with in accordance with the Civil Service regulations and the publio interest. T h e S e v e n t h A u s t r a li a n T r a m in E n g la n d . a. budget of biographical sketches. By Clarence P. Moody. With a photographic group of the team. Price 0d. W r i g h t & Co., 41, St. Andrew’s Hill, E.O, GERMANTOWN CRICKET CLUB. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF AMERICA’S PREMIER ORGANIZATION. I n view of the enthusiastic reception given to Lord Hawke’s team in Phila­ delphia, it will be of interest to give a sketch of the Germantown Club, which invited and entertained the English amateurs. A view of the ground at Manheim is also given. The cricketer in the foreground is Mr. G. S. Patterson, the best-all-round cricketer in America. To no other medium does American Cricket owe so much for its success as the Germantown Cricket Club. In order to properly trace its history one must go back as far as the month of August, 1854, when it was founded. A strictly formal organization was not made, however, until the following year, 1855. At that time its membership consisted of a few boys between the ages of twelve and sixteen years, and it may be added, American boys. Up to that time, cricket had been played in Philadelphia by Englishmen exclusively—no American being interested enough in the game, except perhaps a few in the Philadelphia Cricket Club. However, from this small beginning among these boys—most strictly Philadelphia or American native talent—did cricket date its growth. Al­ though they had no permanent ground, nor did they have till two years later, the Germantown public exhibited great in­ terest in their matches, and so much were they encouraged that in 1856 permanent grounds were secured on Wister Street, near Clinton Street. What recollections that name “ Wister ” brings up when talking of Germantown cricket! It was at the “ Caroy,” the residence of William M. Wister, Esq., the President of the Club for ten years, that the very first meeting of the Germantown Cricket Club was held. But, to return to the Wister Street ground, here the Germantown people flocked to see the various games in great numbers. Many ladies graced the scene of action on the occasion of a first-class match. The Club was con­ stantly increasing in membership, and in the midst of a flood-tide of prosperitywhen the war broke out in 1861. Cricket was for the time being forgotten. Those boys who had shown their metal in many a contest on the cricket sward were now to engage in mauy a bloody contest on the field of battle, some perhaps never to return. Cricket was at a complete stand­ still from ’61 to '65. Up to the first- named year the Germantown Club had been instrumental, in a direct and in­ direct manner, in the formation of some thirty clubs in the vicinity of the “ Quaker City.” After that year they, like Ger­ mantown, commenced to dwindle in numbers, until some were compelled to go out of existence. In July, 1866, a meeting was held for the purpose of re­ storing the Club to its former activity, and so rapidly did its popularity again t-NEXT ISSUE DECEMBER 81