Kmflett's Blog

Engels was not a cricket fan, but as the letter below underlines he was aware of Lords (he lived quite nearby in Regents Park Rd) and of cricket. He mentions both in a matter of fact way. Sam Moore was the US translator of Marx’s Capital into English. The scorecard from that day’s cricket featured another great Victorian beard wearer W G Grace. Thanks to the Lords Archivist Alan Rees. It was the second day of a scheduled three day match between the MCC and Nottinghamshire. W G Grace was of course playing for the MCC

Harney is gone to Macclesfield yesterday, and arrived safely. He is
a good deal better, intrinsically, but of course the pains do not go all
at once, and as soon as he is a bit better, he begins stirring about in
cabs; he did so for two days before he left, then the journey, and of
course arrived worse. I am afraid he will never get quite over it, part-
ly because the complaint is too inveterate and partly on account of
his inconsistency and listening to everybody who has a remedy to
propose. It has been a hard time for poor Nim, and I am glad for her
sake it has come to an end. Sam Moore had to go to Pumps’, I think
he rather liked it this time as he was bent on exhibitions, picture
galleries, Royal Academies and the like, and so he and Pumps
have a fine time of it. Today they are gone to see a cricket match at
Lords.

Engels to Laura Lafargue 29^th May 1885

Pumps, niece of Engels wife Lydia Burns