AND THE PRESENT DAY 17 



Clarence Cricket Club — alas ! defunct (I have the 

 button still) — which had its ground on Moulsey 

 Hurst, taking old Ward's wicket the third ball with 

 a round-hander. It was a bit of practice we were 

 having : I was a lad at the time, and the old gentle- 

 man had stuck half-a-crown on the centre stump 

 for me to bowl at : lie had no doubt played care- 

 lessly, wishing to give me a chance. He looked 

 surprised at seeing his wicket fall. He coolly put 

 them up again, and on the centre stump was a 

 sovereign. 



" There, young fellow," he said, " bowl at that" 

 I did bowl at that, till I was almost ready to drop, 

 but that never came into my pocket. Yes it 

 did, though, but not by taking his wicket. I shall 

 never forget the fine old gentleman, with his bat 

 nearly black with oil and age. Cricket still holds, 

 and always will deservedly hold, a high place in 

 our English sports. 



Boats and rowing have made immense strides for 

 the better ; the only thing I am disposed to cavil 

 at with regard to it is the training. I am inclined 

 to think the severe preparation they have to go 

 through to get fit, tells on the constitution of young 

 men who are not full grown and set. But training 

 now is so carefully looked to, that after all there 

 may not be the danger one imagines. One thing 



II B 



