eatedly considered the
question in all its aspects, and a combination of circumstances have
occurred within the last decade which had seriously affected that game.
The City of Glasgow could not, of course, afford to remain in a
stationary condition to suit the convenience of a few thousands of
cricketers. New streets had to be formed, new houses built all round,
and with this advance upon civilisation came the deadly blow to
cricket--at least juvenile cricket--and those clubs soon disappeared
from the field. Ground after ground was swallowed up, and on the scene
of many a hot and exciting match blocks of houses, railway stations,
churches, and public works may now be seen. The Scotch youth, and for
that part of it (just to give the sentence greater weight), the British
youth, loves some kind of manly sport. Cricket he could no longer play
for want of good and level ground, but then there was another game
which, at least, could be played or learned under easy circumstances,
even on a quiet street or big "free coup," and that was Association
football. They soon took to it kindly, and many of them struggled hard
and procured a ground. Not one, of course, like that on which they used
to have their cricket matches long ago, but one on which Farmer Lyon
grazed his cows and sheep, and they had it for a trifle. What did they
care about ridges and furrows, or that it was a difficult matter to see
the lower goal-posts when you were at the east end? Not a straw. The
only matter which annoyed them (and this only happened occasionally) was
Lyon's bull. Their club colours were red jerseys, with a small white
stripe, and "Jock" (that was the animal's name), used to scatter the
lads about on the Friday evenings when they were engaged in a big side.
The players generally managed to clear out in time, but the infuriated
animal once goared the best ball the club had, and next morning, as they
had to play the "Invincible" of Glasgow Green, a subscription had to be
raised for a new one. Football can thus be played under much more
favourable conditions than cricket, or almost any other out-door game,
at less expense, and this, in a great measure at least, is the secret of
its popularity amongst the masses. It can also be played under nearly
every condition of the atmosphere. Nothing seems to frighten the Scotch
Association football player. Rain, hail, snow, and even frost, is
treated with cool indifference. In England the ball is quietly laid