THE BOOKMAKERS' AND PUBLICANS' CRICKET MATCH.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 226, 10 January 1885, Page 4

THE BOOKMAKERS' AND PUBLICANS' CRICKET MATCH.

This now annual fixture came off on the Emerald turf of our beautiful cricket ground on Tuesday last, and resulted in a win for the "beer barrels " by six wickets and three runs. It is not for the actual match that these merry boys play cricket, but because it enables them to have one day away from, the dreary round of booking wagers and collecting bets, and drawing "long sleevers " and " dishing up " Johnny Walker ; and if those people who look upon these two professions as a hard and tough lot were to attend this match next journey and see and hear for themselves they would say they never met a lighter-hearted, jollier crew of happy boys, for, like big overgrown school-boys they undoubtedly are, " with quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles" they pass away the lingering hour like so many happy lads out for a holiday. ! Big George Belcher, who has thrown aside the "mittens" for the book and pencil, arrayed in spotless white flannel, with kid gloves on his erstwhile "mauleys" to save his skin, now tender, but once hard trained to mark his man every time Jhe got on to him, leads the "revel rout" and acts as "heavy father" to the kittenish Billy Weston, the lean Lyons, and the prancing Poole ; Jack Harris, once, and not long ago, the iminastered ped, good at any distance, jokes merrily with the jovial Forward or some saturnine trainer; Blaikie looks as innocent as a baby, while big Enko, the Russian Count, asks all sorts of absurd questions anent the mysteries of cricket; honest Brimblecombe, erstAvhile host of a favorite house of entertainment, keeps carefully the scores, while being chaffed and barracked by that lucky dog Aylett. Then to watch the antics of little Albert Glover, or hear the rich brogue of Donovan, or the sweetly - touched tongue of Dave Twohill, making surmises as to the probability of a win, while Jack Matheson stands off shyly, and gives an opinion gravely with never a smile ; or to hear the happy way they have of Jack-ing and Bob-ing each other, why it's a treat to be with such a jolly crowd, who, while always ready to turn a penny in their trades, never go for each other by wrong or crook, but rather, if one is down on his luck, help him up with ready purse and good advice. That's the sort of hair-pins they are ; and though proscribed by goody-goodies, they are a Bohemian brotherhood by themselves. Good luck, boys ! and I hope you will have good books till we meet again next year. Tomahawk.