Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-06-30
THE HERALD.
The England ALI Eleven.

The "All England Eleven" are
coming 70 this country for pro-
fessional tour the present summer
Ten thousand dollars have been
raised by admires of the sport tor
the sport of the English players, and
the arrangements are already COM
plete. OF course, there are a great
many who will look very grave and
get very stiff, at such waste of pre-
cious money and precious time but
we apprehend the sentiment of the
community and the spirit of the age
are against them. When a few
nights of opera cost as much as this
whole trip, we surrey need not grudge
the sum for what will afford amuse>
ment and delight to assemblies of
thousands every pleasant day for
weeks, besides doing very much 10
promote the manifest and the gen
tlemanliest of all out door sports.
So far as science and skill are
concerned, cricket is to base ball
what billiards are to ten pins. 1t is
less known to Americans. because
our national impotence and restless
ness make it too much Of bore for
us TO do anything thoroughly and
cricket, like billiards, is nothing UNI
less we'll done. The English boy
learns the game at seven or ten
years of age. He plays at school,
year in and year out. He plays it
at Oxford, or Cambridge, and "the
eleven" there have as wide a renown
as the crews ofeight that uphold the
honor of the university boasting.-.
He plays as "a member of Parliament;
and every year the House of Lords
has match with the Commons. to
see which be the better men. The
regiments of the army support their
clubs. Every county in England
has its eleven, and hardly a day
passes, from Spring to Fall, but
some trial of skill takes place-Mid-
die Essex against Suffolk, the North of
England against the South of Eng
land, Eaton against Rugby, the Civil
Service against the War Office,
the gentlemen of England against
the players" Thus it goes, Dukes
play with poor professionals who get
their three shillings a day. st. Al.
bans is ignominiously bowled out by
Tom Grundy, and in turn studies his
revenge upon the old veteran as care,
fully as if he were not peer of the
realm.
Three things may be said for
cricket in England. Fair play is
universal-suspicion of selling out is
almost unknown-.he greatest match.
es may be watched with perfec,
confidence in the good faith of the
contestants. The game is purely
Democratic in nothing do English.
men come so close together as al
cricket-distinction of the gentle OF
simple vanishes, and all that specta-
tor or player knows or thinks of il
the spirit or skill displayed. 1t il
also more productive Of broad chests
strong arms and strait backs thar
any other agency in the kingd ON
not even excepting horse back ride
ing. Without the violent exertioni
which so often induce heart disease
in the boating man, it gives play te
the whole body, under the conditions
of health and enjoyment. 1t cult
Yates handsome carriage of the per,
son 1--WE do not allude to the attitude
of men~a-feld,) gives to til G arm al
the fexibility and strength which
can be derived from billiards Oh
from the foils and with manly EN-
ulation it unites generous party
spirit, which teaches men to stand
by "their side" as they ever ought
to do. The eleven of England shoule
be welcomed for the honor of the
fair and joyous spirit they represent
Springfield Republican.