MR. GEORGE MORTIMER KELSON'S first match at Lord's, where he did not often appear. Was born at Sevenoaks, in Kent, December 8th, 1835. Height 5ft. lOin. and weight list. Bats in a fino free style and has made most excellent scores, especially for his county. Is also an admirable field, generally taking longleg and cover-point, and vas for some little time (after the retirement of W. II. Fryer from that important post), wicket keeper in the Kent Eleven. As a bowler he is fast round-armed, and has been occasionally successful in that department of the game. At the Kent County Club anniversary dinner held May 2nd, I860, at the Roshervillo Hotel, Gravesend, he was presented by the Earl of Darnley (on the part of the Club) with a valuable gold keyless watch (made by Messrs. Aubcrt and Linton, of Regent Street), in recognition of his services as a Cricketer to the County of Kent, especially when Kent played Surrey, Julv 6, 1865, he then suffering from an accident. The watch bears the following inscription " Presented to G. M. Kelson, Esq , by the members and -friends of the Kent County Cricket Club, in appreciation of him as a gentleman and cricketer." In addition to this he has had 39 or 40 presentations during his cricketing career, which must be termed a brilliant one. In 1867, during a minor match at Richmond, he received a blow on the knee which caused him much pain and consequently he played but little that season. In January-, 1868, it was announced that he had entirely abandoned the game owing to this injury, but his name will be found in the Kent Eleven about that time and occasionally since. Subsequently he generally participated in minor matches, and in 1871 he four times scored 100 in one innings, but these will not be recorded here. He became Hon. Sec. and Treasurer of a new club called the Anomalies, and in 1873 he made with that club several innings over 100, viz., 175 not out, 140 not out, 108, and 103. These deeds can be seen in the columns of Sell, and it was to be regretted that he did not assist his county more frequently. Resides (1876) at the Deanery, Great Marlow. His father's name will be found in the match between the Gentlemen and Players of Kent in 1828.

Billiard and Cricket Parallels

A most interesting letter appeared in The Observer of April 23 from Mr. G. M. Kelson, an old gentleman player for Kent, whom the editor of The Billiard Monthly well remembers to have seen playing many times for his county in the beautiful Mote Park at Maidstone as many as forty years ago. Very singularly Mr. Kelson was the gentleman player whom the editor had in his mind when answering Question No. 44 in this month's issue, although he little imagined when doing so that "G. M.," as the Kent schoolboys of 1870 affectionately called Mr. Kelson, was still not only in the land of the living but hale and keenly interested in sport as of yore.

Mr. Kelson used to wear a flannel jacket of many colours and would sometimes keep it on during play. The present writer wonders whether Mr. Kelson remembers that coat of "the summer of his career" as well as he does.

The Letter

In his letter to The Observer, under the heading "Tiring Billiards: What Changes are Desirable?" Mr. Kelson writes:—

You suggest that there is a way of putting a limit on any particular billiard stroke, and that the principles of the game should remain as they are. Quite so; and these words of yours are cheered to the echo by all true lovers of sport. Of course, you were referring to the long spells of losing hazards we are now accustomed to see played.

Undoubtedly some steps must be taken sooner or later to deprive a match player of keeping possession of the table from the time he enters to the time he leaves the room.