ARM-CHAIR CRICKETERS.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 114, 10 November 1900, Page 3 (Supplement)

ARM-CHAIR CRICKETERS.

One particular County Committee some years ago was (says the Westminister, xn an interesting article on County Cricket Committees) famous for the fact that it scarcely contained a single man who, stretching the definition to its most charitable extent, could be called a cricketer. Nevertheless (one might perhaps say by consequence) thef Committee ruled the captain of the side with a rod of iron. Indeed, when playing away from home he was wont to ask fox and receive continuous instructions by telegraph. Ouce in an out-match his most valuable professional got drunk. The dutiful captain instantly acquainted his Committee with the fact by wire, and asked for orders. Expediency and not principle was the guiding star of that Committee, and they telegraphed back: "Wir6 state of game." With these orders he complied, and informed his masters that their opponents had made a long score. Instructions were accordingly flashed back: "Let him bat and report the matter." The" drunken > professional proceeded to the wicket and actually made 79 runs. He had a long experience both of run-getting and of being drunk, and he had tkeref ore_ no difficulty in consolidating the two habits. On return home, however, he was summoned to answer for his sins before the Committee, several members of which availed themselves of the opportunity to deliver orations. The professional admitted the charge, but when the long flow of talk had ceased he begged leave to speak. He looked curiously and perhaps contemptuously round upon the men who were the representatives of what ed to be a cricket committee, and proceeded ( to question the Chairman. "I was drunk, was I, sir?" "You have already admitted it, and let me tell you once more " "Quite so, sir. And 'ow many runs did "I believe you scored seventy edd ; but at the same time remember " "ISxactly, sir. Now, 'ere's my question —Which of you genolmeh ever scored seventy odd, drunk or sober?" The reply was not forthcoming, though loquacity was a itrong feature of that committee.

The Manchester Guardian's London correspondent has heard that the Queen meditates the charge of a number of children orphaned as a result of the present campaign. The scheme of mainteiv ance has, it is reported, been devised by the Princess Beatrice, but its main features were suggested by Her Majesty herself.