cted they
would make quite a cricket library.

Nor can we here refer to the incidental pleasures which a cricket-match
affords independently of participation in the game itself. These are
depicted, from a lady's point of view, by Miss Mitford in _Our
Village_; where a pretty bit of romance is interwoven with a description
of a country cricket-match, the very recollection of which draws from
the graceful authoress this admission: "Though tolerably eager and
enthusiastic at all times, I never remember being in a more delicious
state of excitation than on the occasion of that cricket-match. Who
would think that a little bit of leather and two pieces of wood had such
a delightful and delighting power?"

And this sentiment is echoed by scores of the fair spectators at our
home matches. When, for example, during the last international match at
Germantown, one of the English Gentlemen Eleven said to a lady, "We were
told we should have a fine game at Philadelphia, but, really, I had no
idea we should be honored by the presence of so many ladies," her reply
expressed the sentiments of a numerous class: "Oh, I used to come to a
match occasionally _pour passer le temps_. At first the cricket seemed
to me more like a solemn ceremonial than real fun, but now that I
understand the points I like the game for its own sake; and as for a
match like this, I think it is perfectly lovely!" Another of the English
Eleven--a handsome but modest youth--on being escorted to the grand
stand and introduced to a party of ladies, became so abashed by
unexpectedly finding himself in the midst of such a galaxy of beauties
(and, as a matter of course, the conscious cynosure of all eyes) that,
blushing to suffusion, and forgetting to lift his hat, he could only
manage to stammer out, "Aw, aw--I beg pardon; but--aw--aw--I fancy
there's another wicket down, and I must put on my guards, you know;"
whereupon he beat a hasty retreat.[C]

A game which has for centuries in England afforded healthful recreation
to all classes must needs possess some value beyond that of mere
physical exercise. Not that we would undervalue the latter advantage.
Improvement in health usually keeps pace with improvement in cricket.
Mr. Grace, the "champion cricketer of the world," is hardly less a
champion of muscular physique: he sought in vain for a companion to walk
to town, late at night, from the country-seat of the late Mr. Joshua
Francis Fisher, where the cricketers, af