The Ladies' Guide to Cricket

universally practised. Lord Frederick lloauclorc introduced it nt Lord's cricket, ground, and after a stiff controversy it was finally recognized and adopted. More recently a famous ladies’ school in Somersetshire (e.f. Miss Mathers’ clever novel “ Coinin’ Thro’ the Rye!” ) actually anticipated Lady llarberton’s “ divided skirt” in a costume cunningly devised for cricket wear. The fair damsels played capitally. The writer, charmed with their aptitude, offered his services (gratuitously) as a professional coach. The Lady Principal unfortunately considered him too young, and the Parson of the Parish secured the post. The rejected candidate was disappointed, and the girls too—at least they said so. The parson was a married man, but that., of course, had nothing to do with it. Cricketers often complain of the scanty patronage and slight interest bestowed upon their doings by ladies, and yet are sometimes inconsistent enough to declare that the game is far too complicated to come within reach of the feminine intellect. They are egregiously mistaken. Aid us, gentle reader, to confound the sceptics! *