A day so beautiful should have a tongue to speak for itself, and tell its own story. Willis beautifully says, as he says much that he does say beautifully, that if ever "there has been one so beautiful, and if its genial sunshine and its gentle breezes went past unrecorded, the past should give back its unwritten."
But whilst the clans are gathering, and "the cry is still they come," a signal is given that all is in readiness for the commencement of the game. It acted with magic power upon that vast assembly—a few moments before it was an excited, vociferous crowd, swaying about here and there like rolling waves, but now suddenly becalmed; that tumultuous body, that sea of human beings, was as still, as voiceless, and as absorbed in expectation of mighty-things to come, as if the fate of an empire depended upon the muscle, the prowess, and the skill of those who were now being marshalled under their respective captains, " the way they were to go."
As Lord Byron says, in describing another popular scene:—
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"The lists are op'd, the spacious area cleared,
Thousands on thousands pil'd, are seated round—
Long ere the first loud trumpet's note is hear'd,
No vacant space for lated wight is found—
Here dons, grandees, but chiefly dames abound.
Hush'd is the din of tongues—as now advance
The cavaliers prepared for venturous deeds—
If in the noble game they shine to-day,
The crowds loud shout, and ladies lovely glance,
Best prize of better acts, they bear away,
And all their toils repay."}}}}
From time to time during the day, Dodworth's celebrated band discoursed most eloquent music, whilst the fluttering of gay banners in the breeze, the flags of America and England waving alongside each other; the display of the beauties of the game, and the beauties of the fairer part of creation, all combined to render the scene a most enchanting one.
The All-England Eleven having won the toss, sent the Twenty-two in first. Mr. Charles Viuten acted as umpire for the Twenty-two, and Mr. John Lillywhite for the other side. Mr. Baker, of Montreal, was obliging enough to act as one of the scorers. The Eleven filled their principal places in the fields as follows: Parr and Jackson bowlers; Lockyer, wicket-keeper; Carpenter point; Stephenson, cover point; and Diver long stop.
We need not give in this place the names of the Twenty-two, as they will be enumerated soon, in the progress of the game.
Lang and Waller, (the captain of the Twenty-two) were the first to take bat in hand.
