The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-25

true, shows more signs of care than
baseball field, but the brilliant, tableiike
appearance of a first-class ground is the
result of years of care, and compare
lively little daily attention is required
for the purpose of keeping the pitch and
the outtielGing in suitable condition.
Then, travelling expenses are much low
or. Distances are short, and hotel
charges, when necessarily incurred, light.
On the other hand, with good weather
a large gate is the rule at county
match. so that, if carefully administered,
a clubs finances are usually in a salts
factory condition, making possible hoeral
encoura cement of players. 1t might De
added that the net profits of a season DO
not go into the pockets Of Shareholders
but are applied to improving the grounds
and other purposes of like character.
The county professional players are the
elite of the great army of men who hnd
it impossible to turn their mastery Oh
cricket to account as means OF ilVell-
mood The little county of Nottingham
''Notts," as it is called-has been a pro-
life producer of that type of profession
al who seeks engagements as coach IN
private clubs and schools. Some clubs
and schools employ two or more COACH
es, according to the need for thelr
services. and English professionals are IN
demand in the colonies and in foreign
salaries and usually reap large harvest
of tips and douceurs from members Who
engage them for private half hour les
sons before the net. Their regular dutles
are to look after the ground and to see
to the training of the younger members
and teach them correct style OIL batting.
Occa sionally they play in matches lot
the club to which they are engaged, ana
in such cases the fact of their having
taken part is indicated in the ofhclal
records by the words land ground, after
the name Of their club. The clup or
school professional must be a GOOD
medium pace bowler, and an intelligent
man, but not necessarily great per-
former Some colonial clubs pay pro-
fessionaTs expenses from England at the
opening of the season and back at the
end, paying him a salary in the mean
time. A benefit is sometimes given to
popular club professional, but as many
clubs-those which play in the parks
here for instanCe-are unable to charge
a gate fee to spectators, the plan is
merely to have a number of tickets
printed and sold to all who care to
purchase.
So much is cricket an institution, as
Tom Brown says, in England that every
boys school of any size has one or more
junior masters whose sole recommenda-
ton for the posts they occupy is that
they have shone in their college elevens.
The writer knows man who had hope
lessly failed in his efforts to overcome the
obstacles in the shape of examinations
which bar the way to a professional
career but who one day was success
full applicant for desirable position as
junior master in large school in Eng
land. His cricket did it.
Although gentleman may join the
ranks of the professional cricketers with
out any greater loss of social standing
than would be involved in the taking of
a corresponding step on this side the dis
tinction between the gentleman and the
player is religiously adhered to in the
cricket records. Grace ranks as an anna