New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30
aOca! Intelligence.

THE LATEST AGoNY.-People have had
their fill of base ball, and now look on the
game as q game, one which has fully run
It's course, nearly absolete- 1t carried men,
old and young, into extremes, SO lar tnat
newspapers finally unbottled columns OF
ridicule on the 'noble" pastime. The ma.
tional game jumped from standard
amusement for school boys into the dignity
of manhood, and lifted itself to top shelf.
Arriving there, it had no worlds to conquer,
having ruined thousands of ambitious
Young men. When it began to wane, pro-
fessiOnal PLAYERS resolved 1t into what may
Justly be termed gambling nuisance.
Expert players were hired, ana Paid excel
lent salaries, and the clubs Travelled out on
their muscles to beat other clubs, SO that
the hackers could bet and win money.
These hackers are the men who deserve
moral scorings; they it was who, by silent
manipulations, kept life in the thing and
put silver in their purses. Time came Tor
it's death, and after the funeral, at which
the chief mourners were the cinos IhaC
recently visited England and ireland, only
to be given the cold shoulder, some sensa
ton must take its place.
Boating, except in a few isolated cases,
had existed in a sickly condition, ana when
base ball went out on the fly. was the ac-
cepted outdoor amusement. Shells, sculls
oars. regattas, and all that came to the
front, driving bat and ball into ooscurlty;
To develop muscle became the rage, ana
saving wood is not as dignitied as pulling
an oar, though perhaps more useful and
necessary All over the country, wherever
a mill pond or tub Of water could be 1ound,
boat clubs were organized. Pictorial pa,
pers illustrated all prominent features, ana
leading members were photographed 1or
the public. Those who had weakened On
base ball openly declared that there was
something really manly in boating, and no
kind of exercise conld possibly compare
with wholesome pulling. Nautical slang
oyerpoyered field talk, and now wears the
crown. Regattas are just the thing, and
all together is a decided improvement on
the so called national game.
The matter of pedestrianism is barely
worth mention so far az it developed sinews,
and the half-dozen champion walkists have
been trotted into q very shady back ground.
close to where devOtees of the prize ring
are anchored, permanently it is hoped. 1t
is far better for men to permit themselves
to run crazy on boating than ON either OF
the sports" just mentioned, so let knights
of the oar take courage.
Now comes to the surface another amuse-
ment; one born with Adam when he took
his first bath-swimming. We hear OF nu-
merous champions who wish to wager from
ten cents to $4,000 that they can outswlm
anybody else. If swimming is to become
sensation or an institution no oho Gall
deny that the art is undoubtedly a
very useful one, and then it chimes in
neatly with rowing-half brothesr, Were 1t
not a certainty that this agony will become
the basis for gambling operations much
good would result from it. To know how
to swim well is an accomplishment OF which
any man may be proud. This reminds the
reporter that last summer he saw a one
legged man floundering around loosely IN
Lake Pontchartrain. In deep water he
was a small circus of himself, and the
uncommon positions he took were really
wonderful even for man whose body was
perfect. Almost any position sulted hlih'
nnder water or on the surface. Indeed, he
seemed more at his ease in the lake than
on dry land, and his accomplishments
attracted the attention of many people;
Let him show himself now, as his best hold
is quite the fashion to-day.
After rowing and swimming, what!