New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
| ATTRACTIONS OF CRICKET.
ITS INCREASING HOLD on THE AMER
ICAN PUBLIC
MATCHES ~ THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT CALL
ropTu GREAT ENTHUsIASM-THE CHAM
rlON TEAM or THE NEw JERSEY
ATHLETIC Gu y.

FORTH GREAT ENTHUsIAsM-THE CHAM
ZION TEAM or THE NEw-JERsET
ATHLETIC CLUB
The old English game Of cricket Is slowly but
surely attracting thu attention OF tho spor-lovi's
American II has been advancing gradually In
Now-York for many years. until At the presen;
time II may be considered ono Of the chief pastmeS
Of the better class ~ New Workers who desire TO
take part i'm an actiye and healh-gving sport
which is altogether free from any faint OF pro-
fess0nalism.
There are professionals IN cricket. hut they ara
the men who make their living AT teac ling the
game in caring lOr the grounds. They are de-
barred from all championship contests, and their
knowledge OF the rules Of the game makes their
services MS umpircs in much demand II Is pleas
snt to say that th"ir impariality cannot be dues-
toned.
The incrcasi popularity Of cricket may he
set down TO several causes. one Is the unselish
devotion the .,amc OF its votaries. who never
tire Of singing it's praises and who could never
BE- induced admit tho superiority OF any other
sport The International matches which take
place annually with English. Iri@h or Australian
ecvers also help considerably 10 aroi'sc onth1s!-
asm and to induce acquaintance with the game
The International matches I'm Philadelphia never
fail 10 draw = crowd Of some thousand spec
tators and while Ncw-York cannot do as well
this. the games here attract considerable" at
tsntion.
cricket - no recent Introduction to Nev-Yorl:.
s Z IIosford Of the Manhattan Cluh ~ Brooklyn.
boasts Of over thirty years connection WIKI that
orsanzation The -, George club. Of Hohoken.
goes back much furiher than that. nut untortu-
ratelv II is only q memory now. and the historic
ground al IIobokon. where many memorable
match played. oven before the war Is seldom
used for cricket This is Ia no regretted he
cause the turf there Is probably tho mos, suit
able FOR cricke, IN the United states. Even
the great W. q Grace. the undisputed champion
of the world speaks Of the Hohoken ground In his
well-known work cricket one 81 the best
wcke,s he ever played or.
THE SPIRIT OF RIVALRY.
The organization - the Metropolitan District
Cricket League In 1870 certainly Increased the
popularity OF the game. The contests became
more like real tests OF skill. and the games we're
played with dash which previously had been
sadly lacking II has been said by some that tho
Introduction Of championship contest has do
prived the sport ~ some OF the friendly feeling
which formerly prevailed. and that too much feel
ing is brought by tho new incentive TO win.
The rivalry among The clubs IL certainly stronger
now than f. before the League started and
the matches are more kcenly contested. hut the
rivalry Is altogether friendly and the keenncss OF
the contests engenders even n better feeling than
existed before generous spirit can h"
shown by the little courtesies Of tho game when
some minor sacrifice goes with them. while the
lesson taught in accepting the disappont men' ~
defeat is certainly more effective by reason OF ';s
Increased Importance.
Cricket % course can never be popular with ihs
masses in this country II is an expensive game
TO play. The club dues. no nconsiderable item
In some organizations. are by no means the chle'
outlay. Being strict amateur game. the PLAYERS
have 10 pay their own travelling expenses. Most
their own implements. which are ss
rule very expensive. A bat costs from 8 To
s. gloves 81 and 81 and les-suards about
away from homo. the travelling expenses amount
up. and altogether f. should from 90 20 sCo
for the actually necessary expenses % playing one
year.
on this accoun, tho class - people attracted -
the game IS limited 10 men Of AZ least the average
stratum IN New-York'. business and professional
circles. There many men who take an active
part in the game who are quite wealthy md the
majority OF those associated with the sport might
he considered TO be az least above the middle class.
OF course. there small clubs OF players % lin
tied means. and even teams OF coored players who
have learned tho game in the West Indies. but they
can hardly he considered among tho hrs'-ciass
players
AN AMERICAN INNOVATION.
The game a. played here does not devlate IN tho
least from the rules in force IN England but lately
We have seen an American introduction creating
mild sensation the other eide This was the
applying OF the scientific principle. OF baseball pitch
ing TO bowling so far as the curve Is concerned
Previous to last year It was always thought IN
England Impossible 20 a bowled ball. J y.
King the crack Philadelphia bowler who played
with the touring American team In England last
year demonstrated very cleverly that the thing
could he done and since then the Engllsh bovlers
have been practising the art with more or less
success Several attempted Improvements have
been made here but T. has always been found
thai. after all, the old rules Of the games are the
best.
The Metropolitan League. which rules the game
FOR the frst-cass clubs OF the neghborhooi %
New-York has embodied in IT, constitution: "Ail
league matches shall he governed BY the rIes Of
he MdTyebone Cricket club" This necessi'ates 4
strict adherence 10 the rulings Of the famous Eng
lish organization, which may BE- raii to rule the
game all over the world. The league here. which
was first suggested by Jerome Flannery and organ
ICED by him and j. O. Davis. now OF Chicago had
for It's FIRST presden' the Rev. DR. ". :. Rains
ford. lie was succeeded by Henry Martin. wh"
was again replaced by David \ Munro, the ever
popular editor OF The North Ameri IAN Review.
who is also president q, me British schools AM, ana
and attention 10 the welfare OF hc league aud the
manner In which he sacrificed his personal pleasui"
and convenience 10 presii" over the deliberations
OF he Executive Committee endeared him {" al!
cr!cketers Of New-York. 10 whom his charming
personality IS truly representative Of that Nm" old
Edinburgh courtesy and gentle breeding to be found
In the Scotch gentleman OF the old school
Mr.. Munro was succeeded this year 10y Theod"r"
Clarke an active crickcter % the Ncw-Jers"y Am
lett - captain o' mat organization
Team r. The new incumbent has shown his In
tercst In the welfare Of the game by attending
every meeting Of the league which has been held
since ne was elected. lie has shown himself pos
sessed of the necessary tact for II presiding officer
also and the league Is not likely 10 suffer while he
Is al The head Of affairs X r. I,okehy. tho vice
president OF the league. l. another enthusiast VINO
has already shown hts unscihsh interest III cricket
yIe is 81 member ~ the Staten Island cricket Club
ard that organization has been decided ealner by
his membership not alone from his moral support
bat by his ability q playing member
A RELIEF FROM BUSINESS CARES.
The recent publicity given the celebration OF m.
nrleth brthdsy Of W G. Grace and the remark
able performances OF that grand crckei'r on the
beginning o, his nifty first year. Indicate plainly
Tia, cricket can be pursued in middle life Its