“THE DEMON.”

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 September 1917, Page 2

“THE DEMON.”

STILL, PLAYING THE GAME. I was lunching recently at the Great Eastern in London, and was introduced to a tall, athletic man, with a keen face and hair turning grey, who had a fine feeling about the war and a sounder knowledge of the food question at home than any man that I have met lately (says a writer in Town Topics). His two sons had been in the thick of the fighting since the start and his two daughters are nursing. He himself is the managing director of a big business, distributing provisions at the cheapest prices through 400 shops throughout England and Wales. “And I’d rather see the war won than make, a penny profit,” he exclaimed, with the true ring of sincerity. , His name was and when he mentioned that he was an Australian, I asked, “Any relation to the great cricketer?” He smiled, and said-modestly, “I used to play a little cricket myself.” And then I learned that I was talking to Fred R. Spofforth himself, the “demon bowler” of 1878. He was the idol of the cricket world and the lion of London 35 years ago and he looks as if he could send down a few fast balls now. One thing is certain, he always plays the fair, straight game in business. “That’s cricket,” is his motto. Mr Spofforth. having retired from the cricket field and become lost to the public eye while building up a great business, was thought by many people to have died. One day he was present when the Australian cricketer was being discussed by strangers to him. “Poor Spofforth! He’s dead!” said one of them. “What did he die of?” aske'd F.R.S. “Drink j I think,” was the reply.