V. ETON COLLEGE.
(Colours—Light-blue cap and sash; white blazer. )
No one who has studied the subject of cricket can fail to notice what a very large number of our best amateurs have received their education at Eton. This may partly be due to the fact that many of the boys belong to the leisured class, and have consequently plenty of time to devote to the game after leaving school, while the less fortunate have to be earning their living, and have no spare time on their hands. Indeed, without leisure and money—the two things imply each other—a young man cannot pursue a game which makes a large demand on purse and time. No doubt, too, the élan of being in the eleven, and of appearing at Lord's before the eyes of thousands, is a very tempting reward for the perseverance and care necessary before excellence can be attained. It is needless to say that every attention is paid to the training of those who have shown real promise; but an examination of the cricket arrangements tempts the outsider to think that there must be many promising cricketers who are not unearthed, and that only the special geniuses force their way to the surface. As with most schools, there was once a bitter cry of "want of space"; but with the recent acquisition of land, it is hoped that not only will there be more room for cricket, but also that it will not be necessary to play football on the cricket-grounds during the winter months. This unavoidable practice has militated sadly against the preparation of good wickets, both for games and for practice.
The school is divided for cricket purposes into clubs, much as for work purposes into blocks, each club consisting of boys who are of about the same age and standing in the school. These clubs are "Sixpenny," "Upper Sixpenny," "Lower Club,"
"Middle Club," and "Upper Club," and the average boy will spend about one season in each, though it should be noted that "Upper Club" is selected by merit alone, and contains, or is supposed to contain, all the developed talent of the school. Each club is managed by two "keepers," appointed by the captain of the eleven, and when they are keen and efficient, the first game of each club is sure to be well managed and seriously conducted; and if the "keepers" make themselves properly acquainted with the abilities of the junior members of their respective clubs, rising talent is duly rewarded by promotion to the upper game. Un-
