New-York tribune., 1867-04-26


Like The poor The weather VIC have always with
us but, if we took as much note OF catm IA OF
Storm these first hacyOn days of tho seas1n would
seem TO be phenomenal and wonderful Nature
dressed once again in groom would be good news
even to those who read the newspapers snd
none would be backward in greeting the mira-
Gle Of Spring time.
Spring brings its good lessons and its whole
some reyiyals Its bland airs give distant
warning to the Health Board and the Street
Commissioner. 1t rams in the veins of our
yOnng mon as in the vernai blood OF s.E.ines s.s;s
a spirit of health. energy, and hope Youth,
indeed, is the Alpha and Omega Of the season,
and whether this youth is busy building its
green habitation in tree and leaf, or romps
upon the turf buoyant spirit of exercise and
vitality, we know that the same uli-
versal Spring is working in all the ways
of the world. Already we have an
nouncement that the customary celebration
of the season has begun. Sunshine and fresh
air act rs poet and painter for the holiday, and
TO all intents the games and the laures of
ancient Greece are brought back again. The
Herculean Club of Gotham may not have such
thews and sinews as its namesake; but all
Greece could not substantially do more than
make their nine innings out OF game. The
wrestlers of the 0lympian games might have
wrought with each other till they became like the
hideous treesn the Inferno; but there is no moral
showing that their exercise was particle more
satisfactory than game of baseball played be-
tween two dapper sets of mines OF Oir own
day. Baseball has all the elements OF gent
inc game and diversion. Alike active and in-
genous, it calls into play all the intelligence OF
the muscles, all the hardihood of the base
ball intellect. There is every room within the
limits of the game for the easy exercise not
only of body and mind, but of the Christian
virtues of patience, and of perseverance, and
the amenities of field spOrtsmanship. Swift
ness in thel thrower; quicllness OF catch III
the back stop unfailing watchfulness and MINI
bleness in the runner; supple cunning OF
limbs in league with the mental propensity for
the game: caution and alertness in the field
catcheis, and an ensemble of heartiness and yig0r
all these things enter into the composition OF
good game of baseball. Only less can be said
of the field science of cricket, an inferior game
in point of breadth and simplicity, and decidedly
un- American. as compared to ITS universally
popular rival. Baseball has become within
half n dozen years a national game, almost to the
exclusion of cricket, and its rise and present
progress are fortunate for the country. NO
field game is more easily learned, or more
steadily and enthusiastically liked and 1t
is TO its simple yet fascinating elements that
we owe its ever-increasins popularity. How
many thousands of our TOO much civilized,
nerve-worn, over-wOrked, Oyer-coniined Amer
leans have gained health OV playing for
IT, with no worse instruments OF chance than
bat and ball, and willing legs! The increase
of clubs aud membership devoted to tins capt.
tai game would seem to prove that the number
of people thus rescued from the rust and sioth
of living altogether indoors is legion. Base
ball clubs abound throughout the country, ana
particularly in the suburbs of New York, where a
large convention of ball players has Just held ITS
Spring session. the enthusiasm for the sport Is
wide and stirring Other sports or land and
shore will soon attract the interest of the act
i've, and Lake Quinsigamond will be the
scene of another inspiring college regatta be-
fore the season is over. To all of them. health
and greeting We know of no glO0mier mis-
take than to condemn the cause of exercise. as
expressed in the games of the people, Us trivial,
and one of the best symptoms of bealtluul
good sense j. t4s puhle Willingness y preach
from texts like these the musculary Christian
doctrine of the =" Holiness of Health" If health
is 10 he gained by amusement, then to play is
as good sometimes to pray. The American
people were never 50 full of the spirit OF
exercise aS now and never have they had SO
much need OF IL.