Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-08-06
An Editor Plays base Ball.

violence this season, the following
sketch from the Iraveler's Record is in
order:
The doctor said we needed exercise.
Doctor knows. He told US to join base
ball !; we joined. Bought book Of in
structions, and for FIVE days studied it
wisely, if not too we'll Then We pro-
cured sugar>scoop cap, a red belt,
green shirt, yellow trowsers, pumpkin
colored shoes, paper collar, and pur-
pie necktie, and, with lot of other
delegates, moved gently to the ground.
" There were two mines. These mines
were antagonists The ball is pretty
little drop Of softness, the size of a
goose>egg, and five degrees harder than
q rock. The two mines play against
each other. It is quiet game, much
like chess, only little more chase than
chess.
There was an umpire His position
was hard one. lie sits on box and
yells s'fopl." His duty is severe.
7 r took the bat 1t ia a murderous
plaything, descended from Pocahontas
to the head of John Smith. The man
in front of me was pitcher. He was
mace pitcher. but he sent the balls
hot. The man behind me was catch
er. He caught it, too!
Umpire said play" 1t is the most
radical play r'know of, this base ball.
Saving cord-wood is moonlight rambles
beside base ball. So the pitcher sent
ball toward me. 1t looked pretty eom-
ing, so I let it come. Then he sent
me another. / hit it with the club
aud hove it gently upward. Then |
started to walk 10 the first base. The
ball in the pitchers hands and some>
body said he caught NJ. Alas, poor
Nv! | walked leisurely toward the
base. Another man took the bat. |
turned to see how he was making it,
and mule kicked me on the cheek.
The man said it was the ball. 1t felt
like mule, and | reposed on the grass.
The ball went on.
! Pretty soon there were two more flies
and three of US flew out. Then the
other nine came in, aad US nine went
ont. Just as was standing on my
dignity, in the left field. hot ball, as
hey cell it, csmc skyrocketing toward
me. My captain yelled take it."
I hastcncd gently forward to where
the ball was aiming to descend. | have
good eye to measure distances, and |
saw as d glance where the little arolite
was to light. [ put up my hands. How
sweetly the ball descended Every
body looked | felt something warm y
my eye. "Muffiinw yelled ninety fel-
l6Rs.' "Muffin be id; it is cannon
BALI" For three days have bad
pounds Of raw beef ON that eye, and
yet it paineth.
Then / wanted to go home, but my
gentle Captain said may" So | mayed
and stayed. Pretty soon it was my
Strike. TO bait" yelled the umpire.
| went, but not at all serene was my
won't, The pitcher sent in one hip
kigh. 1t struck NE in the gnllet.
"Foulw yelled the umpire. He sent
In the ball again. This time | took it
square and sent it down the right field,
through d parlor window, kerosene
limp, aad ZIP up against the head Of
an infant, who was quietly taking its
nap in his or its mothers arms. Then
I slung the bat, and meandered forth
to the first base. | heard high words,
aa3 looked When | slung the bat,
Had with it broken the jaw Of the unm
: pire, and was fined ten cents.
The game went on. liked it. 1t
is SO much fun to run from base 10
base just in tine to be put out, or 10
chase D ball three -fourths Of q mile
down hill, while all the spectators yell
''maf6n!' ego it p "homc run !" ''go
round again." or ego round dozen
times!" Base ball is q sweet little
game. When it came my turn to bat
$gaia, noticed everybody move back
about ten rods The new umpire re.
treated about twelve rods. He was
timid. The pitcher sent 'em in hot
Hot balls IN time OF war are good.
But I don'tf like 'em too hot for fun.
After awhile | got fair clip at it, and
You bet it went cutting the daisies down
the right field. A fat man and dog sat
in the shade of an oak, enjoying the
game. The ball broke one leg of the
dog, aud landed, like runaway engine,
jn the corporosity of the fat man. He
Was tAken homo to die
: Then I went on a double-q quick to
the field, and tried to stop hot ball.
I'd came toward me ffon The bat at the
rate of nine miles minute. I put up
my hands-the ball went sweetly sing
ing On its way, with all the skin from
my palms with It,
More raw keef.
Tha. WASH e9entful chap that first
Invented base ball. It's such fun. I've
played FIVE games, and this is the re-
suit: = t.
.,Twenty seven dollars paid out for
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