Cricket 1891

APRIL 30,1891 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME; 85 mation, he has rejoined his regiment, which has been ordered to the front on the Marauzai campaign. The World states that he has written recently in the best of spirits after his first brush with the enemy. T he Australian papers are naturally in thorough accord in their expression of gratification at the announcement that the Earl of Sheffield intends to visit the Colonies next winter with the English team, which is to be formed under M b auspices with that object. At the first mention that Lord Sheffield proposed to organise such a tour, Mr. H. F. Boyle, the well-known Australian cricketer,wrote expressing the hope that his lordship would be one of the party. Lord Shef­ field, he added, would be sure of a warm welcome from Australian cricketers, and the wish was very general that his lord­ ship should accompany the team. In reply to the letter, according to the Melbourne Sportsman , Mr.Boyle received a cable from Lord Sheffield thanking his correspondent for the kindly inquiry, and stating that it was his intention to join the team on its travels. R e c b u t advices show that the King of Samoa continues to be much exercised by the popularity cricket has acquired in his dominions. An Australian paper states that the game is still a great source of trouble in the Samoa islands, as the natives indulge in it to an inordinate ex­ tent. Disturbances are reported from Tutuila, where the natives continued to play a match against the king’s order. A half-caste official essayed to stop the game, but the natives rejected his inter­ ference, and brought forth their guns. Fortunately nothing serious resulted. The ultimate development of this Samoan difficulty will be a matter of considerable interest as well as perhaps some slight amusement to C ricket readers. T h e possibility of Mr. W. G. Grace’s visit, too, has given universal satisfaction throughout Australia, and a letter from one of the leaders of cricket in New South Wales expresses the general feel­ ing of pleasure the news that the Grand Old Man of Cricket may again be seen on Australian grounds has aroused. By- the-way, I give the following paragraph from the cricket column of the Austral­ asian paper of March 21st. The writer is thoroughly well informed on the course of cricket events in Greater Britain, and is not likely to make an announcement without authority. “ Grace coming.” These are the words composing a cable message reoeived by Mr. rank Illingworth, who is acting here in con­ nection with Lord Sheffield’s proposed visit to Australia next season with a first-class ■English team. The two words are very weloome, and I have not the slightest doubt that W . G. will use every effort to secure confreres of the first water in every depart­ ment of the game. The team, in all proba­ bility, will be the best that we have ever seen irom the old country, and our aim should be 7? 8°°d men and true to meet them when they come, An, perhaps I should say 'one of, if not’ quite the most important functions in Freemasonry was to be celebrated yesterday in the investiture of the Grand Treasurership of the order. The installation in this case has special interest to C ricket readers from the fact that the brother Masons have thus delighted to honour is, and has been for many years, an ardent supporter of the game. Mr. George Everett, the New Grand, has been long and actively asso­ ciated with the Surrey County C.C. Elected a few summers ago to serve on the Committee, his business capacity has been of great use in the administra­ tion of the Club, and more than one useful change has been due to his initia­ tion. Mr. Everett’s sympathies, though, are not confined to cricket, but range over every branch of sport. He is a director of and moving spirit in the management of Kempton Park, as well as one of the largest shareholders in that very successful undertaking. His introduction to the craft dates as far back as the 19th of August, 1858, and his thirty-three years of unwearying devotion to its service have been deservedly crowned with the highest honours of Freemasonry. I may add for the information of his wide circle of friends, that the members of the various Lodges and Chapels to which Mr. Everett belongs intend to present him with his Grand Lodge Clothing at a dinner to be held at the Criterion, on Thursday next. With a full knowledge of the good work he has done for charit­ able purposes over a long term of years, C r ic k e t ’ s “ Gossip ” offers the Grand Treasurer of England his hearty con­ gratulations on a thoroughly well merited distinction. V i c t o r i a , it would seem, can boast of a brotherhood of cricketers which can challenge comparison not unfairly with the Lytteltons, the Walkers, the Fords, and others who have made certain families household words in cricket in the old country. My good friend and trusty gossip Mr. David Scott of Melbourne, known there as the Almanac, has sent me some very inter­ esting particulars of the brothers McLeod, which I can hardly do better than repro­ duce in his own words : “ Just a line to let you know about some wonderful batting by the brothers McLeod. On Friday last (March 20th to wit) Dan McLeod playing for Scotch College v. Geelong Grammar School made 204 not out. On Saturday, March 21, R. McLeod in a pennant match for Melbourne Club v. South Melbourne scored 135 not ou t; on the same day C. McLeod for Ormond v. Coburg in a match for Boyle and Scott’s trophy, 13V not ou t; H. McLeod also on March 21, for Scotch College v. team from M.C.C., made 25 not out. The brothers, it will be seen, were responsible for an aggregate of 601 runs and no one of them out. “ T h e r e are seven brothers altogether, and they have all played cricket. Nor­ man, the eldest, was captain of the Church of England Grammar School. Jim and Jack, the two next, played for the Port Melbourne C.C. R. McLeod plays for M.C.C., and was picked to go to England with last Australian team, but could not spare the time. C. McLeod plays for the Ormond C.C., a leading Junior Club, and Dan and Harry belong to the Scotch College. They ail average 6ft. in height. So you will see that they are a cricketing family. They are all Australian born, of Scotch parents. Who will now say that Scotchmen cannot play cricket ? “ T h er e is great rejoicing,” Mr. Scott continues, “ at the news of Lord Sheffield bringing out a team of first-class men, including W. G.Grace, and I can vouch,” he adds,1 ‘ that his Lordship will thoroughly enjoy the trip, and we will do our very best to put teams into the field to defeat the strong combination his Lordship intends bringing out. Of this I feel assured, that the team he will bring will cement the strong friendship that already exists between Old England and her stal­ wart sons in this fair land of Australia. Mr. C. I. Thornton will be able to tell you of the two very warm days he spent in Sydney, whenVictoria had the pleasure of fielding when it was 110 in the shade, and about 150 in the sun.” S u r r e y cricket has just lost one of it most indefatigable supporters, the Pavilion at the Oval one of its most cheery faces, by the death of Doctor Evan B. Jones. Few figures were more familiar to the members of the Maryle­ bone or Surrey Clubs than that of the “ Doctor.” For over thirty years he had devoted his best energies to the adminis­ tration of Surrey cricket. In ill-repute, throughout the time when the County was, to use his own phrase, at its nadir, as well as in the palmy days of Surrey when it was in its zenith, and later on in its great revival of to-day, he was in its adversity as in its prosperity the same in his readiness to Ipromote any scheme which might lead to the furtherance of the objects of the club, the development of Surrey cricket. I t was his fortune to have been the guide, philosopher, and friend of several generations of Surrey cricketers. To amateurs as well as professionals he was equally accessible, and the latter always found in him a ready counsellor, as well as a kind and generous supporter. It was my privilege to be actively as­ sociated with him for over twenty years, and no one had better opportunities of estimating at their real worth, his varied attainments or his unfailing gentleness, his kindliness of heart, and his unvarying readiness to make the best of everything, to think the best of everybody. With a remarkable flow of words, he was especially happy as an after dinner speaker, and his presence at such gatherings was always much sought after. With an excellent memory he was con