"HOWS THAT, UMPIRE."

New Zealand Mail, 3 December 1896, Page 45

"HOWS THAT, UMPIRE."

I n the crosvd assembled round the ropes at a first-class cricket match the man svith a very vaitlie idea of the rules of the came often to the foie, and his remarks tire cenei'ally svorth listening to. The other day Lord Hawke, captain of the Yorkshire team, hit a ball clean over the pavilion into an adj.-scent meadow, where it sva~ lest. " That's wot. I calls ’aid lines,” remarked an individual from the country —“' very’ard lines !” ; Jiosv so’” demanded a bystander. • I don’t see it at all.” “ Woy V* out, ain’t: !” went on the first speaker. “ That’s ’ow sve alius [days at wliiiain ! Lose t’ ball an’ ser cot! Lord ’Awke’s jilayed cricket lane eneaf to knosv that, sure-ly. ’ Hosvevei'. his lordship evidently did not knosv it;, for he added another hundred runs after that. On another occasion a dispute arose between two .spectators as to what, constituted obstruction of the Held. *• Look here,” said one, * sve svili suppose Grace is battin.tr. A fast ball rises pretty sharp Mom the pitch. Ti Irvine a late cut lie eets t .<> far back and hits the svieketkeeper with the bat. I should call that obstructine the li' Id !” The other was by no moans convinced, ami eventnally the disputants decided to la3 r the ease before a well-known professional svho happened to tie [»;i -= .sin-_r on his way to the pH v i 1 i ' -n. “There!’’ ejaculated the inquisitive one. after stat iu.tr hi ease, "in t hose circumstances, what would it Mo ?” ihe professional rubbed his chin thouehfidly, and replied <* ,v cracked head for the svicket-keeper, I siiould say.”