Cricket 1898

“ Toge ther joined In C ricke t ’s m a n ly to ll.”— Byron. no, 499 . v o i. x v i i . THTJBSDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1898 . p k i c b aa. C H A T S ON T H E C R IC K E T F IE L D . THE HON. E. CHA.NDOS LEIGH, C.B., Q.C. It is many years since the Hon. E. Chandos Leigh was in the Oxford eleven, but that he still keeps up his interest in the game of cricket is very evident from the enthusiasm which he has Bhown during the last year or two in furthering the scheme for the purchase of Prince George’s Ground at Raynes Park, for the benefit of the young cricketers of London who cannot afford to become members of estab­ lished clubs. In his younger days he was a good and steady bat, and made many big scores. In other sports he was equally proficient. He played football while he was at Harrow, and was captain of the team; he was a good shot with the gun, and a tennis player who required a good man to beat him. He still hunts regularly with the Warwickshire, North War­ wickshire, Bicester, Grafton, and Whaddon Chase, and, since he has been Speaker’s Counsel, he has acted as Judge of the House of Com­ mons’ Steeplechase on every occasion that it has taken place. For years he has been on the committee of the Maryle­ bone Cricket Club, of which he was chosen president for the memorable year of the club’s centenary. At the centenary dinner he made a speech, part of which is so applicable to the present day that no apology is needed for reproducing it. He s»id: “ Lord Betsborough has given a sketch of the fortunes and vicissitudes of the club; I might refer at length to its financial coudilion, and would challenge my right honourable friend theChancellor of tbe Exchequer to find a flaw in our financial administration. I might dilate on the loyal support given by our Universities and great Public Schools to the old ground at Lord’s, notwithstand­ ing they have been offered many inducements to desert us. I might go into a lengthy history of past cricket, but that I shall nut do; for I well remember on a former occasion when Sir Joseph Chitty presided at the 50th anniversary of theOxfordandCambridge THE HON. E. CHANDOS LEIGH. (From a Photo by Mayall & Co., Ltd., New Bond Street, London. match, some thoughtless youngsters said, ‘ These old fogies,’ as they innocently called them, ‘ do nothing but talk of bygone cricket.’ I may be thought an old fogey now, so I shrink from having the sime thing said of me. It is useless to compare past and present ciicket, for the mowing machine has revolutionised the game. But this I will say, that the old cricketer stood up bravely on bumpy grounds, in spite of awkward knocks and ugly bruises. Your late lamented secre­ tary, the genial, witty, Bob Fit z- Gerald, used to parody the words of the famous Jorrocks, by saying, ‘ Cricket in those days might have been the sport of kings, the image of war without its danger, but it certainly had 99 per cent, of its danger ’ ; possibly he alluded to the fatal *shooter.’ more probably to the attacks of a Harvey Fellows or a Kirwan, hazardous alike to wicket­ keeper, long-stop, and bats­ man, as Nicholson Anson, and that prince of long-stops, Charles Ridding, can testify. The game has now become so popular that for one good cricketer then, there are twenty now, but amidst all the host of proficients, no one here will deny that we have never seen so fine a cricketer as our old friend W. G. Grace. One word as to colonial cricket. We welcome many distinguished colonial representatives at this banquet. We thank them for adopting in Eng­ land’s greater empire the rules and regulations of our parent club. We thank them for sending over year after year a distinguished army of cricketers. When all were good, it is hard to indi­ vidualise, but the names of Murdoch as a batsman, Spofforth as a bowler, and Blackhamas awicket-keeper, will long live in the memories of English cricketers. I have the honour to have sitting on my right amost distinguished guest, His Excellency the French Ambassador. Many here present may remember how about twentyyears ago tbeParisClubdefiedboth the M.C.C. and I Zingari. Possibly they were flushed with the triumphs achieved at that timeby Vermouth and Gladiateur over our English race-horses on other turf. But I am afraid on the cricket turf they were not so successful. No one, however, can forget the splendid