The World's Playground

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 868, 11 January 1930, Page 12

The World's Playground

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Yorkshire’s New Skipper Xot since the days of Frank Mitchella nd F. Jackson has Yorkshire produced an amateur of the calibre of A. T. Barber, the Oxford skipper, who will lead the county next season, says an Knglish exchange. Barber is described as a brilliant batsman and field. He is also a Soccer Blue, and is rated one of the best half-backs playing, either in the amateur or professional ranks. Two Scotties met unexpectedly in the street. “Glad to see you, Jock," said one, “have a cigar." He produced his case. It was filled with a curious assortment of cigars of all sizes and shapes. "H’m,” said Jock, “you’ve been dining out a good deal recently, Donald." Why She Remained Single This story is attributed to a celebrated lady who has remained single. She was asked why she had not married. "Quite unnecessary," she replied, •I have at home three pets which represent so closely the character of the average man that a husband would bo superfluous. A dog that growls in the morning, a parrot that swears all the afternoon, and a cat that stays out all night." A mote.rist touring the Highlands was stopped one night in a small village after darkness had set in. The constable said: “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to have your name and address. Your rear light's gone oct." The motorist hopped out of the car and gazed about him in consternation. “Never mind the rear light," He exclaimed =n anguish, “but where the devil is the caravan ?” * * * A Pathetic Scene There was a pathetic scene at the railway station of a certain holiday resort. A couple who had fallen violently in love were taking a painful farewell of each other. They kissed and hugged, and finally the girl got into the train. “You’ll write to me," she sobbed. “Sure," said the young man chokily. The train started to move off. The young man raced after it. crying, “Darling, darling . . . what did you say your name was?” Britain’s Champion Hurd.er “There is no question of my retirement from athletics," said Lord Burghley, in an intervie — T ——~ cently. “I cannot understand how it came about that an announcement was made to the effect that my athletic days were over." In answer to the query as to whether or not he would be seen in the A.A.A. championships next year, Lord Burghley replied, “Very The statement that Lord Burgliley intended to retire from athletics had recently gained world prominence, and the Berlin Press commended him on account of his rumoured step by remarking that he had shown an example of courage in leaving athletics while still at the height of his power. Peter Munro Peter Munro was in good fettle when throwing the discus at Paraparaumu on New Year’s Day. His winning throw was 124 ft 6in but, in a subsequent throw, he approached 126 ft. Peter spent some of his time collecting trophies, but most of his time was spent in illustrating “how and why the discus, shot and hammer were manipulated.”

John L. the Best

John E. Madden, the celebrated trainer horse-breeder, of America, whose death, was recently reported, accumulated a. fortune running into millions from his racing and business ventures. Madden when a youth won considerable fame as an athlete, and was quite a capable boxer. He figured in at least 200 fights, and at one time was a sparring partner of John L. Sullivan, and acted as the big fellow’s chief second in many of the latter’s notable ring battles. Madden alwayscontended that John L. was the best of all time, that there never was a fighter like Sullivan. Cock-fighting Cock-fighting is one of the most ancient of sports. Edward 111., in whoso reign it had become a fashionable amusement, banned the sport. Twice more it was prohibited, by Henry VI. and the Commonwealth, but Henry VIII. was a great patron. Masters and boys of grammar schools organised fights, upon the proceeds of which much of the masters’ salaries depended. “Cocking” was finally made illegal in 1849, though its persistence has been discovered as recently as 3 929. The feeding, washing, exercising and training of the cocks was most elaborat€\ and two years was considered the best age for fighting. The Welsh Main was the most popular method of “cocking,’* as the sport was called, and was in the form of a knock-out tournament, starting with sixteen matches. The winning cock was often so exhausted that he, too, expired after the final. Prime Minister-Bowler The world at large doesn’t know that the Prime Minister. Mr. Scullin, is a bowler, says the “Referee.” As a matter of fact, he has proved himself a very able “skipper,” for didn’t he put up a cricket score in opposition to Mr. Stanley Bruce? With Mr. Theodore as first lieutenant, and Mr. Holloway as mat layer, the Labour “rink” revealed remarkable form.

Whether Mr. Bruce had too much political bias on his bowling apparatus or whether Mr. Scullin’s clever evasion Dr. Earle Page’s blocking propensities “on the back hand” were responsible, I am not aware, but it was noticeable that the “woods” of the smiling ex-Prime Minister frequently finished in the ditch. Mr. Scullin says that bowls is a better game than golf, because it exercises the kidneys. The popular Labour leader doesn't pretend to know everything about that other “exercise,” known to bowlers as “bending the elbow,” and is looking forward to many a quiet roll-up on the green plot at Canberra.