THE MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY OF DR. W. G. GRACE This Edition is limited to 150 copies for sale. W. G. GRACE. From a miniature by Mrs. Frank Townsend. Exhibited in the Royal Academy, 1915. 58844 THE MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY OF DR. W. G. GRACE ISSUED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COMMITTEE OF M.C.C. AND EDITED BY 56844 LORD HAWKE, LORD HARRIS AND SIR HOME GORDON, BART. LONDON CONSTABLE & COMPANY, LTD 1919 First published G/ Preface was such a band of cricketers gathered NEVERfor any tour as has assembled to do honour to the greatest of all players in the present Memorial Biography. That such a volume should go forth under the auspices of the Committee of M.C.C. is in itself unique in the history of the game, and that such an array of cricketers, critics and enthusiasts should pay tribute to its finest exponent has no parallel in any other branch of sport. In itself this presents a noble monument of what W. G. Grace was, a testimony to his prowess and to his personality. The initiative is due to Sir Home Gordon, who conceived the scale on which the work has been planned, wrote over five hundred letters and had nearly one hundred personal interviews. On learn- ing that the Committee of M.C.C. desired to be associated with the book, he handed over all the material he had collected and accepted their invita- tion to be co-editor with Lord Hawke and Lord Harris. Of that triumvirate he has been the active partner, the others proving critical, advisory and helpful in every possible way. Something must be added about the unusual form that this Memorial Biography has been allowed to take. It was felt that the testimony of those who had played with and loved W. G. Grace would be of far more interest and value to contemporaries and 'posterity than a categorical and formal monograph. The human note, it is hoped, will proclaim what manner of cricketer the champion was. The editors are conscious that by adopting this policy a certain vi PREFACE amount of divergence of opinion will find expression in these pages and a certain amount of repetition prove unavoidable, however scrupulously cut down, whilst some overlapping must occur when the valued reminiscences of a comrade in big games may extend over some thirty years of friendship. These draw- backs to the method have been recognized from the outset, but it has been felt that the cumulative effect of the testimony immeasurably outweighed them because the desire of the editors is to provide the impression of what manner of cricketer W. G. was and that is what the reader of the younger generation will want to know. There is nothing in the following pages about the private life of Grace. Alike as son, as brother, as husband, and as father, in every relationship of family existence he was exemplary. Those cherished memories are not for the general reader, because the honoured privacy of his domesticity has nothing to do with the public career of the great sportsman. Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the extra- ordinary desire to be helpful shown by countless correspondents. Not only have those who were appealed to given of their best, but hundreds who were personally unknown to the editors volunteered assistance which was often valuable and would have been far more freely drawn upon if the present volume could have been permitted to attain double its size. The severest restrictions have had to be enforced, but they in no way diminish the feeling of gratitude, which is hereby all too inadequately expressed. If any whose help has been utilized do not find their names enumerated in the lists in this preface, will they accept thanks with the assur- ance that the omission is inadvertent ? It must be added that a number sent in the same anecdotes which were contributed by various writers in their reminiscences. To many who will read these pages, the memory PREFACE vii of the late Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane will be as dear as that of Grace himself, and the following letter in his own handwriting written less than a month before his death in his ninety-second year must not be omitted. BRYMPTON, YEOVIL, November 6, 1915. DEAR SIR HOME GORDON, I was glad to see that you had undertaken the task of writing the Memorial of W. G. It was natiral that you should ask me to send you some notes of him, as I had been so much connected with him. I had indeed proposed to do so before I received your letter, but I find I must abandon the task. I have been suffering for some time with weakness of my heart, and in the last few days it has attacked my head and filled it with porridge or some deleterious compound so much so that I feel qiite incompetent to bring my senses together to write anything of interest on so important a subject as a memorial of the finest cricketer that ever existed, so simple, straightforward and some- what eccentric in character. Please therefore excuse me and accept my best wishes for the success of your book. Yours truly, S. PONSONBY-FANE. The editors realize that the loss of Sir Spencer's recollec:ions of W. G. leaves an irreparable gap. They were fortunate to secure those of the late Lord Alverstcne, of the late C. E. Green, and of the late Henry Perkins before those three so eminently associated with M.C.C. also Horan, " " passed away. the Felix of Australian criticism, was also invited, but death reached him before the letter could have arrived at the Antipodes. Owing to his unexpected departure for India, the Jam Saheb of Vlll PREFACE Nawanagar could not fulfil his promise to furnish Ms reminiscences, and to extract a lengthy com- munication from him when in his own State is even more difficult than it was to dislodge him from the wicket when in his prime. The warmest appreciative thanks must be ex- pressed to each of the following who have furnished -extended reminiscences of W. G. : H.R.H. the late Prince Christian of Schleswig- Holstein Ashley - Cooper, Hirst Pardon, S. H. F. S. Leveson-Gower, Rice, R. W. Barlow H. D. G. Robinson, C. J. Beldam, G. W. Lilley Sewell, E. H. D. Burls, C. W. Lubbock, Alfred Shuter, J. Carter, Canon Lucas, A. P. Spofforth, F. R. E. S. Lyttelton, Studd, C. T. Clarke, C. C. Canon Edward Taylor, A D. Cobham, Lord Miles, R. F. Thornton, C. I. Croome, A. C. Page, H. V. Walker, R. D. M. Paravicini, P. J. Warner, P. F. Francis, C. K. de Webbe, A. J. Gale, P. G. Grateful acknowledgments are also tendered to Bell, Canon Leigh, T. A. Tathan, Canon Bradley, A. G. McArthur, J. A. Thomscn, H. A. Brown, Ernest S. C. Coxon, H. Pearson - Greg- Troughton,H.C. Ferris, S. ory, T. S. Townsend, C. L. Hall, James Riddell, Sir Warrer, A. Hamilton, A. H. George Warren, Sir Hawkins, Rev. Rogers, J. A. R. Herbert Walter Shaw, Arthur Whitetead, Rev. Howard, R. E. Scott, Dave A. Goram To F. S. Ashley-Cooper a deep debt is due apart from his important contributions, for he was good enough to allow many points to be referred to him, PREFACE IX and he also read through the proofs, making invalu- able suggestions. A. D. Taylor generously put his fine library of works on cricket freely at the disposi- tion of the editors, and others who took exceptional pains to assist were C. K. Francis and C. I. Thornton. Two who by tact and help rendered valued service in the early stages were Sir George Riddell and C. L. Townsend, whilst the Secretary of M.C.C., F. E. Lacey, proffered all the aid in his power. To the following indebtedness cannot be omitted : Bassett, R. G. Humblecrofts, Raynor, Rev. G. Bennett, H. Preb. H. - Bleackley, Huxham, J. W. Rhys Jones, Horace Jay, J. W. Rev. E: Blyth, H. M. Jones, W. H. Sampson, S. N. Brice, B. Kernahan, Sankey, C. Briscoe, W. A. Coulson Sawyer, C. J. Buckingham, C. Lewis, Mrs. Sherburn, T. S. Lodge, W. G. Shuter, L. A. Chandler, J. H. Mclvor, R. Smith, C. J. Chiesman, C. S. McPherson, J. Stacy, Rev. P. Clarke, H. H. A. Tandy, J. H. Cobbold, C. S. Miles, J. A. H. Taylor, T. Pryce Colman, Sir Millard, A. Taylor, T. L. Jeremiah Mitchell, Rev. Thomas, Mrs. Cox, F. A.G. Villiers, Mrs. Davis, Alfred Muller, J. Warren, H. Disney, T. Myers, T. Ward, C. S. M. Dorehill, Major Noakes, W. F. Watson, J. Duckit, F. Norris-Elye, L. Weidemann, C. Gibson, H. C R H. R. Greaves, Miss G. Orlebar, B. O. C. Wells, L. S. Griffiths, H. Overton, J. H. Williams, F. W. Hardwick, J. H. Parker, R. J. Williamson, D. Hilder, T. P. Pearson, J. H. Wreford-Glan- Hope, P. H. Preston, H. J. ville, H. Homer, C.. E. Ramsay, B. M. Wright, C. W. Hullett, R. Ratcliffe, E. A. Wright, Ernest x PREFACE It has proved impossible to trace all sources of information, especially as many were culled from scrapbooks kindly loaned, but wherever ascertainable permission has been asked and freely given. The warmest acknowledgments must be given to Messrs. Wisden, for the annual Cricketers 1 Almanack has not only proved invaluable, but permission has been accorded for the article by Lord Harris and many of the statistics by F. S. Ashley-Cooper. Grateful thanks are due to Lord Burnham for allow- ing the reproduction of the letter from W.