Evening journal., 1899-10-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
International Cricket

they are not. the crushing defeats re-
cently sustained by the Gentlemen
cricketers Of Philadelphia, at the hands
of the Gentlemen cricketers OF Eng
land might perhaps, be deemed a
easus heli, a sufficient cause for the
straining OF the present extraordinary
amicable CD relations existing be-
tween England and the United States
But, happily, as the world is consti-
tuted, and as international cricket
matches merely serve to give the gem
tlemen actively engaged an enjoyable
time and society the opportunity to dis
port itself, we can safely assume that
no serious results, other than fit Of
the blues on the part of the members
OF the home team will follow the Sc
ries Of international cricket matches
recently played at Philadelphia and
New York.
When we recall the poor showing Of
the Philadelphia cricketers, the gloom
of which showing was only relieved by
one or two CLEANS Of light Cfor in
stance, the sterling batting and fielding
of Graves, Jr) we are reminded Of the
very sensible observations made by
one Of the English team: Il must con-
fess, said he, Eve are all very disap-
pointed. We thought the American
ericketers would have given us a bet
ter, harder fight Their fielding has
been anything but first-class, and some
OF their misses have been flrst-class
muffs. You see, we Englishmen have
always been given to understand that
If there is one thing Americans can do
lit is to catch balls, swift balls, hard
balls, any kind of balls. This team
idoes not impress us with their ability
to do this thing with such wonderful
skill. Catches of the swiftest kind have
been missed, dropped, and passed. And
whilst we have, on honor, to believe
lall that we hear, and act accordingly.
yet it is difficult for us to play serious
lly with anything so evidently not
equal to the occasion" So much. then.
for the professional opinion of one of
the English cricketers. 1t may be said,
perhaps with great truthfulness, that
the latest English team Of cricketers
was altogether and unnecessarily too
strong a team for American exponents
lof the game. And it may be said, per
haps with equal truth, that cricket is
essentially England's game, and that
Americans can no more beat English.
men at their own game than can one
beat a gambler at his own particular
game. We grant that there exists a
great deal Of truth in all such suppos
ititious reasonings. But there are othei
and all-important reasons for the re
cent amateurish playing of the Gentle.
p men cricketers of Philadelphia and
New York Wherein, then, lies the
cause or causes Of the aforesaid anna
teurish exhibition? Perhaps the ma
: jor cause is traceable to the insuffi-
} cient amount of practice acquired
3 just prior to a series Of international
! matches-by the home teams. The
desultory or perfunctory practice in
2 Idulged in at such a period does not al
2 all conduce to a victorious termina.
, tion. Another and all-important factor
encouraging defeat is the unaccount
4 able and sudden cracking up OF
e breakdown, at an early stage of theii
e cricketing existence, of some of this
J. country's most prominent players. Fol
4 instance, we missed the presence in tn,
field ofMr. George S. Patterson (theRanj
t itsinhji of America) and perhaps onl
t of the most graceful, brilliant and con
d sistent bats that ever captained
Philadelphia eleven, or defended
a Philadelphia wicket Wherefore, then
o tAe absence or retirement from tn
cricket world of Mr.. George S. Patter
t son? 1t cannot surely be that this gen
v tleman has grown too old for tn
e game" for in point of years age sit
= lightly enough upon his shoulders. In
n deed, to have witnessed Mr.. Patterson
S handling of the willow-we refer Il
+ that gentleman's play of but a fe0
slyears ago-one would have imagine
d that he was a cricketer of whom
o might well be said age cannot withs
It nor custom stale the infinite variety
o of his play. And yet. the crease. tina
y spot familiar and which knew hiI
i once, knows him no more. We repeai
'e with Hamlet there are more thing
y lin heaven and earth than are dream
of in our philosophy" Perhaps tn
premature retirement from the crickC
world of Mr.. George S. Patterson
~ one of 'eml At the same time, let u
= state that all such retirements, retire
~ ments ere the sun of their usefulnes
~ has fully set, are to be greatly regret
al ted, in that it seems to accentuate whs