answer:-- _A._ By taking part in the Olympic games; by subscribing to the Duke of Westminster's fund; by devoting oneself to the discovery of champions; by advertising; by organizing a boom; by promising a public reception to successful athletes; by paying their expenses; by---- _Q._ I see. Then I suppose Great Britain has no athletics at present? _A._ No, none of the right sort. _Q._ What is the right sort? _A._ The sort that is imbued with the Olympic spirit. _Q._ Does everybody like the Olympic spirit? _A._ Yes, everybody who is anybody. _Q._ But if somebody says he dislikes it? _A._ Then he is a crank. _Q._ What is a crank? _A._ One who has not got the Olympic spirit. _Q._ Are the subscriptions coming in? _A._ I refuse to answer further questions. The search for Olympic talent inspired a succession of burlesque pictures; and the fostering of the "Olympic Spirit" is reduced to absurdity by the drawing of the lady presenting a classic wreath to the winner of the sack-race in some village sports. The introduction of base-ball in 1892 is chronicled pictorially in a grotesque illustration of the attitudes of the players. But the interest now taken in the game, and reflected in the publication of "base-ball results" on the tape and in the sporting columns of the Press, was essentially a post-war product. Cricket reigned paramount in _Punch's_ affections, at any rate in the 'nineties. When Mr. C. I. Thornton was presented with a silver trophy during the Scarborough Week in 1894, as a memento of the great part he had taken in the Scarborough Festival since its institution in 1869, _Punch_ paid lyrical homage to "Buns," the "great slogger of sixes." The Preface to vol. cviii. (1895) is headed by a picture of _Punch_, "W. G." and the shade of Alfred Mynn. Reference is made in the text to the National Testimonial to Grace which was got up this year, and _Punch_ suggests that "W. G." ought to receive a knighthood. He was not alone in the suggestion, for _The Times_ subsequently referred to "Dr. W. G. Grace, whose name has been everywhere of late--except where it might well have been, in the Birthday Honours List," and _Punch_ improved on the text in June:-- [Sidenote: _Gentleman and Players_] True, _Thunderer_, true! He stands the test Unmatched, unchallengeable Best At our best game! Requite him! For thirty years to hold first place And still, unpassed, keep up the pace Pleases a stout, sport-loving race. By Jove! "Sir William Gilbert Grace" Sounds splendid. _Punch_ says, "_Knight him!_" In the same summer "W. G." is glorified in "The Cricket Three":-- Men of one skill though varying in race, Maclaren, Ranjitsinhji, Grand Old Grace.