W. G. GRACE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 475, 30 July 1948, Page 5

W. G. GRACE

Sir-I much enjoyed .A.M.’s tribute to W: G. Grace. He does not say that he saw W.G. play; I did, on several occasions. I first saw W.G, play on the Taunton ground, a small ground with a splendid pitch. Somerset, captained by the redoubtable S. M. J. Woods, who — played Rugby and cricket for England, was meeting Gloucestershire, in June 1895-one of W.G.’s two great batting years. He scored 187 not out, and Somerset was decisively beaten. In the Somerset team was L. C. H. Palairet, one of the most graceful cricketers, a model for all players. A curious incident occurred in this match. I was a very small boy, and my recollection is. that one of the Gloucestershire batsmen hurt a leg, and called for’ a substitute to run for him. _ W.G. sent out Board -later well-known in New Zealandwho was very spry at stealing runs. Sammy Woods objected to Board: W4. maintained that he could send out any player. Woods said No, the other captain must agree to the substitute, I forget how it was settled. The point was referred to the M.C.C. for a decision. The description of W.G. as a bowler, quoted by A.M. is good, and true as far as it goes "an enormous man rushing tip to the wicket... . a great black beard," etc, But what sort of a bal! did this giant of a man, this famous figure, send down? The young bats man facing W.G. for the first time, neryously, naturally expected a very fast ball. W.G. bowled at quite medium pace, the batsman played much too soon, and was generally bowled. A curious incident concerns W.G. and Dan Leno, at the time the most popular of music-hall comedians. At the end of his career Dan Leno became mentally weak and retired. W.G. with his own team---London County, I think it was called-had played a fine innings in a match at Bournemouth. In the evening he went to the Pavilion to héar Dan Godfrey’s band. The audience of course recognised him, beard and all, and cheered. Poor Dan Leno was in the audience, and he-who had been cheered by thousands nightly-thought

the cheering was for him, and to the dismay of his attendant rose and bowed. Later I saw Dan Leno’s funeral; with the exception of Queen Victoria’s funeral which I had seen a little before, I have never seen such genuinely affected crowds, thousands of them, at ©

a funeral. awn &

L.

E.

(Auckiand)