23
The visit of our English friends Mr. Chairman, will inaugurate a new state of things among us—it is destined to begin a new era in our cricket life and experience.
In the first place, it has afforded an opportunity to our young Cricketers to see the game played, as they have never seen it before, secundum artem; it has induced many to go and see the game for themselves, that had only heard it from others—that had heard of it by the hearing of the ear, but now their eye hath seen it, and they understand in some measure, the qualifications requisite to make a good player.
In short, the visit of our friends has done much to popularize the game, and to establish it here in the affections of the people as firmly as it is in England, making it the great game of the age in which we live.
It is but a limited view of the event we are now celebrating to confine it to a mere social event.
This, to be sure, is a very pleasing aspect to view it in, but it may be contemplated and ought to be regarded and appreciated in another and equally important aspect.
It is not enough for us to think that these gentlemen, the "All England Eleven," the finest proficients of the game in the world, are here to-day and will be gone to-morrow, and to leave behind them no traces that they have been here.
Oh, no! They will leave evidence behind them of having been among us by the marked improvement that will be immediately seen in our play, and by the happy results that consequently must follow, creating and diffusing far and near, a popular taste for healthy out-door muscular amusements.
Our people have hitherto been too much a hard-working people—taking too few holidays, devoting too little time to health-giving, joy-inspiring, open-air recreations.
Who but believes that the public well being, and the stamina of future generations must be benefitted if we can only succeed in bringing about an increased interest in all manly athletic exercises, but particularly the game of Cricket; that affords above all other games, a greater number of opportunities than any other known game, to combine an agreeable and profitable occupation of mind and body at the same time.
We have heard of late a great deal in commendation of Cricket, but there is one peculiar characteristic I venture to say, many who are now listening to me have never heard.
