16 SPORTING OF THE PAST 



Many of our old sports have died out. The King 

 is a thing of the past, and so is the Cock-pit. I am 

 savage enough to say I liked a prize-fight and a 

 cock-fight. When it was on the square, a prize- 

 fight was a most exciting scene. Yet both have 

 very wisely been put down, and athletic sports take 

 their place. 



I seldom see the fine old game of bowls played 

 now. Le gras, too, has gone out. 



Polo, which I think nothing of, is the rage 

 amongst gentlemen now. I see nothing in it what- 

 ever ; it is a wretched game for the lookers-on ; but 

 then it is the fashion. 



The fine old game of cricket is totally altered. 

 I shall have the cricketing world down on me, but 

 I care not. I think the present style of bowling 

 has entirely ruined the game as a game of science. 

 There are not many Graces in the present day, 

 nor were there many Wards of the olden time. 

 Cricketers of the present day look like so many 

 hogs in armour ; and where one man bowls toler- 

 ably over-handed, fifty who attempt it cannot bowl 

 at all — they are never on the spot. Consequently 

 the balls break anywhere. I would ten times rather 

 stand before the fastest man in England who is true 

 than I would to a middling fast one who is not. 

 I remember, many, many years ago, at the Royal 



