New-York tribune., 1921-09-11

~ AsEBALI. enthusiasts regard the
British national game of cricket as
~ lugubrious sport They decry it's long
drawn periods, its protracted strug
giles between bowler and batsman, as devoid
of spectacular thrills such as develop in base
ball when "Babe'' Ruth slams out q homer, for
instance, while grandstand and bleachers
writhe and sway under a shouting mob as
the invaluable Mr.. Ruth trots composedly
over his familiar route.
Nevertheless, as many Americans admit
there is something about cricket. There must
be Something" about game that has sur
vived in various forms and with varying for
tunes since the thirteenth century and is to-
day played in every country under the British
flag as we'll as on British soil by many
men of many races.
New York cricketers number thousands
That element, perhaps, to be referred to as
the haate ton of the sport, assemblies under
colors of the Metropolitan District Cricket
League and the New York Cricket Associa-
ton, but it's most enthusiastic and numerous
votaries in these parts are West Indian
negroes, of whom there are many hundreds
living in the greater city--crieketers to the
last man, and II not active participants in, at
least eagerly interested spectators Of, the
game.
Visitors to Van Cortlandt Park any Satur-
day or Sunday in the cricket season are GER
tain to find from one to four matches in
progress and gallery Of dark skinned spec
tators of both sexes following the fortunes of
their favorte elevens with critical concen-
tration.
American born negroes regard their cricket
playing blood brothers tolerantly but without
enthusiasm, being baseball fans to man
and utterly unimpressed with the ceremonious
and leisurely forms of the British sport
"Ahd lax to know what dey gets outer
dis yah OF crcket?" remarked one American
African, as he watched West Indian team
at play.
"Ah knows what dey doesn't nevah get"
grinned his companion. "Dey doesn't nevah
get }roo."
West Indian natives play the game with
punctilious regard for its approved forms and
cerenonics--preciselya as it is played by Brit
ish colonials. In fact, these negro enthusi-
asts may be considered rather more rigid OBJ
servers Of form than their white compatriots
Of the wicket. Cricket fannels, striped blaz-
ers and caps-the latter with club insignia
worked in them-are reminiscent Of English
county cricket fields, while the feminine gal
lery presents q gay ensemble OF color In
afternoon gowning and multi-hued millinery
In important matches a striped marquee
forms the center of social interest, because,
of course, there's the tea interval to be con-
sidered. Tea is served in the marquee wher-
ever cricket matches are played in England
or In British possessions, obviously tea
must be served when cricket is played else
where. The tea interval is respected on
cricket club grounds at Port au Spain, Trim
dad; st. MichaeIs Field, Bridgetown, Bar
bados; st. Georges Grounds, Hamilton, Ber-
muda, and therefore perforce in Van Cort-
landt Park, U. S. A.
Persons inclined to scoff at the leisurel-
ness of cricket have ere now demanded to
know what relation tea bears to the game,
whereunto the cricketer might we'll retort
with remarks anent pop, peanuts and base
ball, but he doesn't. To him it seems that
the tea interval is as much cricket as is toss
ing for innings Everybody knows that w
u. Grace, RanJitsinhj, Fry, Jessop--aI the
historic stars of British cricket-knocked off
for tea at d, no matter where the game stood
bosanquet Australian inventor of the 'goog-
iy'' ball, productive of as heated a contro-
versy among cricketers as was the 'sspitballv
where devctees of the diamond foregather.
and Laver, of Sydney, to-day held the
googly's" most noted exponent, insist on tea
wnen it's tea time, SO there you are. No use
arguing over q thing that just is and always
has been. Anyway, they serve tea in Van
Cortlandt Park cricket matches, and it is
then that one may hear the social chit-chat of
the game.
s'Heah comes Lillian" excaims an Amaxo-
isian young matron as a pale blue roadster
swings silently to the fields edge. Lillian, a
slnuous. coffee-colored beauty, yelled and