Omaha daily bee., 1895-10-13
A Popular Game Among Boys whcr
base Rail IL Prohibited.

A Popular Game Among Boys when
Base Ball IN Prohibited.
The crushing defeats administered to the
English cricketers during their recent visit
to this country have been the means Of giving
the national pastime Of the British Isles an
impetus amoung American sportsmen; yet It
is highly improbable that the game will ever
attain here anything like the popularity it
has in England.
There are several great drawbacks to the
popularity of cricket in this country. In
America everything is done with a rush. An
Intercollegiate foot ball game on Manhattan
field where half a dozen legs are broken is
greatly enjoyed by the sport-loving public.
Cricket is voted slow because three days
with seven hours play a day are required
to finish a cricket match. Consequently the
game can only be played by men of leisure
and wealth. In America the matches have
been condensed into one and sometimes two
days. Another drawback to the sport is
that 1t requires an absolutely level turf which
requires constant attention and considerable
outlay of money in bats, balls, leg guards and
gloves. The balls consist Of a wooden center
tightly wrapped. weighing five ounces. They
are all imported and cost about IS each.
Bats may be purchased for about IS.
The into 9uct'on Of cricket into this country
mas been rather difficult, too, on account of
the popularity Of base ball. the accessories
OF which may be purchased for a small sum,
"hu NHiCu may De prayed o. almost any old
place.
A match cricket game is played between
two sides of eleven players each, unless
otherwise agreed to.
Each side has two innings, taken al
ternately, except in the case that one side
has scored eighty runs less than the OPP
posite side, when they follow their inning.
The wickets are stationed opposite and
parallel to each other at a distance of
twenty-five yards. Each wicket is eight
inches in width and consists of three stumps.
or sticks, with two balls on top. The
stumps are placed close enough together to
prevent the ball from going between. A
Datsman stands at each wicket, and the
bowler OF the opposite side, who corresponds
TO a base ball pitcher, bowls the ball to a
batsman. The game, roughly stating 1t, is
for the batsman to protect the wicket and
TO make as many runs as possible over the
other wicket and back. The striker is out
If he be caught out; If the wicket is bowled
down or If he be out of his ground and
the wicket keeper put Town the wicket with
the ball, with his hand or arm, in that case
the striker is %"stumped" out. The rules
are, on the whole, simple, and the game
may be learned easily.
Philadelphia is the cradle Of cricket in
this country, and the crack player Of Amer
lea is G. s. Patterson, who plays with the
Gentlemen of Philadelphia.
Among the best clubs in America are the
Philadelphia, Germantown. Belmont, Merton
and Haverford, of Philadelphia; the New
York, Staten Island, New Jersey Athletic
club, Manhattan and Brooklyn, Of New York.
There are also good clubs in Chicago. Balti-
more, Detroit, Milwaukee, Pittsburg. San
Francisco, and in most New England states.
A great many Of the American cricketers
are young fellows who came originally from
England. Scotland and Ireland. One of the
most enthusiastic cricketers in New York is
Archie Gum, the well known artist and il
illustrator. Cricet matches are the occasion
for a great turnout Of society folk. Twenty
thousand of Philadslphia's "swagger'' citi-
zens witnessed the recent match with the
Englishmen when the University Of Pennsyl-
vania defeated them by 100 runs. A number
or boys schools, notably st. Paul's. Concord,
N. H., and st. Austin's, Staten Island, are
constantly turning out young cricketers. At
these institutions base ball is prohibited and
cricket is commended to the youthful mind
as being a healthier game.
Small Talk.
Bess' mother is a young and attractive
widow. and a young minister was much in
terested in her spiritual welfare, relates the
Chicago Tribune. Bess did not admire him
much, owing to his habit Of taking her to
task occasionally for some little fb. One
day he came to call and encountered Bess- on
the front porch. He presented her with a box
of caramels, and, being quite sure her mother
l was In hearing distance, though out of sight
behind the parlor curtains, he took occasion
TO indulge in a few affecting remarks con-
corning the happiness Of being allowed TO
minister to the fatherless babes. Bess had
heard "Chimmie Fadden'' read and quoted
quite frequently, and, looking up into the
minister's face with her wide, innocent eyes,
| she remarked: what t'ell?"
'Huh-what did you say? miner the
astonished man,
What t'ell?" repeated Bessie.
He gazed at her for a few minutes in blank
J imazement, and then the sound of smothered
merriment coming from the parlor Windows
! recalled him to his senses, and, after a wild
look around, as for a refuge, he left.
Ethel is the only child Of a college pro-
lessor, and was left without a mother, so her
training has been rather different from other
children, and she is very old and thoughtful
In her ways. One night her father was hear
ing her say her prayers before she went 10
bed. She had gotten to her own little peti.
lions and the God bless everybodys," and
her rather had gotten just a little inattentive,
when he was startled by hearing her say:
"And God bless the devil. cause nobody
cares bout him at ALL"
why, Ethel" he exclaimed, what are
you praying for the devil for 2"
wen, father, the preacher always tells
how horrid bad he is and everybody hates
MN so, thought I'd better ask God to be
good to him."
Ethels mother had positively forbidden her
TO play in the creek, and to make sure she
was obeyed said: Now, IL you do go to
the creek the Lord will see you and he will
tell me. You know he is everywhere and
sees you all the time
One day Ethel came in and her mother
had reason to suspect that she had been
to the creek, so she asked her: "Ethel
were you at the creek?'
Nome responded Ethel confidently.
"Now, remember what / told you the other
day, the Lord will tell me-"
Nome, l wasn't there declared Ethel.
Pretty soon she came back and said: 81
Just wanted to see If the Lord would be
mean enough to tell you. l was down at
the creek and he didn't tell you, after all.
| didn't think he'd be SO mean as to go and
tell on me-"