Punch (102.1892)

254 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [May 28, 1892.

THE (POLITICAL) LADY-CRICKETERS.

(A Colloquy near the Nets.)

infinite variety. "Wonderful, all the same, what perversely bad hits

he will persist in making1, at times. Does things now and again

you 'd think a school-girl with a bat would be ashamed of.

First A. B. Ah, by the way, what do you think of these here
[At the meeting of the Women's Liberal Federation the following opera- | new.fangled Lady-Cricketers ?

know. I've seen some
tremendous sloggers
at the nets make a
wonderful poor show
when between wickets
with a watchful
" field " round 'em.

Second A. B. {ivith
candour). Ah, quite
so, of course. Every-
one must have noticed
that. With a demon
bowler in front of yer
sending 'em down like
hundred-tonners, and

SlS^dT'SrVor^ *~» A- S- (**«* Ask the Old >TJn what he thinks

Committee that thev shall promote the enfranchisement of women, including 01 ®fn' . - ., , ,, ,., , , „ . , , . ...

the local and parliamentary votes for all women, who possess any of the -First A. B. Ah! can t abide em, can he t And yet he likes the
legal qualifications enabling them to vote, among the other Liberal reforms Ladies to look on and applaud, and even to field for him at times,
now before the Country, whilst not making it a test question at the Second A. B. Yes; the Ladies have been good friends of his, and
approaching Election."] " now he'd bar them from the legitimate game. 1 fancy it's put

their backs up a bit,
eh?

Fit st A.B. You bet!
And it do seem ray-
ther ongrateful like,
don't it now? Though
as fur as that goes I
don't believe Cricket's
a game for the petti-
coats.

Second A. B. Nor me
neither. But bless
yer they gets their
foot in m everything
now; tennis, and golf,
and rowing and cetrer.
And if you let 'em in
at all, for your own
pleasure, I don't quite
see how you 're going
to draw the line arbi-
trary like just where
it suits you, as the
Grand Old Slogger
seems to fancy.

First A. B. No;
and, if you ask me,
I say they won't stand
it, even from him.
" No," says they,
"fair's fair," they
says. '' All very well
to treat us like vo-
lunteer scouts at a
country game, or at
the nets, returning
the balls whilst you
slog and show off. But
I when we want to put
on the gloves and pads,
and take a hand at the
bat in a businesslike
way, you boggle, and
hint that it's degra-
ding, unsexing, and
all that stuff."

Second A. B. Ah,
that won't wash. If
it unsexes 'em to bat,

S cfE n e — " At the
Nets" on the St.
Stephen's Cricket
Ground. "The
Champion'''' has
been practising in
the interval, prior
to playing in the
Great Match of the
Seaso7i," Unionists
v. Home-Rulers."
Various admiring
Volunteers of both
sexes have been
" scouting'''for him.

First Admiring
Bystander. By Jove,
that was a slashing
hit! What powder he
puts into it, eh ? At
his age too!

Second A. B. Oh,
the Grand Old ' Un |s
in great form this
season. Like 'tother
W. G., who's just
back from the An-
tipodes and, at forty-
four, can knock up
his sixty - three in
sixty - five minutes.
There he goes again,
clean over all the
"scouts" !

First A. B. Oh! he
gives 'em plenty to
do, " in the country."
Keeps 'em on the
shif t, eh ?

Second A. B. Bless
you, yes. Why a hit
like that, run out,
would be worth seven
to his side — in a
match!

First A. B. {know-
ingly). Ah, but I no-
tice that in a match

these tremendous W^jM/MW/^W^M^^/^l^^^^^^^il'IMffi ^^^^^Mii^SSMSSSSIiM^B^^^^^ ''' unsexes 'em to

swipes don't always ji scout. And if the old

come oil', don'tcher- I mmiMlffU I liffimlB ' cricketing gang didn't

GRACE-LESS!

Nursery Governess. "Now, Ethel, say your Grace, like a good little Girl 1"
Ethel. "Shan't !"

Nursery Governess. "Oh, Ethel! Don't you know it's very Naughty not to be
Thankful, and for such a nice Pudding too ?"

Ethel. "I would be thankful, but "—(much distressed) —" I can't Finish it I "

want the Ladies be-
tween wickets, why,
they shouldn't have
let 'em into the field,
I say. Strikes me
Lady Carlisle '11
show 'em a thing or
two. That "operative
mandatory resolu-
tion " of hers means
mischief — after the
next big match any-
how. Ladies wait,
and wait a bit more,
wait in truth till the

a blarmed cat of a wicket-keeper on the grab just at your back, I day after to-morrow." Yes ; but they won't wait for ever,
not to mention a pouncer at point, it puzzles the best of them to First A. B. Not they. Why, look yonder! There's one of 'em
get 'em away, though "in a position of greater freedom and less ' in full fig. Lady-Cricketer from cap to shoes—short skirt, knickers,
responsibility," practising at the nets, to wit, with only the ground- j belt, blouse, gloves, and all the rest of it. D'ye think that sort
bowler and a few soouts fielding, they may punish 'em properly. | means volunteer scouting only ? Not a bit of it. Mean playing the

First A. B. Ah, well, one must allow that the Champion plays the game, Sir, and having regular teams of their own.
game right away all the time. : Second A. B. Look at her! She's a speaking to the Grand Old

Second A B. Yes. Age cannot wither him, nor custom stale his j Champion himself !