Cricket 1902

434 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. - O c t . 30, 1902. I played a little at school at East Sheen, but I was only 12 years of age when 1 left. The Harrow Elevens of 1842 and 1843 were both very weak, except in bowling and wicket- keeping. There were two or three good bats­ men and fields, but therewas a very great tail both years, four or five being worth nothing. But luckily the best men “ came off,” and we won the four successive matches at Lord’s. The wickets to play o q were bad, very bad, and at practice there were no nets to use in self-defence. Wickets at Harrow and Lord’s were pitched for practice all in a row. I formed one of the Harrow eleven in 1842 and 1843, but I had remained at the School during the last summer quarter or term solely and entirely to assist that year v. Winchester and Eton. And we were victorious again over both by the narrow margins of 14 and 20. For no other reason or object did I return to the “ Hill,” for I never did excel in the curriculum in vogue there in my day, though I believe it has vastly improved since. Harrow School, too, was very low as regards numbers in 1813; there were only 87 boys altogether when I left, and very few cricketers indeed at that healthy spot. The Hon. Charles Agar, who was captain of the Harrow XI. in 1842, and who was killed at the siege of Sebastopol on June 18th, 1855, had sent me a very pressing letter in the holidays, urging me if I possibly could to return and assist my old and much-loved school once more. I did so, and I am even now, at this distance of time and aged 77, glad that I was able to perform what he so much wished. The year 1843, I may here remark, was one of the wettest I can remember, equal perhaps to 1902, though 1879 was nearly if not quite as bad for the pursuit of our national sport. In 1843 I gained a place in the sixth form at Harrow. I was not elevated there for my scholarship, but was “ put up” solely on account of my good conduct. I never even attempted to write any of the exercises required in the top form, for they were too difficult altogether for me. All the necessary compositions were compiled regularly for me by two kind young gentle­ men, now deceased. They were the Hon. Percy Smythe (afterwards Lord Strangford), and Alexander Grant (afterwards Sir Alex­ ander Grant). Both were very learned men, at Harrow, and afterwards. Lord Strang- ford’s universal knowledge was marvellous, and Sir A. Grant held subsequently “ a chair” in Scotland. I used to say to these two kind schoolfellows of mine, “ You put together my exercises, and I will play against Winchester and Eton for you at Lord’s.” And they both, regularly, punctually, and willingly, did so, while I went down to the cricket ground for practice. When I went up to Lord’s in 1S42 to assist Harrow v. Eton, we had only beaten Eton on five previous occasions, that is to say, as far as the scores wbich are preserved demonstrate, though there were several matches played early in the last century, I believe, of which the scores could not be dis­ covered. But now (1902) we have recorded to us no less than thirty-three victories over Eton and are well ahead, and I hope we shall keep so. The Lord Mayor at the Eton dinner the other day said that Eton was the first of all the great schools, and that I will allow. They are greater in everything except at cricket, and there at least we are equal. I claim no superiority,—equality, and no more. In 1843, while still at Harrow School, I went up one Tuesday to see the Kent v. England match at Lord’s. I “ cut ” all the bills, and was, of course, punished for play­ ing the truant. But I saw Fuller Pilch bat, and I remember, too, a most wonderful catch by Dorrinton ; he caught out Good with his hands behind his back, running backwards. I have never forgotten that feat, although it took place fifty-nine years ago. On that day Dorrinton was long-stop. In the spring of 1842 I ran second in the Harrow School foot steeplechase, Mr. W. Nicholson being the winner. About ten started. I had previously won the House (the Park) foot steeplechase. ^ _• When I was young I often used to go to Harrow to bowl lobs to the eleven, and try to teach them as far as I could. I generally walked down there quite early in the morning, reaching the village often by 7 o’clock a.m. After bowling several hours in practice, with nets of course, I often started off and walked back to London all the way alone. This was not a bad feat, for I was never a strong man, except on my legs. I twisted and hurt my knee when on the Harrow ground in 1866, and I have felt the injury ever since. It has become worse the last few years, old age being perhaps partly the cause. I ought properly now not to walk at all, but as fresh air some­ times is a necessity to me, I hobble about as well as I can, as I do not possess a conveyance of any kind. I always loved cricket lore and especially the antiquities of our noble game. The fact that I first purchased Bentley’s book of Cricket Matches, as far back as 1839, during the first few weeks I was at Harrow School, sufficiently attests this, I then being but 14 years of age. I bought the book from Sam Hoare, who was then custos of the school, for a sovereign. I remember well how I used to pore over that interesting publication for hours, but I never excelled in Latin, Greek, or Mathematics, or ever attempted so to do. And the curious part of the commencement of my love of the game is the fact that I had not at that date even begun to participate in the pastime at all, and the mysteries of the art were to me quite unknown. When I first went to Harrow in 1839 (the Park) I became fag to the late Sir Robert Peel, son of the famous Prime Minister and father of the present Sir Robert. But when in 1843, I got into the sixth formand was therefore entitled to a “ victim ” myself, the school had fallen so low in point of numbers, that I never secured one at all, there being none available. All my “ mates ” of the Harrow eleven of 1842 and 1843 have departed hence except one or perhaps two. The Harrow eleven of 1842 and 1843 covered themselves with great glory because their victories at Lord’s (especially 1842) were totally unexpected. There were some formidable cricketers in the Eton eleven of 1842, which an examination of the names will prove. There have been only three matches played between Harrow School and Haileybury College, and they all came off at Harrow, in 1840, 1842 and 1843. Harrow won once, Haileybury once, and one was unfinished. I participated in the last two, and gained the top score on both occasions. I was always weak physically, especially in my arms, which possessed scarcely any muscle at all. In fact 1 was not “ a born cricketer,” but only gained my defence as a batsman through constant practice, and by that alone. I weighed but 9 st. 7 lbs. when I assisted in the Harrow Eleven in 1842 and 1843, and except Henry Gathorne, who was our best bowler by far, I was the weakest of the whole side. The first great innings I ever saw made by a cricketer of note, was when “ Felix ” in the Gentlemen v. Players match in 1842 made 88. But he was missed off a very easy catch in the slip by Hillyer off Lillywhite before he had obtained a single run—such is luck. In the same match Fuller Pilch was run out in the second innings entirely through having been crippled by Alfred Mynn, who hit Pilch frequently on the legs, the ground being as usual at that time rough and dangerous. I began to collect scores in 1842, and the first match I secured wasthat in which I first played—Harrow School v. Harrow Town, May 1842. Fons et origo. When I first joined the M.C.C. and till I was about, say, thirty, I was always asked to field out for absentees in a match or for injured men; so, like J. Nyren, who was a “ farmer’s pony ” in his youth as related in his book, I was “ pony ” in M.C.C. matches from 1844 till about 1855. I became a life member of the M.C.C. when Dark re­ signed. In a great match at Lord’s in or about 1851, between, I think, the North and the South, which was one of the best matches then contested, I made a good score. When I came out both the M.C.C. and also Fuller Pilch presented me with a bat each. Now, to have abat offered by Fuller Pilch at head­ quarters was a high honour indeed in the cricketing world generally. I do not, un­ fortunately, possess a copy of the Cricket Scores and Biographies to refer to, for I gave away all those I once had. But the match and the date was, I think, as I state or thereabouts. William Lillywhite was engaged as a bowler by the M.C.C. in 1844, the same year that I became a member. He was then fifty-two, while my age was eighteen. I never shall forget the old man, no, not if I live another ten years. He stood by him­ self in merit as a bowler, even when he was past fifty. When bowling in practice on a hot day, every member wished to have aturn against the old man’s deliveries, and he was kept fully employed. So I, being then willing and active, always stood near him when possible and saved him much labour through picking up the ball for him. It was very hot I remember in 1844 during May, June, and July, and the old man highly appreciated the ready assistance I gave him. I then was very young, andthe “ Nonpareil ” old, and the sun usedto overpower himmuch. John Small, sen., William Beldham, William Lillywhite, and WilliamGrace all have played in great matches when past fifty years of age, and this has, I believe, been done by very few other cricketers of note, though there may be some whose names I cannot remember just now. William Lillywhite (the Nonpareil) played for the last time in the Gentlemen v. Players match in 1849, he then being 57 years of age. He only obtained one wicket, however, though I remember he bowhd well, for, in fact, he did that always. I, too, had the honour of being his only victim on that occasion, and that match is one of the few there are in which the Gentlemen defeated the Players in one innings. But in my day, though I had the good luck to be on the winning side on three occasions, still the Players had always a better side than we had, by far. One day, after a match in which I was successful, and was opposed to Alfred Mynn, the “ giant ” walked up to me unexpectedly and said that “ he would sooner bowl against Fuller Pilch than against me.” This was a great compliment indeed. I always, when possible, used to practise at the Oval, for it was not quite as rough and bumpy fifty years back as Lord’s was then. I also, when I could, secured Hinkly to bowl, for he was a capital performer, and a civil and obliging man. I had once been batting for a long while, when the ball, bumping up, hit me full on the left eye, and I could not see out of it at all. But as I was cricket mad