Bass, Bat and Bull
John Nyren tells us about one of cricket’s truly great batsmen, John Small.
1775
King George III 1760-1820
John Nyren tells us about one of cricket’s truly great batsmen, John Small.
1775
King George III 1760-1820
John Small the Elder (1737-1826) was a truly historic figure of cricket, a supreme batsman credited with the first recorded century in a serious match, 136* for Hampshire vs Surrey on July 13th, 1775. He was also a gifted violinist and cellist, and on one occasion it quite possibly saved his life.
SMALL was a remarkably well-made and well-knit man, of honest expression, and as active as a hare.* He was a good fiddler, and taught himself the double bass. The Duke of Dorset, having been informed of his musical talent, sent him as a present a handsome violin, and paid the carriage. Small, like a true and simple-hearted Englishman, returned the compliment, by sending his Grace two bats and balls, also paying the carriage. We may be sure that on both hands the presents were choice of their kind.
Upon one occasion he turned his Orphean accomplishment to good account.* Having to cross two or three fields on his way to a musical party, a vicious bull made at him; when our hero, with the characteristic coolness and presence of mind of a good cricketer, began playing upon his bass,* to the admiration and perfect satisfaction of the mischievous beast.
John Small (1737-1826) played for Hampshire from around 1756 to 1798. He was a cobbler by trade, though he diversified into cricket bats and balls.
Orpheus charmed his way through the Underworld with a lyre given to him by Apollo. See Orpheus and Eurydice.
A corresponding account in ‘The Lads of the Village’ No. 27 Vol. 2 (January 16th, 1875) says he was playing his violin. A dairyman in Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891), tells a remarkably similar story of old William Dewy, who had featured earlier in Under the Greenwood Tree (1872): see A ’Tivity Trick.
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
According to Nyren, who gave cricketer John Small a fine violin as a present?
He heard Small was an accomplished musician.