Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-27
GOLF HAS MADE
GREAT INROADS
ON CRICKET GAME
Opinion Is That Were 1t Not
for Royal and Ancient
Pastime Other S p ort
Would Boom.

While nearly all are agreed that there is
something wrong with the great national
game of cricket, says Garden G. Smith
in Golf Illustrated, there is much diversity
Of opinion as to what 1t is, and as to how
the decay is to be arrested. So far as one
can gather. the best opinion is that the
game, although somewhat changed in
character, owing to new conditions. has
suffered no deterioration and is still, in
Its highest manifestation, as attractive as
ever to those who play It However this
may be, there can be no doubt that, even
at its best. cricket has lost much of its
attraction as game to watch. and 1t is
the loss OF income consequent upon the
decay of public interest that is chiefly
causing anxiety.
In a sense, of course, cricket is suffer-
ing from the Nemesis which sooner or
later overtakes all sports that are run as
commercial enterprises. The moment that
the financial basis of a sport is laid open
to gate-money 1t loses it's independence.
1t becomes a business and ceases to be a
sport, and 1t can only survive by supply
ing what its patrons demand.
But, although cricket may be slower to
watch, there are many other causes at
work for the falling OFF in the attendance
at big matches. In the last 10 or 15 years
there has been great revival in all
branches of athletics, and the public taste
in all branches of recreation can now be
gratifed in many directions that were
formerly closed. 1t is not too much to
say that thousands OF young men who
formerly were quite content to look on at
cricket matches are now engaged in the
active pursuit of some athletic sport. The
enormously improved facilities for travel
and the variety and cheapness OF indoor
entertainments have also greatly dimin-
ished the attractions of the cricket
ground.
But of the manifold causes of the wan
ing interest IN crtckst-and we are in
elined to think that It is the chief one
is the rivalry OF golf. It may note have
had any appreciabls effect on the gate
receipts, because in England the classes
that pay their sixpences and shillings to
see cricket and football matches have not
yet taken up golf. But the Scottish game
has struck a much more vital blow at
cricket than the faithless crowd which
has withdrawn its patronage. That after
all, Is only a financial loss, and IL the
game is sound at heart It cannot per-
manently inJurs It. The evil that golf
has wrought on cricket is that It Is at
tracing scores and scores of young men
of the very class that used TO continue
their cricket after leaving school and col
lege. Golf is thus draining the very life
blood of the English game. and II the
supply OF irst-class amateurs runs short. |
as 1t appears to be doing, the future of |
county cricket is black indeed.
But the evil does not end here, A verv |
large proportion of the subscriptions 10 |
the county and other leading cricket clubs |
has been derived from members and /
others, who, although unable to play any |
longer themselves, yet continued to sun |
port the club and game. But these
superannuated crieketers have found that
they are not too old to play golf, and also
that II Is much better TO play golf than
watch cricket They have also discovered
that golf costs a good deal OF money
ana In cutting down expenses to meet the
outlay 1t Is not to be wondered
at II the cricket subscription. from which
they derive little or no benefit, Is one OF
the first items TO be eliminated.
Although some Of the reasons abovs
given by Mr.. Smith. such as gate receipts.
40 not apply to Philadelphia, vet II is
nevertheless q fact that golf has nade
great tnroads on cricket In this CITY
Many a young player, who would nave
taken up cricket had golf been out OF ths
way, has passed up cricket for the royal
and ancient game. Cricket has suffereS
q great deal ia Philadelphia In recent
years from this cause, and IL Is ilxelv
hat It Win suffeF stilI more IN the future