SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not been reserved for review in other forms.]
Seventy-one Not Out. Edited by "Mid-On." (W. Blackwood and Sons. 6s.)—Most of our readers will probably see that this book has something to do with cricket. " Seventy-one " is the present age of the player (W. Caffyn) whose reminiscences are given. We hope that he may increase his score indefinitely. W. Caffyn played for the first time in first-class cricket in 184;.1. He soon came to the front rank, and seldom failed to distinguish himself in one way or another. In 1861 he went out to Australia with an All-England eleven, and did so again in 1863. This time he stopped in the country, having accepted an engagement with the Melbourne Club. He gives a highly interesting account of the cricket education which he gave to Young Australia. He may well be congratulated on his success; at the same time he acknowledges the zeal with which his instructions were carried out. The combined result may be seen, as we write, in a way that does not flatter our amour propre. However, it is " all in the family." W. Caffyn saw and played with the great cricketers of the past,—Pilch, Felix, A - Mynn, and Wenman; the great Kentish quartet who were wont to break the heart of the anti-Kent bowlers. Clarke was another worthy of those days. He probably did more than any man to popularise cricket. George Parr was a contemporary, being just two years older. Our author has much to say about the changes that have taken place in cricket. Few, we take it, will disagree when he says that the game is not as interesting as it was. For this the " billiard-table " cricket grounds of the present day are mainly responsible. Bowlers are now allowed to do much as they please in the way of delivery. It must be a very rank offendeg indeed that is "no-balled." But this avails little. Is there any remedy P " Let every hit be run out," say some. "Alter the rule for 'lbw,' so that any ball, whether pitched between the wickets or not, will entitle the bowler to a verdict," is another suggestion. Anyhow, something ought to be done. One cannot help thinking how much more pleasant a taste a book about cricket leaves than a book about horse-racing.
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