"
"I'm an eventuality," said Foe.
"You'll be one of _us_, sir, before you've finished, never fear!" the
little steward promised genially.
We entered amid salvos of applause, again and again renewed. It was
none of our earning nor intended for us. Jenkinson (I was afterwards
told) had varied his peroration with a local allusion very cleverly
introduced. "They probably knew him" (he said)--"those, at any rate,
who happened to live near Kennington probably knew him--for one who
earned his living by a form of sport, by a mere game, if they
preferred so to call it." (Cheers.) "He was not there to defend
himself, still less to defend cricket." (Hear, hear.) "He would
only say that cricket was a game which demanded some skill and--
especially when one bowled at the Oval" (loud cheers) "against
Surrey" (cheers loud and prolonged)--"often some endurance."
(Laughter.) "He would add that cricket was a thoroughly English
game." (Renewed cheers.) "Why do I mention cricket to-night,
sir?"--Jenkinson swung round and demanded it of the Chairman, who
hadn't a notion.
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