A Championship

Last week, Englishmen grumbled over their chops, muttered into their ale. What the devil business had the press taking a holiday when something important was happening? Out in Sydney, N. S. W., England and Australia had been playing off "The Ashes" (international cricket championship) for seven days*; and now, just when the final score was due, the newspapermen were chucking it all and going home to undo presents and bounce the baby. Outrageous!

What made matters worse was that Australia, in her first innings, had scored 450 runs. England had begun to reply splendidly, with 157 for only one man out, but then slumped off to finish her first innings at 298. Dust storms had whirled, torrents of rain fallen, yet Australia had piled up 452 more runs in second innings. What had England done about that?

At length the cables came in. Final score: Australia, 902; England, 709./-

*The protractedness of cricket is due to the fact that the batsman is not obliged by rule either to make a run or be put out within any given number of bowls. His prime function is to prevent the ball from striking his wicket. Interminable defensive play ("stonewalling") is thus possible--as it would be in baseball if a batter were adroit enough to foul safely off an indefinite number of pitches.

A cricket team has eleven members, each one of whom bats twice in a full match. First class matches in England (except for the Gentlemen vs. Players, at Lords) are usually limited to three days' play.

/-Australia took 'The Ashes" from an English team ''sent out" in 1911; she defended her title successfully in 1912 (in England), 1920 (in Australia), 1921 (in England).