Cricket 1907

M a y 2, 1907. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF 1HE GAME. 101 Full details of the construction of the Demon=Drivers and other information of interest to GricKeters, w ill be found in the booKlet entitled The Evolution of a Cricket Bat, which may be obtained upon application, and from which the following extracts are taken : — D OUBTLESS buyers frequently wonder why it is that some hats are sold as low as 5a., while others cannot he bought for less than 27s. 6d., both being made of similar material. The reason is very simple. The higher-priced bats, which must relatively be few in number, have to provide for the loss incurred in manufacturing the lower- priced bats, which are necessarily numerous. The figures here given approximately show the proportions of the various grades for 1,000 bats. They are based upon the average results produced in the ordinary course of manufacture. First or Best Division. 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 4th grade 20 50 100 160 Second or Common Division. fith grade Lower grades 250 430 1,000. It will thus be seen that the manufacturer who intends to meet the ever-increasing demand for really good cricket bats must carry an enormous stock of timber. The stock held by Geo. G. Bussey & Co., Ltd., represents 100,000 bats. The question is sometimes asked why the “ Demon Drivers” are not more associated with the names of leading cricketers. It may be said, without presumption, that the answer involves a question of ethics which it is not intended to enter into beyond mentioning the fact that Geo. G. Bussey & Co., Ltd. (or their predecessors, Geo. G. Bussey & Co.) have never published a testi­ monial relating to a cricket bat not purchased and paid for in the ordinary way of business. Cricketers all over the world are informed that orders for Bussey’ s goods should be placed with Dealers on the spot. Their manufactures are graded according to a properly devised system, which provides for cricketers purchasing from the dealers in the provinces or colonies receiving the same selection as if sent direct from the Factory, which is the largest and most up-to-date for the manufacture of Requisites for Sports and Games. GEO, 6. BUSSEY & GO, , L TD . , 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory : Timber Mills : FEOKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F . 8. A shlby -C oopbr . Some P oets and Poems op C rick e t. (Continued from page 85.) During the past half-century many bards have sung the praises of cricket and cricketers, but not one has produced a poem which has met with such favour as Prowse’s In Memoriam. Perhaps the late Mr. E. E. Bowen’s lines on the Hon. Robert Grimston most nearly approach them in popularity. R . G. Still the balls ring upon the sunlit grass, Still the big elms, deep shadowed, watch the p lay ; And ordered game and loyal conflict pass The hours of May. But the game’ s guardian, mute, nor heeding more What suns may gladden, and what airs may blow, Friend, teacher, playmate, helper, counsellor, Lies resting now. “ O ver” — they move, as bids their fields­ man’s a rt; W ith shifted scene the strife begins anew ; “ Over ” —we seem to hear him, but his part Is over, too. Dull the best speed, and vain the surest grace— So seemed it ever—till there moved along Brimmed hat, and cheering presence, and tried face Amid the throng. He swayed his realm of grass, and planned, and wrought, Warned rash intruders from the tended sward ; A workman, deeming, for the friends he taught, No service hard. He found, behind firit failure, more success ; Cheered stout endeavour more than languid skill; And ruled the heart of boyhood with the stress Of helpful will. Or, standing at our hard-fought game, would look, Silent and patient, drowned in hope and fear, Till the lips quivered, and the strong voice shook W ith low glad cheer. W ell played. His life was honester than ours; W e scheme, he worked, we hesitate, he spoke; His rough-hewn stem held no concealing flowers, But grain of oak. No earthly umpire speaks, his grave above; And thanks are dumb, and praise is all too late; That wortb and truth, that manhood and that love Are hid, and wait. Sleep gently, where thou sleepest, dear old friend; Think, if thou thinkest, on the bright days past; Yet loftier love, and worthier truth attend What more thou hast! Mr. Edward Ernest Bowen, a younger son of the late Lord Bowen, was bom at Wicklow, Ireland, on March 30th, 1836, and died whilst on a cycling tour in France on April 8th, 1901. Although five weeks the senior of Prowse, bis masterpiece was not given to the world until almost a quarter of a century after that of the younger man had appeared. He was a very useful cricketer, and did much for the game during the many years he was an assistant master at Harrow. His fielding at long-leg was magnificent, and he was a good wicket-keeper, but a stiff bat. His “ Willow the King,” perhaps the most popular of all Harrow songs, was first sung in the public hall at Harrow on June 29th, 1876, on the occasion of the opening of the new school on the foundation of John Lyon. The first verse ij as follows : — W illow the King is a monarch grand, Three in a row his courtiers stand ! Every day when the sun shines bright The doors of his palace are painted white, And all the company bow their backs To the K ing with a collar of cobbler’s wax. So ho ! so ho ! may the courtiers sing, Honour and life to W illow the King. In praise of “ W . G . ” much verse — good, bad. and indifferent—has been written. Probably the best which was published about him during his early years was that which appeared in the All England Cricket and Football Journal :— * * * * * Pavilions thunder the well-earned applause, W hile still he keeps gallantly on, Repeating his scoring of threes and of fours TJntil all his companions are gone. Triumphantly then he crosses the sward, “ Not out ” with three figures is he, Eclipsing the once-famous doings of Ward, The invincible “ W .G .” * * * * * There is a pleasing rhythm about the lines, which are, however, so far as merit is concerned, far inferior to Mr. E. B. V. Chistian’s “ Ode to ‘ W.G.’ ” :— * * * * * Yes, he’s in ! Find a place ! How they cheer ! that’s a four ; H e’s in and he’ s set and he’s making a score; Another, another, a boundary more ! Bravo, G race! Past thirty already; ah, he nearly was caught, he Must go steady a bit; bravo, that’s his forty ! Go steady at slows ! But surely for us To advise this young hero were ridiculous, Then he steals a sharp single ; the light in his eye Brightens up as the fast bowler runs to the crease ; Cover-point sees a flash, and the ball has gone by, Mid-on and mid-off have no moment of peace, He blocks a fast ball, and it reaches the screen. Go steady at slows! but he’ll pepper the swift, he Has put H ill through the slips, and up goes his fifty ; Was ever a batsman like this youngster seen? Then he leans on his bat and takes breath, and more slow Come the runs for a while; And the fieldsmen look sad, and the bowlers, who know How useless their guile When he’s set, and he means for his hundred to go.