New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-06

the game leoding to this condescension. For
rocket 70 be nlaved nj its best must be doubl e.
wicket; which requires two "elevens," or twenty
two plavers. n greater number than OF young gen.
tlemep pur sanq is likely TO be found in most neigh
borhoods In remote rural parishes, thinly popu-
lated such mixed clubs are common enough; Tor
there the laborlng man is necessarily admitted since
q match could L OF be made up without him. Else
where and otherwise he is not wanted and Will be
excluded, no matter what his ambition 10 display
skill as batter and bowler.
However aristocratic the composition OF an Eng
lsh country cricket club it may surprise the Ameri-
can reader TO learn that it is not above begging
Every year the hat is sent round, in the shape OF
circular soliciting contributions for its support
Annually myself receive such only to fling them
into the fire, with o feeling of contempt Tor inc
meanness that inspires the raltry appeal WIN
multitude of poor men and their families arounu'
many of them at staryation's door. 1t were
mockery Of charity-lndeed almost lhDuiii'ii',
| to devote ones dole of amsgvng to the mamie
| nance Of an idle snort may add however, that
in England cricket is not altogether an lue spor'
Int one practised for profit and with jealous uetei-
mination 10 obtain it. In many cases u is q pure
coro of Gambling inst as with the turf, the dlce'
| box and the card-table.
In most parts CT the country after cricket, 1oo'-
| hall NAV DO SAID to have second place; a game
more played by the poorer classes, chiefly because
of IFS being inexpensive. There is only the cost OF
the ball itself matter OF three or four shiulngs'
and this shared among several amounts to little or
nothing And as an ordinary pasture field Is all
that is required for the play there is usually some
cenerons landowner or occuper who gives
this gratis. Still, for the laboring man. football
has many of the drawbacks I have shown as be-
i'll collo for
exertion he is not disposed to make, after having
done his DAVIS work; moreover, the daylight may
lie gone before this is DONE leaving him no time for
kicking a football Virtual, there are many OF the
vounrer men-strong and vigorous they must be
who do kick It, up to late hour of the night, when
there chances 10 be moon! And. not unfre-
ouentlv kick one anothers shins, or come IN
violent collision, TO their serious detriment, even
with fatal results. So many such have OF late oc-
Cured that there have been newspaper protests and
outcry against this rough, unaristocratic game.
OF the few other summer and outdoor diversions
of the English rustic, quots may be mentioned
though it is game rather rare and exceptional
So also nipcat-and-run," with several similar con-
| - Pitch-and-toss" is played but this being
against the law has to be carried on surreptltousy,
under cover of hedge. or In the heart OF wo0a:
Tncish country bows still play at marbles, as did
their PREDECESSORS of century ago and regret
IN odd cheat at them with uDdImlniShed audaclty
Few as are the summer sports of Englands poorer
neople still fewer have they in winter-lndeed
scarce apy There is skating when the ice is strong
enough to bear; thing OF so rare occurrence that
there are winters-as the last, Tor instance-wlth
scarce any ice at ALL Besides skating is not pas
time of the lower classes was II one OF the
middle until a very modern date. Ten years ago
no one thought of practising It, save the scons OF
aristocracy young gentlemen and ladies. Then,
around the frozen lakes or ponds on which these
dIsnorted themselves the lower social world stood
in Wondering gaze to witness their graceful gliding
and emitting figures of s. But the severe winters OF
1870 so and lSSO-'S1 brought about change, and
the snort was no longer exclusive. skating mania
SET in and every sheet OF ice became crowded by
skaters of both sexes and all ranks Of society. No,
NOT All the poor proetaran. being here again eX-
cuded partly because lie could not afloru TO pay
for a par of skates and partly that his wearing
them would be deemed the height of presumption.
Sufficient enjoyment for him is a slide; al least
sucb is the opinion of his superiors, Whatever he
may think himself. And TO sliding lie resorts hav-
inc little or no alternative sport during the chill
winter DAYS But a rueful sport II is, should he be
the father of family. For the frost enabling HIM
TO indulce in il will have also thrown him out OF
work: and while scoring the ice with his heavy
hob-naed shoes he may be thinking OF his vile at
home shvering over fireless HEARTH and his chill
| dren clalnorng for bread.
Apart from pastimes of the nature or games, IN
rural England there amusements OF an associate
kind partaken of by the people en- masse. such are
school entertainments. cubfestlvals, holiday fetes
harvest homes and the like; account OF Which must
needs be reserved for another letter.