Torch ramblings & "bowling" along 08/18/00

A story about bringing a touch of glamour to the Australian Bush (the Out Back) mentioned the birth place of Sir Donald Bradman.  That is a familiar name to me because he is one of the directors of the C.C. Morris Cricket Library at Haverford College in Haverford, PA.  I have seen his name for years and years on the organization's newsletter and it was quite something to see it pop up in the article.  We have great affection in our family for cricketeers*. 

The other unexpected encounter with a familiar name happened in today's - or is it tomorrow's?  This day-ahead business can get me jumbled about - article about the torch.  One of the towns the Olympic torch is passing through is Forbes.  My Australian granddaughter is named Karen Forbes Lockhart.  I am smiling as I dictate to Faithful Scribe, remembering so many happy things about that little girl who is now a woman. 

Two unexpected moments in a row - I am enjoying these articles.  The

Australians are having their try-outs right now, so there is a lot of

exciting reading to be had online, at smh.com.au (The Sydney Morning Herald). 

With happy thoughts about cricket and grandchildren, am off to bed.   

G'day -  Nan

*  from the C.C. Morris Cricket Library web site - -  Bart King is thought by many (J.A. Lester, P.H. Clark and numerous other contemporaries) to have been the best American to ever play cricket. He was a devastating fast bowler. For many years, Bart held the single-season English bowling record of 11.01 set in 1908 against county level teams during an extended summer tour.   (There is a very rare photo of him batting.)  Overshadowed by his bowling reputation, he is not as well known for his exceptional batting, but he does hold the US record with 344 in an innings and had 39 centuries during his career.  Many of Bart King's trophies are on display in the CC Morris Library."  (added 08/18/14 - in 2008, the magazine, Mental Floss, named Uncle Bart one of Ten Sports Heroes You Won't See on a Wheaties Box)

Uncle Bart's obituary, as it was written up by the Cricket Quarterly - -"John Barton King   17th October 1965     From: Cricket Quarterly,EV911-C91, 1966, page 61

He was one of the greatest cricketers of all time and he died within two days of his ninety-second birthday in the City of Brotherly Love where he was born: two months after his contemporary and bowling partner, P. H. Clark.  Those left to attend the funeral who had played with him were few indeed:  it is remarkable that there were any. Yet when MCC last played in Philadelphia in 1959, no fewer than 8 of the last first-class Philadelphian team to visit us, fifty-one years ago, came down to watch the match: it is impossible to refrain from the speculation that cricket, by virtue both of its physical and of its ethical demands, had prolonged their lives…   He married Miss Fanny Lockhart in 1913, whom he survived for a year or two, the marriage having lasted happily for fifty years.