Cricket 1909

2 CR ICK E T : A W EEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J an . 28, 1909. appearance. He was a hard, though scarcely a safe, hitter, and a good field. He would often go in eighth or ninth and hit up 40 or 50 runs in very short time. He was a man of much wit, and used to create much amusement by his remarks on the field and by the match reports he contributed to the newspapers—to Bell's Life especially. He did a lot of good work, and was extremely popular with the members, who began to flock to Lord’s about the middle of the sixties, when the Club purchased the free­ hold of the ground. During the thirteen years he was in office 4he membership increased from 650 to 2,080. His health, unfortunately, was not good and obliged him to take a long sea-trip. He returned to England, but was never able to resume work, and died a few years afterwards. Mr. Henry Perkius, who had undertaken his duties whilst he was away, succeeded him. That was in 1876.” “ Did you see many of the famous old cricketers play ? ” “ George Parr I saw several times. Once when he was playing at the Cattle Market Ground—it was for Notts v. Middlesex in 1866—a curious thing happened. He had hit a ball from my father to leg for two or four—I forget which—and, whilst he was regaining his breath after running out the hit, a pigeon flew overhead. My father, who was toying with the ball, took aim and, hitting it under the breast, brought it down dead as a door-nail in the middle of the pitch. Boy-like, I was delighted, and ran from my seat in the ring on to the field and pocketed the bird, which was stuffed and is preserved by the family as a curiosity. Another old-time cricketer I frequently saw play was Mr. Harvey Fellows, but I doubt whether I saw him bowl at Lord’s, though I may have done once or twice when I went there to see my father play.” “ Do you remember James Henry Dark ? ” “ I saw him several times, but he died before I went to Lord’s in an official capacity. He was generally spoken of as “ The Boss” —the fact that he was at one time proprietor of Lord’s is recorded on his tombstone—for the staff were engaged by him and he was a man who liked to have his own way in every­ thing. He was given to speaking his mind freely, and once so angered my father by a remark he made that he left the ground in a huff and very likely would not have gone there again had not the Hon. Robert Grim- ston, hearing what took place, run after him and brought him back. The two wrere good friends afterwards, and when my father returned from Australia in 1862 he brought the old gentleman a nugget scarf-pin as a keepsake. Very many people seemed afraid of Dark, but he was alright when you knew him. He kept a white pony at the ground, I remember, and used to drive it about the neighbourhood harnessed to a chaise. He had a parrot, too, which possessed a some­ what remarkable vocabulary. For very many years he used to charge the Eton and Harrow boys 7s. 6d. each for playing at Lord’s, which, considering the profit he made out of their match, was not considered quite “ the thing” and so the custom was dis­ continued after the season of 1862” “ Was it not Mr. Harvey Fellows who ‘ discovered ’ your father? ” “ He, more than anyone else, was respon­ sible for bringing him out and so getting the family into touch with first-class cricket. Mr. Fellows had heard a good deal of what my father had done in local matches, and one day rode over from Rickmansworth to Stoke Pogis and enquired at the Sefton Arms where “ Tom Hearne, the cricketer” was to be found. “ Next door,” was the reply, and when Mr. Fellows went out into the street again he found my father standing at his door. Then the following conversation took place:— “ Oh! you’re Tom Hearne, are y o u ?” “ Yes, sir.” “ I want you to come and play form e to-day at Rickmansworth.” *‘ Certainly, sir; I’ll be very pleased to do so.” “ But how are you going to get there? ” “ Walk, sir.” “ Walk? Why, it's eight or nine miles! ” “ I know that,” replied Father, who did the journey on foot, and, after making a lot of runs and taking several wickets—he bowled fast underhand then— walked home again at night. Mr. Fellows was so pleased with him that he recom­ mended him to the Walkers, who got him to play for them at Southgate, where he did very well. That gave him an opportunity of playing in good company, for Mr. John Walker used to get some excellent sides together, and would arrange matches with the U.E E., Surrey Club, and other first-rate teams. That my father must have created a good impression is evident from the fact that a year later he took part in the Two Elevens match at Lord’s at the tail-end of May. Parr and Wisden were the leading spirits of the Elevens, and it was considered a very great thing to be asked to play for either of them against the other. In the 1858 match Wisden put my father in tenth, but when the side had to go in to get 100 to win, Mr. John Walker persuaded him to let him open the innings. The result was that my father made 54 not out, and the United won by four wickets. That was Carpenter’s first match at Lord’s : he went in first wicket down and made 45 and 1. When the two sides met in July of the following year my father and Carpenter made 149 for the United’s first wicket, which was considered a remarkable performance to accomplish at Lord’s in those days of rough wickets, and especially ngainst such bowlers as Jackson, Willsher, Tinley, and Stephenson. Their batting in those two matches caused the pair to be ranked among the recognised best players of the day. There was a somewhat amusing circumstance attending one of the early visits paid to Lord’s by my father. After watching the game for some time —it was an important match—he asked his neigh­ bour who it was batting. The person replied, “ That? Why, it’s Jimmy Dean!” in a tone which did not conceal his astonishment that anyone could possibly have been unaware of his identity. The question was quickly followed by another—4' And is he considered first-class?” The person ad­ dressed, beginning to fear that his leg was being pulled, replied indignantly, “ Of course he is ! ” “ Then,” said my father, to the stranger’s astonishment, “ so am I ! ” And soon afterwards he proved the truth of his remark.” “ And what of your own cricket ? ” “ My father taught me on the ‘ Green Man ’ ground at Ealing, which he and my uncle George had laid down in about 1855. It is a nice ground, although it would be better if a trifle larger. We lived opposite the ground, and so did not have far to go when we wished to practise. My first out match for the M.C.C. was in 1873 against Hastings, who had Mr. A. H. Stratford, several of the Phillips family, and John Relf playiug for them. The last-named was father of A. E. and R. R. Relf, who now play for Sussex, and was engaged at Wellington College with my brother Tom. He was a fair bat and a most accurate bowler. He delivered the ball with his hand only just above the shoulder, and never sent down a bad one. My father, who made 62, kept jumping in at the good length ones and driving them to the ring. When I was in with him he kept saying to me, “ Why don’t you hit like that ? ” But it took me all my time to play correctly, and I dared not attempt to take liberties. I managed to carry out my bat for 26 and in consequence was given a very nice notice by Kelly King, who was then the leading cricket reporter. The remarks coming from him were a great compliment, for he was not given to throwing bouquets. Once, when the St. John’s Wood Ramblers were on tour, we met a very strong side at Brighton, including Mr. W. Newham, Stubberfield, Harry Killick, and the brothers Humphreys. The ground was very fast, and just as Alec Hearne was about to bowl to Mr. Newham, George Lohmann called out to me at point, “ You’re too close, you know. If he hits, you won’t escape.” I did not move, however, and the batsman got well hold of the ball, which I caught in my stomach, much to the wonder of those who were watching from the pavilion, which was directly behind me. As Mr. Newham went out he said to me, ‘ You know about that, don’t you ? ’ It really was a wonderful catch, but I felt the blow for years after­ wards. My highest innings at Lord’s was 100 about thirty years ago—for Ealing and District v. M.C.C., who had W. Mycroft and Clayton to bowl for them. Mr. J. S. Russel, the M.C.C. captain, kept Mycroft on for a very long time, and as I always liked fast bowling I naturally appreciated it.” “ Did you not spend a winter in Australia some years ago ? ” “ That was in 1884-5, when I went out with Shaw, Shrewsbury, and Lillywhite’s team, though, of course, not as a member. I made the trip for the benefit of my health, and Henderson, of Surrey, accompanied me for a like reason. We both enjoyed ourselves immensely, and induced Alfred to let us play occasionally in up-country matches. I never felt better than when out there, and should have liked to stay on—I had a good offer to do so. If it were possible I should like to go out there again to-morrow'; it would set me up again, for the effect one derives from a visit is so beneficial and lasting. At least, so I found it.” “ Can you say on how many occasions eleven members of your family have formed a side? ” “ Three, and each time I got the team together. We played on the ‘ Green Man ’ ground at Ealing, and the matches proved very attractive. The late William Hearn, of Hertfordshire, played for us in at least one of the games, but the match did not lose any of its interest in consequence, for, although he spelt his surname without the final ‘ e,’ he was related, though distantly, to us. Both branches of the family came from Bucking­ hamshire, and the different spelling is ac­ counted for by the fact that William’s grand-^ mother, who was not very handy with her pen, thought it would save her a little trouble if she discarded the ‘e.’ The son and grand­ son were taught to do the same, but there is no doubt as to their connection with us. Tombstones and registers were searched and the relationship established/’ Ayres’ Lawn Tennis Almanack for 1900 should prove acceptable to all followers of the game, for it is well produced and deals with its subject ably and fully. The fact that it is edited by Mr. A. Wallis Myers is sufficient guarantee of its accuracy. The volume is published by F. H. Ayres, Ltd., of 111, Aldersgate Street, E.C., at one shilling.