Cricket 1910

4 4 8 CR 1 CK.ET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME O c t . 2 7 , 1 9 1 0 . THE LANCASTER C.C.* The history of cricket in Lancaster covers a period of seventy years, and the story has been told well by Mr. J. J. Gilchrist, a former secretary of the Lancaster C.C., in an excellently-produced volume of 378 pages. The author remarks that of traditions of the higher order the club has none: “ Not any of its capUins are now admirals or premiers; no secretary is become a bishop or a judge ; it has turned oat no giants to recruit the county team.” This may be so, but perusal of the many interesting press reports furnishes proof that the members obtained the maximum amount of enjoyment from their matches, and that, when all is said and done, is the chief thing. The Lancaster C.C. has not experienced an uncheckered career. It was formed in 1841, turned into a rowing club in 1842, revived in 1848, reached the height of its earlier fame about three years later, col­ lapsed in apathy in 1855, pursued the game feebly (with occasional rallying) through the sixties and seventies, was refounded in 1879, migrated to the Lune Eoad ground, where for the first time it played on a properly laid and prepared wicket, in 1882, and from then grew, with variable fortune, to its present front position among the town clubs of the North, with a ground and equipment of some pretentions to importance. At a meeting of the Rowing Club, held on the 1st of April, 1846, at the Millstone Inn, at Skerton, the secretary was “ empowered to sell tbe bats, wickets and ba 1 belonging to this club in its old form as a cricket club, and to carry the proceeds to the purchase of a barge.” The present club was formed by the amalgama­ tion of two or more clubs in the town. “ The result was to make a strong leading club for Lancaster, and the result may be regarded as a success.” Seven times in fifteen years the club were first in the North Lancashire League—a fact which more than justifies the author’s remark. The snapper-up of unconsidered trifles will find many items of interest in the volume, e.g., tbe 7th Duke of Devonshire (when Earl of Burlington) playing in matches and making speeches ; the entry in the score- book, “ L. T. Baines, head before wicket, b Saunderson, 5 ” ; the two postillions, Wheeler and Leader, being pressed into service to complete the side, and each scoring spectacles —one because he “ picked up the ball ” ; eleven of the Garnett family forming a side; an unfinished stand of 164 for the last wicket, &e., (fee. There is a capital index to the book : it is, in fact, really more than an index, for it gives a brief biographical reference to each player, e.g., “ Hornby, E. G. S....1852...son of Mr. E. G. Hornby, Castle Park and Dalton Hall; oldest living member of the Lancaster Cricket Club, and a first vice-president of the new club.” The author is to be congratulated on the rtsult of his efforts, and the Lancaster C.C. on possessing so painstaking and indefatigable an historian. The members of the club have borne the entire cost of publication, and the proceeds of the sale of the volume will go to the Club’s funds. * The Lancaster Cricket Club, 18hl — 1909. By J. J. Gilchrist. Lancaster: Beeley Bros., ifranee’s Passage. Price, 7s. 6 d .; post free, 7s. lid . Only 250 copies printed. THE ANTIQUARY. C harles D ickens and C ricket . —A long and highly appreciative reference to the game, which the novelist approved of being played on Sundays, appears in the articles “ Sunday uuder Two Heads ” (I write the title from recollection), which should be found in any complete edition of Dickens’ Works.—H.P.-T. C r ic k e t in the 1 7 tii C e n tu ry . —It is said, in the World Bewitch'd , 1699, page 22, that on the approach of summer, “ Quoits, Cricket, Nine-Pins and Trap-Ball will be very much in fashion and more Tradesmen may be seen Plaj ing in the Fields than working in their Shops.” —I.F.L. Tiie Mitfords.—The interesting reprint of the Rev. Jno. Mitford’s review of “ Nyren ” recall a passage which I once dropped on in the “ Pocket Magazine” for 1825, p. 379. Writing of Moses Boarer, the host of the Boar's Head, five miles out of Tunbridge Wells, whom he had visited in 1822, the author says :—“ How eloquent hast thou grown upon the unseasonableness of reading Thomson’s ‘ Seasons,’ and the babyism of dwelling upon ‘ Childe Harold,’ when the delightful shouts of the cricketers were heard and when, by walking half a mile, I might become an excited spectator of the manly sport. Ah m e! how earnestly didst thou deprecate my obstiuacy, how solemnly lament my want of taste, seeing that I preferred Thomson or Byron to a cricket match. Ah, Moses Boarer, hadst thou been acqua'nted with the writings of Mary Russell Mitford, and couldst have quoted them with the facile felicity with which thy quotations were sometimes made (when the Bible, the History of Kent and Sussex, the Publican’s Guide or the Complete Farrier were called in to thy aid) I should undoubtedly have become thy convert.” Further on, in a reference to persons of both sexes enjoying the village dance, occurs the query, ‘‘ Does Miss Mitford forget that in cricket the lasses can be but spectators, and often indifferent and endangered ones ? ” Mary Russell Mitford was born at Alres- ford, Hants, 16th December, 1787, and died at Swallowfield Cottage, near Reading, 10th January, 1855. Her first success, “ Our Village,” consisted of papers contributed to the “ Lady’s Magazine” between 1824-32. She had written ;—“ I wonder that painters and poets do not make more use of cricket; that picturesque and various game, so full of life and gaiety and good humour, so prefer­ able to the rare and questionable and make- believe pleasure of a dance on the green, which they like so much to paint and talk about. Cricket is a most thoroughly English diversion; the game of a free country; a bond of union and sympathy between the high and the low, Eton and the national schools; the best Freemasonry, that of a common enjoyment, where no rank is acknowledged, but the natural pre-eminence of vigour and skill. . . . I hope it will never go out of fashion, especially in our village.” Miss Mitford’s spirit must surely be present when Artists and Authors meet nowadays in the game she loved. H.P.-T. THE NOTTS COUNTY C.C. At a meeting of the Notts County C.C. Committee on September 30th, it was arranged that next season’s fixture-list should include matches with M.C.C. aud Ground at Lord’s and Woodbrook Club and Ground at Bray. Kent, a3 stated in Cricket some time ago, will be met again, but the Northamptonshire fixture has been dropped, notwithstanding that this year it proved a greater attraction than one or two others which were decided at Trent Bridge. Notts 2nd XI. have dropped out of the Minor Counties Championship, and some of the junior members of the ground staff will not be re-engaged. T iie F ir s t -C l a s s B a t t in g A v e r a g e s . The figures of the twin brothers Denton were wrongly given in the averages, owing to a telegraphic mistake. It was W. H., not J. S., Dent -n, who played v. Lancashire at Northampton, and scored two runs, b.itting twice. The figures should therefore read— J. S. -25 innings—4 not outs—273 runs— average 13 00. W. H.— 15 innings—2 not outs—96 runs —average 7*38. BLANCO For Cleaning and Whitening White Baokskin ana Canvas Shoe Cricket Pads, and all other articles of a similar nature. It Is prepared In a v ery careful m anner, and extra precautions are taken to ensure an evenness o f colou r. It contains n oth ing that w ill In any w a y in ju re the article to w h ich It Is ap p lied , and if used as directed, a Splendid W h ite o f a glossy, sa tln -llk e appearan ce and soft silk y surface la ensured, w h ich w ill n ot read ily rub off. “ BLANCO” CLOTH & LEATHER BALL For cleaning Suede, Ooze Calf, and Cloth Boots aid Shoes, Cord Breeches, Suede Gloves, Cloth Spats, Leather and Cloth Leggings, etc- Mmdm In vmrlouM whmdmm of Colour. Sold by Athletic Dealers, Ironmongers, Oilmen, Stores, Boot and Shoe Dealers, etc. Printed and Published by M e r r itt & H atch er , L td ., 167, 168 and 169, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C., October 27th, 1910.