Page:The international cricket match.djvu/39

21 an agreeable and innocent recreation of mind and body at the same time, than by the noble game of Cricket; and happily for society, this seems to be the popular and prevailing opinion, thereby keeping men from worse occupations, and places where idlers "most do congregate."

From the earliest historical period, we find some kind of game played with a ball, a favorite and generally practised gymnastic exercise. Homer gives us an account of one in his "Odyssey." The young Spartans, Athenians, and Romans played ball, as their favorite and common recreation. With the students of France, Germany and Italy, during the middle ages, it continued a popular amusement, great skill being appreciated, and sometimes honored.

There have been various games of ball, known from the earliest periods; the four that have come down to us, as most in favor, are and

At present, we have only to do with. To give my hearers therefore some insight into its history, I will state that the best authorities think that it takes its origin from an ancient game called club ball, bats being used in that game.

The name Cricket is probably derived from an Anglo-Saxon word Cricce, signifying a staff or bat.

The name Cricket, as given to this game, does not appear to have been used before the year 1685. During the next century, (1700,) the name is frequently mentioned in the ballads of the day.

To be played well, it is a game requiring the union of bodily strength, activity, great nerve, and good temper; powers of mind to determine quickly what is to be done, and in what manner it can be done best and safest.

About the year 1786, cricket began to attract attention in England, but during the present century, it has grown so wonderfully in favor with all classes—with gentlemen and professional players, as they are known there, these terms including all sorts and conditions of men, of whatever degree they may be in society, who play the game—that now there is not a village or town, without one or more Cricket Clubs.

The popularity and fascination of the game in England has extended to our shores. By way of keeping up pleasant recollections of "their Fatherland," and the pastimes of their youth, several gentlemen at New York from England, associated themselves in 1838, under the title of the St. Georges's Club, and occasionally