FOREST AND STREAM. 



317 



London, and it is this club which at present gives laws to 

 the entire cricketing world. Our American ball playing 

 community could no more play their game under such a 

 badly worded and incomplete code of rules as at present 

 governs the game of cricket, than they could be governed 

 as a people by an unwritten constitution. Every cricketer 

 knows that in an ordinary match at cricket eleven players 

 figure on each side, and the eleven who obtain the greater 

 number of runs in two innings play, are the victors, and 

 yet there is not a written law of the game that requires this 

 stated number or innings. Again, when a run is made 

 through the failure of the long stop to siopthe ball, a "bye' 

 is scored, and yet not a rule in the code legalizes the scoring 

 of such a run. In several other respects, too, is the existing 

 code remarkably deficient. During the winter season a 

 study of the laws of the game, their true intent and mean- 

 ing, will be advantageous to our cricketing readers, and 

 we therefore shall give a series ot articles on the laws of 

 cricket during the ensuing three months which we trust 

 will be found alike instructive and interesting. 



— William Allison, of Attleboro' , Mass., ran a foot race 

 at Washington Park, Providence, P. I., against George 

 Forbes, of Woodstock, Canada, and came in an easy win- 

 ner. James Harris, of Woodstock, ran against John 

 Allison, of Fall River. Distance, 65 yards, for a prize of 

 $500. Harris won easily by 7 feet. 



—At New Haven, on December 20th, George Farren suc- 

 ceeded in accomplishing a most extraordinary feat in pedes- 

 trianism. He had to walk to win the wager, 100 miles in 22 

 hours, making the circuit of the large room on the Exchange 

 Hall 3,100 times. Mr. Farren is slightly built, weighs 

 about 125 pounds, is exceedingly muscular and wiry, and 

 about 25 years of age. Farren has walked against W eston's 

 fastest time, also against that of Smith, the English cham- 

 pion. 



BILLIARDS. 



— It is more than probable that a match will take place 

 between Garnier and Ubassy, before the latter leaves for 

 New Orleans. It is a mooted question who is the best 

 player. Success tells the tale. 



— At Chris O'Conner's billiard room, Union Square, the 

 other night, a gentleman amateur made 163 consecutive 

 caroms at the four-ball game. At no one time were the 

 balls within four inches of each other. This is billiards. 



— H. W. Collender, 738 Broadway, and a friend is pre- 

 paring an article for this journal on Billiard Tables; where 

 the slate or marble comes from, where the cloth is made, 

 and the great scarcity of ivory with such facts as we have 

 on hand and the information from Mr. Collender, we trust 

 to be able to prepare an interesting paper. 



—Francois Ubassy and Maurice Daly commenced play- 

 ing a series of six games for a purse of money at Chris. 

 O'Conner's billiard room on the 22d of Dec. The entire 

 match will consist of two thousand points, French game. 

 Ubassy appeared to be in good trim, and made several 

 shots which elicited loud applause. At one time he was 

 120 points ahead of his opponent. After upward of 150 

 points had been played Daly made the remarkable run of 

 99. He was very successful after this, and his next large 

 run of 29 gave him 315 points. Ubassy then ran 7 points 

 and made a bad miss. Daly ran 27, and won the game of 

 350 by 47 points. The remaining five games of the series 

 are to be played at the rooms of Maurice Daly and Chris. 

 O'Conner, alternately. The next occurs this evening at 

 the saloon of the former. 



—We are so crowded this week that we are obliged to 

 leave out a report of the gymnastic entertainment at 

 Burnhan's, Brooklyn. 



University, Va., December 20th, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



We have adopted the association rules as being the best 

 rough of those mentioned in Chas. W. Alcock's book of 

 foo?ball rules. The fifteen played against thirty-five on 

 yesterday evening— the game lasted for over an hour, both 

 sides played well, neither gaining any decided advantage 

 over the" other —it was finally decided a drawn game, as it 

 was too dark to continue it any longer. -Our game with the 

 Englishmen will come off on the 6th of January, 1874. 



J. C. McK. 



CHALLENGE TO THE AMERICANS. 



With the above heading, the London Field takes notice 

 of the challenge sent to the Forest and Stream by Mr. 

 Price offering to run English pointers and setters against 

 the same number of American dogs. " In consequence of 

 some remarks that appeared in an article on English set- 

 ters, recently published in an American paper, a challenge 

 has been forwarded by Mr. Lloyd Price to New J ork, of- 

 fering to run four English pointers and setters against the 

 same°number of American dogs. Sir Watkyn Wynn has 

 consented to find the ground on his fine Welsh moors, and 

 the challengers engage to pay the expenses incurred in sen- 

 ding the dogs to this .country. We have never heard of 

 anyAmerican dogs broken highly enough to compete with 

 our English celebrities except in the article alluded to; but 

 possibly there may be some such as are there described. In 

 any case they will have their work cut out, as just now 

 a very superior English team might be selected. Mr. Price 

 had previously announced his intention never to allow Belle 

 to run again; but, for the honor of his country, he would 

 no doubt rescind his resolution. Mr. Macdona had a very 

 fine young pointer at Birmingham (not for competition, 

 beino- the property of a judge), which is said to be almost 

 as good as Ranger; and if so, these two, with Belle and 

 Ginx's Baby from the Bala kennels, or possibly a still better 

 representative, these two kennels might fairly be considered 

 as equal to anything in the three kingdoms: We hope the 

 match may be" made, and that we may be there to see the 

 best team win." 



lit and Mrmnn. 



GOSSIP OF THE WEEK. 



BY T. R. THORPE. 



THE week just passed has been without any especial 

 incident. "The Parricide" at the Fifth Avenue, 

 which was not a parricide, the murder having been com- 

 mitted by another man, was evidently put upon the stage 

 as a make-shift until Mr. Daly could get something 

 better. It is a curious play, and causes a great deal of 

 speculation, among those who witness it, what it is all 

 about. A series of interesting scenes and tableaux, all 

 within easy reach of the manager, seems to have been 

 adopted, and adopted without regard to their relations to 

 each other; and then a dialogue is invented to make the 

 scenes and tableaux hang together, something like onions 

 on a string, but not without the onions' harmony of pur- 

 pose or legitimate connection. It is a great waste of theat- 

 rical resources to put such a "crude conglomeration" on the 

 stage. Are the playwrights to blame, o • the controlling 

 spirit of this handsome little theatre? 



As we are disposed to be critical, we desire to say a word 

 regarding that expensive "drop curtain." Red damask, 

 however rich, is out of place on this particular occasion. 

 The moment it descends it seems to cut the audience off 

 from all sympathy with the stage; in fact, it acts on the 

 mind as if a solid wall was intervened, cutting the theatre 

 in two parts, and making the auditorium appear small and 

 contracted; a most unpleasant sensation, and greatly inter- 

 fering with the intellectual comfort of the spectators. The 

 other evening, as the damask descended and finally rested 

 heavily on the stage, a lady in our hearing restlessly re- 

 marked to her friend, "How smothering hot this theatre 

 will be in summer." As for drop curtains, no improve- 

 ment can be suggested over the old style of a charming 

 landscape, made up of avenues of rich buildings, ' and 

 deeply retreating valleys and mountains. If well done, 

 the cool colors help to relieve the eye after the gas-lit scenes 

 of the play. Then the long lines of perspective open up 

 the stage and impress the observer with "roominess," which 

 is a pleasant idea when one is crowded in narrow seats and 

 compelled to look over high reaching and plume capped 

 bonnets. People who remember the drop curtain at Bur- 

 ton's Chambers street theatre will recall the pleasure it af- 

 forded when for the moment it shut out the actors and 

 scenery. It was a great piece of scenic painting, repre- 

 senting a Greek poet reciting his verses to a classic group 

 of Athenians — soldiers and maids. Running back was the 

 sweep of a harbor, the shores of which were indented with 

 bays and enlivened with craft; high mountains reaching 

 heavenward, their tops here and there charmingly lost in 

 fleecy clouds. One could study and reflect, and find food 

 for pleasant conversation while looking upon this most fas- 

 cinating dream; but a damask curtain instead, suggests 

 nothing but heat, glare, and expense without taste. In 

 August next, if that fiery red cloud maintains itself, when 

 it descends on a hot, summer roasted, gas-lit tormented au- 

 dience, its members will be made to feel that the fiery fur- 

 nace of Nebuchadnezzar, built for the roasting of Shad- 

 rach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, was, by comparison, a kind 

 of Arctic freezer. 



— Wallack's Theatre has made itself memorable by the 

 presentation of several of the old English comedies, which 

 give way for a new play, "adopted from the French" by 

 Mr. Boucicault, entitled "A Man of Honor." We dislike 

 to part with really legitimate plays, which are given at this 

 theatre better than they can be elsewhere presented, for 

 imitations of any kind ; but we suppose managers know 

 their business, and they are right to present what the peo- 

 ple apparently want. 



—The Union Square is crowded nightly to witness "Led 

 Astray." It is useless for the press to be moral beyond 

 public demand. So far, all newspaper censure cast upon 

 theatrical representations, the ultimate effect of which is 

 to familiarize the popular mind with amorous intrigue, has 

 had no other effect than to "fill the houses." 



— The Olympic, after several weeks' preparation, has 

 produced an entertainment especially for the holidays, 

 founded upon one of Mr. Dicken's most popular Christmas 

 stories, entitled "Gabriel Grub." We have every reason to 

 believe that it will be popular, and receive a liberal patron- 

 age, especially from the young folks. In this piece the fa- 

 mous Majiltons perform their startling antics, supposed to 

 be peculiar to goblins, and they certainly make a feature of 

 unusual excellence. 



— On Saturday night the Charity Amateur Dramatic As- 

 sociation, under the management of Mrs. Sheridan Shook, 

 gave "The Hunchback" and an entertaining farce entitled 

 "A Quiet Family," at the Academy of Music, for the ben- 

 efit of the Virginius sufferers. The idea of an amateur 

 dramatic performance, or any other dramatic performance 

 being a success at the great building known as Qe Acad- 

 emy of Music, is almost preposterous. The great genius 

 of Salvini never was able to warm up the stage, entirely 

 fill the house, nor command an enthusiastic audience. The 

 actors are so far from the spectators that they cannot be 

 heard with any pleasure, if heard at all. With all these 

 disadvantages, the Amateurs had really full seats, and 

 proved themselves competent to command attention. The 

 principle parts were admirably sustained by Messrs. Bird 

 Cordova, and Harry Leslie, and Mrs. Shook, Mrs. Good- 

 year, and Mrs. King. These amateur performances this 

 winter appear to be most frequent dwell sustained. 



Cincinnati, December 20, 1873. 



ROBINSON'S OPERA HOUSE. 



— The second week of Miss Leclercq, notwithstanding 

 the change of prices, has been unsuccessful.' "Fate" does 

 not take very well here. Aside from Miss Leclercq, no 

 particular merit was noticed on the part of any of the com 

 pany. She will be succeeded by Robert McWade next 

 week as Rip Van Winkle. 



wood's theatre. 



—Mr. John Collins, the comedian, has been at this place 

 all the week, playing to paying houses. Monday, Tuesday, 

 Wednesday, and Thursday, "Colleen Bawn." The rest of 

 the week was taken up by "Rory O'More." 



MOZART HALL. 



— The Sheridan and Mack Combination, in connection 

 with Sharpley's Minstrels, have made a success of the va- 

 riety business. 



PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE. 



—The old San Francisco Minstrels, with Backus at their 

 head, have drawn the largest houses of the week. W.L. 



MERCENARY TROOPS. 



THE system of hiring foreigners to defend a country 

 reached its climax in Italy. Every petty prince, every 

 sovereign count, every marquis holding under the emperor, 

 had his mercenaries. The free republics made a bargain 

 with some well known captain of Condottieri to do their 

 fighting for them for a certain annual sum. The profes- 

 sional soldiers thus enlisted had no desire to kill or be 

 killed, and grew to look on bloodshed as an unfortunate ac- 

 cident which now and then attended an encounter of two 

 bodies of heavy- armed cavalry. It was not until the French 

 and their Swiss auxiliaries were confronted by the Span- 

 iards and German spearmen, who disputed with them the 

 spoils of Italy, that Cisalpine warfare became a gory real- 

 ity. Even after the decay of feudalism, compulsory mili- 

 tary service, in Teutonic countries, at any rate, remained 

 the rule, but only for the defence of the realm. In Eng- 

 land, for instance, that "king's press," which Sir John Fal- 

 staff so abused for his private profit, was a mere muster of 

 militia against rebels or foreign raiders. The disorderly 

 rabble that the queen's proclamation called into the field 

 when the Spanish Armada coasted our shores was a sample 

 of the militia of the period, and was divided, on paper at 

 least, into two armies of great numerical strength. Lord 

 Macaulay's speculations as to the probable result of a con- 

 test between this unwieldy mob, without discipline, provi- 

 sions or officers, and the trained, veterans under the skilful 

 guidance of Parma, are moderate enough, and we can 

 hardly wonder that no prince of the sixteenth and seven- 

 teenth century was fond of relying on a force which the 

 ncessities of the age had outgrown. 



The palmy days of professional soldiering may be said, 

 roughly speaking, to have been contemporaneous with the 

 reigns of Tudor and Stuart. For then, abroad and at home, 

 the fighting man was regarded as a skilled artisan, whose 

 value in the labor market ruled high. Cromwell's splendid 

 army was maintained on the same footing, as to pay, which 

 James the First had fixed for the remuneration of his small 

 force engaged in the reconquest of Ulster. At a time when 

 the daily wages of a cloth weaver, or of a ploughman, sel- 

 dom exceeded sixpence, it is evident that the soldier's eight- 

 pence, with the contingent advantages incidental to mili- 

 tary arrangements, raised its recipient to a higher level of 

 comfort than the average. Louvois, the thriftily disposed 

 minister of sordid, splendid Louis the Fourteenth, first es- 

 tablished the custom of relying on armies that were, in- 

 deed, of great numerical strength, but systematically ill 

 paid and ill fed. Hogarth's grim caricature, in which the 

 starvelling French sentinel guards the gates of Calais, was 

 not such a very great exaggeration of the truth. — All tlie 

 Year' Bound. 



•*♦•*- 



Genuine Scotch Hotch-Potch.— An Englis h pape 

 gives the recipe of an "unsurpassable hotch-potch," ob- 

 tained from a cook in Oban, Scotland. It is as follows: — 



Take the best part of a neck of mutton, cut it small, bones 

 and all, and boil it until thoroughly well done, or until the 

 meat separates from the bones. Then remove the bones 

 and put in a quantity of green peas and broad beans at dis- 

 cretion, not to make the hotch-potch too thick; add a flavor 

 of onions and parsley, together with a fair proportion of 

 carrots, turnips, and kale" or other cabbage, taking care to 

 make the combination thick enough, but not so thick as to 

 deprive it of the character of a soup and convert it into a 

 pottage and boil the whole for eight or nine hours. If you 

 boil it for twelve, or even twenty hours, it will be none the 

 worse, but all the better. If there be any left, boil U up 

 again on the next day and it will be better than or the 

 first. The writer adds that there is a winter as wp 1 as a 

 summer hotch-potch, the absence of peas and lyctns and 

 the substitution of such other vegetables, pe> , ' oes alone 

 excepted, as may be got, forming the diffe*^ 06 between 



the two. 



«*~n»- 



The Lost Dog.— Did the reader ever. ° ee , a l ?*} do S in a 

 great city? Not a dog recently lost, Z 11 ot "J™ anxiety 

 and restless pain and bewilderment, ^ ° ne ™° had given 

 up the search for a master in desps>'> antl iiad become con- 

 sciously a vagabond? If so, he A s s ® en an animal that 

 has lost his self-respect, travellj? m tn ? gutters, slinking 

 along by fences, making acqyf^f & - dll * ty 5° y . S ' be " 



coming a thorough colard^ nd Q losin S evCT 7 admirable 

 characteristic of \ dog. >g » * ^at ev f ? n ."^bond- 

 age; but a do* that do%,ft?tt n i ,nTf ° d / 1S f^' 

 less a specimen of dpm , hzatlon aS Can be found m th e 

 „. s _ 8 .^ s ? ecimen ot de lich he has sought in vain for his 



thp low nf lik n> *vy*"^, perauuiu ana omcial, have 



taken Sie si-ni^ 06 "? ° f ?? - Hfe and the s Pi«t out of 

 xai^en me si^m come a do? of } eisure 



him. He ha r ^ 



NoTTCF J THE Benevolent.-A gold tooth-pick can be 

 hardly -' aS * suitable Hol iday present for a starving 



I 



/hy is Christmas like the bulk of the world's popula- 

 X? Because it is the great Mass of th* ™»n«^ 



great Mass of the people, 



