PLAYING THE GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

PLAYING THE GAME.

LORD HAWKE'S GOOD ADVICE. Loan Hawse, famous as the captain of the Yorkshire cricket eleven, appeared recently in a new role. His lordship had been prevailed upon to give a lecture to j the members of the Mansion Parish Church Guild. ■ Taking as his " text" the words " Playing the game," Lord Hawke, in his characteristic, breezy, forceful, sportsmanlike ffashion, delivered -what was in effect a? very powerful sermon appealing especially, to young men. Lord Hawke had prepared his address, and in apologising for the manuscript, he said : " When the ' Tyke fund* was promoted in my honour a gentleman wrote a little eulogy about me, and he was kind enough to say— doubt with very great —that one of my faults was that I was not an orator. 1 do not profess to be one, and 1 don't think many cricketers are. No master. I thought. I would not weary you to-night by trying to make a speech ; I have spent some time, in trying to write out what I may call a lecture." There was one rather fanny incident. Lord Hawke had been delivering an obviously earnest and very strong condemnation of betting, and his next subject was the importance of a good temper. He advised the. man who was out first ball to take his dismissal smilingly, and to say to the bowler, "I'll bet you don't do it" next time." The colloquialism apparently had no special meaning,to Lord Hawke, and he was quite surprised by the laughter of the audience, to whom the use of the word. " bet" seemed strangely illogical. * He claimed as the superiority, of cricket over golf or tennis that in cricket a man played not for himself but for his side. Loyalty to a captain was the first elementary principle of " playing the game." The morale of no team was benefited by its members going about "grousing" that their captain was no good. So long as he was captain, a part of playing the game lay in giving him credit for doing his best. Unselfishness was also a great feature. The early Australian elevens gave us a fine lesson of co-operative cricket, and the success of Yorkshire, though they had fine batting and magnificent bowling, was due to their fine fielding. Fine fielding brought about the esprit do corps of a side. It meant that the eleven was a happy family, each one striving to do his best to help the others. As an example of unselfishness Lord Hawke specially mentioned Lees Whitehead when he was twelfth man, masseur, cobbler, and general baggage man. He .shone not for himself, but for the good he did to others. (Applause ) It was also necessary to play the game off th'j field as well as on. "It is sad to think," his lordship continued, "that our Yorkshire grounds will no longer- see John Tunicliffe. No one can know what a righthand man he has been to me. Faithful, true, and upright to a degree, I am proud to think that I have been connected with one who has ever held honour at its highest point. (Applause.) I can truly say that he has ever been a worthy example of everything that is good and noble. Let,us hope that the example he has shown may continue to bear fruit. (Applause.) I have tried to set an example of playing the game on foreign tours, and I believe that everywhere where my sides have been they have won credit. Off and on the field they have respected themselves and each other, put on no ' side,' and were, therefore, popular. The Englishman who looks on the colonial or foreigner as a bounder does not deserve the name, but unfortunately that is an individual not unknown. Foster the sportsmanlike spirit, and whether success or failure attend your efforts in the sport, you will attain popularity and respect, and be able to .consider that you have fairly and squarely played the game." Lord Hawke also urged them to accept cheerfully the decisions of the umpire. Smoking and betting were then touched upon. In regard to the former, he counselled moderation for men and abstinence for youths under 18. With reference to betting, he said they could not prohibit it in a free country, but it was their duty to minimise it as much as possible, and show to their poorer brethren the absolute folly of it; many homes had been made unhappy and many men had gone to the dogs through it. It was not playing the game. "You fathers of families," he said, "are disgracing yourselves if you bet; you youngsters are not doing your duty if you bet, for you should be saving money for your old age. You may win sometimes, but as sure as eggs are eggs the day will come when you will be ' broke to the world.' You will have no one to pity you, and no one to blame but yourselves. Let me pray of you do not bet, save your money, and put it in the bank." He also urged them to control their tempers, and always try to be kind, gentle, and considerate. Anger never paid. "If your temper should break loose, don't hesitate to apologise," he added. " Playing the game forges a bond of fellowship without which life is not worth living." Cheerfulness and unselfishness in the discharge of duty were also enjoined, and touching an even deeper note, Lord Hawke said, The commands of the great Captain of us all deserve the same implicit obedience as those of our earthly leader."