The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-07

step to take artists directly from Italy before
they had passed the ordeal of London o.
Paris audience; but the temerity Of the mana
ger will only be further recommendation to
the attention Of our public, which Graves novel;
ty in Opera matters as well as everything else.
Without doubt the coming Opera season wiz
be rich in interesting artistic events, and tho
public will be on the tip-toe of excitement ua-
til the new artists shall have made their several
debuts.
THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE PROrn3-
TANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH-"FRoM PoLrrICs TO Re-
IIGIoN. Tile assembling Of the National Con
vention Of the Protestant Episcopal Church of
the United States, in the city of Richmond,
Virginia, has had wonderful influence upon
the fighting editors of the Enquirer. Thus, they
inform us that during the Convention they will
devote the greater portion Of their paper 70
its proceedings, and they further say that I'VE
hope the temporary change from politics to re-
ligion may be Of great benefit to our readers."
We hope so, too, and we hope that our fighting
contemporaries, from this temporary change"
will experience q permanent change for tho
Wise of the last twelve months or more sug-
gest very proper subject for the pious en-
deayors of the church; and we trust that ssthe
eminent divines and distinguished lay dele
gates from every State in the Union" present
ut Richmond will not overlook him in their
prayers. Perhaps among the lay delegates ON
hand there may be those terrible editorial
fighting men in their day, the Chevalier James
Watson Webb and Gen. Duff Green, each with
his prayer book in his side pocket, instead Of
pair of mahogany stocked pistols" II they
should be there, let them wait upon young
Wise, give him the benefit of their expert
ence, teach him the folly of shooting at men
and being shot at as target, and show him
the advantages Of life of penitence, piety
and good works. This done they may wait
upon the Governor, sound him respecting his
"oyster fundum," and obtain from him, per-
haps, certified copy of the Donnelly letter.
The INTERNATIONAL GAME OF CRIcKET-A
SUGGESTION FOR GAME OF BASE BALL---The
late game of cricket between eleven English
men and twenty-five residents of this country,
at Hoboken, has been improperly considered
by some Of the newspapers as an international
affair, in which England played against Ameri-
cans. Now it so happens that Of the twenty
two described as Americans only three were
really SO, and the rest were Englishmen resi-
dent in this country. So that the real state
of the case is, that the English professions
players, who make living by it, and
do o1oo n<hn r.
lishmen who only play the game ooes-
sionalIy as amateurs. Such result might
be expected. Eleven professional pugilists,
trained for the fight, will very speedily beat
twenty-five unframed men who have little skill
in "the manly art of self Defence" and whose
muscles and sinews have not the necessary
practice, and whose wind is short because they
are not in proper condition. The best race
horse in the world, if not trained and in condf-
ton, will be beaten by an inferior animal. We
should like to see any Englishman Of the Eleven
do what Blondin has done on the tight rope at
Niagara Falls, or attempt the feats which the
Ravel family achieve with infinite ease. Cricket
is not an American, but an English game and
therefore it was not to be expected that Ameri-
cans could be found to excel in it. Only Eng
lishmen play it here, and that in the intervals
Of leisure. How could they play against picked
professionals of the game?
A correspondent, signing himself "John Bull"
takes exception to our italicising the three
American names among the twenty-five who
played against the English Eleven. The HERALD
is always at pains to report the truth, and if we
represented the whole twenty two as Americans,
when nineteen Of them were English, it might
be very gratifying to the national pride Of John
Bull, but would be very unlike the uniform
course of the HERALD.
Our correspondent further asks us to "sug-
gest that some Of the crack base ball players
of this country extend friendly invitation to
the Eleven Of all England to play them at their
own national game" Now, the difference be-
tween cricket and base ball is so slight that the
English Eleven could very speedily learn it
perhaps they already play it well. Their train
ing in rapid running, in batting, in throwing
and catching the balm word, their muscular
strength and activity and quickness Of eye
all the result Of training and constant practice,
would tell equally well for them in base bali
as in cricket. The one is modification Of the
other, with this difference, that cricket is the
greater and more difficult game, and compre-
hends the less. The man who plays cricket
well finds no trouble in base ball; but the mere
player of base ball, no matter how excellent
he is, cannot play cricket.
Though base ball is an American game, VIC