Cricket 1907

A p r i l 25, 1907. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 87 THE GAME OP LIFE ; OB, DEATH AMONG THE CRICKETERS. (See page 85.) When men are in a moralizing strain, And gravely talk about the brittle stuff Of which poor human life is made, ’Tis ten to one That, ere they’ve done, They shake their heads and make this sage reflection: That Life is transitory, fleeting, vain— A very bubble! W ith pleasures few and brief; but as for pain, And care and trouble, There’s more than quantum suff — Nay, quite enough To make the stoutest heart afraid, And cloud the merriest visage with dejection! And then, what dismal stories are invented About this “ vale of woe ” ! Zounds! ’ twere enough to make one dis­ contented Whether one would or no ! Now, Life, to me, has always seemed a game— Not a mere game of chance, but one where skill W ill often throw the chances in our way— Just like (my favourite sport) the Game of Cricket; Where, though the match be well contested, still A steady player, careful of his fame, May have a good long innings ,with fair play, Whoever bowls, or stops, or keeps the wicket. Softly,my friend! (methinksl hear Death cry )— Whoever bowls! you say ; sure you forget That in Life’s feverish, fitful game, I am the bowler, and friend lim e keeps wicket ? Well, be it so, old boy, is my reply; I know you do—but, Master Dry bone s, yet My argument remains the same, And Xcan prove Life's likethe Game oj Cricket! Sometimes a batsman’s lull’ dby Bowler Death, W ho throws him off his guard with easy balls; Till presently a rattler stops his breath— H e’s out ! Life’s candle’ s snuff’d — his wicket falls! In goes another mate : Death bowls away— And with such art each practis’d method tries, That now the ball winds tortively along, Now slowly rolls, and now like lightning flies—• (Sad proof that Death’ s as subtle as he’s strong !) But this rare batsman keeps a watchful eye On every motion of the Bowler’s hand, And stops, or hits, as suits the varying play ; Though Death the ball may ground, or toss it high, The steady striker keeps his self-command, And blocks with care, or makes it swiftly fly. Still bent on victory, Old Drybones plies W ith patient skill—but every effort fails, Till Time—that precious enemy—prevails. O envious Time ! to spoil so good a game ! Fear’ dst thou that Death at last had met his match, And ne’er could bowl him out, or get a catch ? Yea, verily, Old Time, thou seem’dst to doubt The Bowler’s skill—and so, to save his fame, Didst watch the popping -crease with anxious eyes Until the wish’d-for opportunity Arriv’d, when thou could’st stump the bats­ man o u t! 0, what a player ! how active, cheerful, gay ! Hit “ Game of Life ” how like a summer’s d ay ! But yet, in vain ’gainst Death and Time he tries To stand his ground— they bear away the prize— And, foil’d at last, he yields his bat, and —dies ! Some are bowl’d out before they’ve got a notch, But mates like these can helpmates scarce be reckon’d ; Some knock their wicket s down— while others botch And boggle so, that, when they get a run, It makes Time laugh; Death, too, enjoys the fun, Shakes his spare ribs to see what they have done, Then out he bowls the bunglers in a second! And yet, although old Messieurs Death and Time Are sure to come off winners in the end, There’ s nothing in this “ Game of Life ” that’s pleasant; For though “ to d ie !” in verse may sound sublime— (Blank verte, I mean, of course—not dog- grel rhyme)— Such is the love I bear for Life and Cricket, Either at single or at double wicket, I ’d rather play a good long game, and spend My time agreeably with some kind friend, Than throw my bat and ball up —just at present ! S. M a u n d er. TABLE SHOW ING THE INTER - COUWTY PROGRAMME OF 1907. I Derbyshire ... I Leicestershire 1Worcester ... 1 Northants. g C l 8 s 1 Somerset 1 Sussex ... 2o t 35sr 3 1Hampshire ... ! Kssex ... 1 Warwickshire I Notts ......... I Lancashire ... I Surrey .... 77X 3 I Kent .... * * • * * # * * * * Kent • * • * * * • * * Surrey * • * * * * * * » * * Lancashire « * * * * * * * Notts. * * * • * * Warwick. Essex Hampshire * • « * * * * * * • Glo’ster. # * # , » * , * * # * Sussex Somerset • * * * * * * * . Middlesex • • * • * • * * Xorthants. » * * * • * • * Worcester. * • * Leicester. • • * * * # * * « * * Derbyshire u. s oo o © 0C Oi rf*- tNi o MCS OC Sz I n !~ Total Matches. MR. H . S. ISBRUCKEB * In our country it is a rare event to celebrate a twenty-five years’ Jubilee in the sporting world, and especially so far as cricket or foo’ ball is concerted. Within a few days, however, Mr. H. S. Tsbriicker, Pre'ident of the Du ch Cricket Union and Hon. Treasurer of the Hague Cricket and Football Club, will have been associated with the above-men­ tioned organiz itions for twelve and a-half and twenty-five years respectively. We have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Isbi ii jker during all these years has been indefatigable in hi? energies to further the progress of both games in in our country, and we are assured that many tokens of appreciation, which he fully deserves, will be bestowed upon him on the occasion. To sum up all his doing! would take up too much space, but we can siy that he begau his cricket career at the Hague iu 1881, and was elected Hon. Secretary to the Olympia C.C. A few years later t e Hague and Olympia Clubs amalga­ mated under the name of Tue Hiaue Cricket and Football Club, and Mr. IsV ticker retained the Secretaryship. About five years ago he became Hon. Treasurer to the Club, and still retains that position. From about 1884 to 1890 he was considered to be one of the best bowlers in Dutch cricket, and this many a batsman knows to his cost. In 1889 he received a presentation as tie best bowler i i Holland. Iu 1895 the Dutch Ciickat Union elected him President, and, as we have already mentioned, he will shortly cele­ brate his twelve and a-half year’s asso­ ciation with that body. Not only in Holland is he popular, but also iu Eugland, where he is well-known, as he organised aud managed cricket tours to that country and arranged matches with English teams desirous of visiting Holland. To show how he is esteemed, and how his efforts are appre­ ciated by visiting team", we may mention that he is now an honorary member of the S'oics and the Frogs. A few yeirs ago the Cercle Atbletique de Paris also conferred upon him the honorary mem­ bership of their club. He was a great friend of the late Mr C. W. Alcock, wiih whom he corresponded regularly on cricket and football topics. During the recent viiit of the All-Eaglaud Amateur Football Eleven, which played here, at the Hague, against All-Holland, he was one of the mainstays in bringing that great event to a successful issue. Gifted with a keeu sense of humour, he has made many friend?, and has more than once been the means of settling knotty questions iu our sporting world to everyone’s satisfaction. — The Amsterdam Handelsblad. * An interview with Mr. Isbriicker appeared in Cricket of August 15th, 1901. I am indebted to Mr. W. J. Paramor, of The Hague, for kindly forwarding the translation, of the ilandtlsbladys article.—Ed. Cricket.