Punch (85.1883)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[August 11, 1883.

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET.

(A further Extension of the British Umpire.)

Th i: growing tendency to give an International character to all
friendly athletic contests having decided the Committee responsible
for the recent new table of “ the Amended Laws of Cricket ” to send
a draught of the document to the sporting representatives of several
leading Continental and other nations, the following satisfactory,
and in some measure important modifications and suggestions have,
up to date, been received by the Secretary. It is understood that
the Committee will at once resume their labours, with a view to
putting the new material, as far as is possible, into some practicable
shape, so that the great, though hitherto exclusively English game
may at length possess a truly cosmopolitan character:—

French.

(From the “ General-en- Chef” of “ Le Trou-blue Club de Jeu de
Cricquette ” at Asnieres.)

1. Les wicquettes shall be six-feet high, and one and one-half' of a
foot broad. This will make them visible to the bowlsman, and be a
protection to the “ keepere.”

2. The “keepere” shall stand behind the “wicquettes” in a
sentry-box.^ When there is a commotion, he may leave this. But,
on the cry of ‘ ‘ Play ! ’ ’ reaching his ear from the gentleman umpire, he
shall retreat again for protection into the box, and wait “the bye.”
Then he shall emerge.

3. The dress of the batsman is, for the legs and chest, iron. There
should be a casque, also, on the head, of this metal. In the jeu Anglais,
which is played with a boulet de canon of excessive circumference,
this will give confidence.

4. If the weight of the protective armour produces on the batsman

a regrettable embarrassment, he must, when desirous of making the
run, have recourse to the “ drive.”

5. The drive should be the drive for six. This will be in a light
omnibus, and the batsman can take with him the bowlsman, the
keepere, M. le Long-on, Points, Squarr-leg, and the gentleman
umpire. When the field is large, this excursion is enjoyable, and
mounts the score.

6. For the “French-game,” the ball is not so terrible, being of
flannel, gaily coloured, enclosing air, and may be approached, even
by the sip), with cheerful elan. When the ball is thus innocent, the
dress of the batsman may correspond. He can wear pantalons of
satin, spike shoes, epaulettes, and a crimson “top-at.”

7. If the batsman encounter difficulty in his effort to beat the ball,
thus light and of agreeable appearance, to a desirable distance, he
may pursue it furiously with successive strokes to the quarter he
has selected for his “ it”

8. When the gentleman umpire perceives that by this process of
Xiroducing the “it,” there is nothing left of the ball wherewith to
continue the Match further, he will rush to the scoresman and loudly
proclaim, “Ho ball! ”

9. This proclamation of the “ Ho ball” to the scoresman concludes
the Match, which is now said to be an “over.”

Russian.

{Notes from the Ledger of the Imperial Romanoff Cricketing Society.

1. The wickets must not be pitched on the field selected for the
Match, but somewhere else, known only, the night before, to the Chief
of the Police, the Governor of Moscow, and, in special cases, to the
Metropolitan of Cracow.

2. If the entire ground should be blown up in the middle of a
game, the out Eleven lose their innings.

A LIGHT POIHT OF LAW.

The Late Dr. Forbes Wins-
low, the well-known authority
upon mental ailments, once
wrote a very excellent book,
oalled Light, wherein the
title-subject was treated ex-
haustively. A few days ago,
in a case relative to the copy-
right in photographs, the claim
of the Sun to derive profits
from the sale of his own Sun-
pictures was seriously argued,
on the score that the luminary
in question might be considered
their “Author!” Had this
point been decided in favour of
the centre of the Solar System
a dozen years ago, the learned
writer might have found
materials for an additional
chapter to one of his volumes.
But it is probable that, in deal-
ing with it, he would have
discarded Light in favour of
his standard work upon The
Obscure Diseases of the Brain.'

Among the remarkable in-
stances of escape during the
terrible earthquake at Ischia
were those of Prince Badini
and his son, who were playing
cards, the entire audience at
the theatre, and the actors,
among whom was a comedian,
one Petito, in a Punchinello's
costume. Facts worth noting
by the Pharisaical denouncers
of cardplaying, theatrical en-
tertainments, and actors.

Mrs. Ramsbotham says that
her Cousin, who has long held
the dignified post of Reporter
of his native town, has recently
been made a Debenture of the
Inner Temple.

A PARALLEL.

(“ Ilisiory repeats itself A—Old
Saw.)

“ When the pursuit reached
Ulundi Kraal, Cetewayo fled
hurriedly. He tried to mount a
horse, hut was unsuccessful. He
then fled on foot and unclothed
for about a mile and a half, when
he was spied by some of Usibepu’s
men, who stabbed him twice.”—
Daily Telegraph.

A memory ? Hay, fresh re-
cord ; yet it seems
Like reminiscence in the world
of dreams.

Strangely familiar, shadow-
ishly like—•

Those feet that fly, those cruel
spears that strike,

That horse unmastered!

Keenly these recall
That hour of horror when the
tragic fall

Of the brave boy, Imperial
France’s trust,

Smote sharply as the assegai’s
cold thrust

On English hearts. Pathetic
parallel!

As fell the gallant Prince, so
later fell,

In the same Afric wilds, the
swart-faced King,

Those spearsmen’s lord and
victim. Time’s swift wing
Brings quick reverses in its
mighty range,

But seldom one more rapid or
so strange.

A Fair Day’s Wages for
a Fair Day’s Work.—How
is the Working Man to get
that when it rains ?

Misnomer.—The Army of
Occupation in Egypt seems to
have nothing to do.

PUNCH’S FANCY PORTRAITS.-No. 148.

“ His Excellency’ Don Ferdinanuo
Can’t very well no more than he can do.”

Old Couplet.

M. FERDIKAKD DE LESSEPS.