The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-09

The bat used is development of the
stump or stick employed at FOUNDERS by
English schoolboys, and may be said to
come between it and the cricket bat, as the
German students schlager does between the
small sword and the sabre. That the use
of the bat is not the most important fea-
ture in base ball Is at once evident Thus
one of the chief beauties of cricket Is alb
sent from the game There are none of
those pretty cuts, well-judged drives, and
wary receptions of dangerous balls which
are the delight of the spectators at Lords.
On the other hand, it may be said that
most of the niceties of batting Mt cricket
are lost upon spectators without special
knowledge. The hard hitting which APP
pears the main object OF the batsman at
base ball appeals to all who see it, how
ever ignorant they may be of the game.
But the absence of wicket TO be attacked
and defended is a serious disadvantage to
base ball in the eyes of lookers-on. In the
matter of bowling also the American seems
lar inferior to the English game. The va
riety of the English bowling contrasts fav-
orably with the apparent monotony of the
pitching at base ball. There is probably q
great deal of skill in this which it is i'm
possible to discern without q close acquain-
lance with the game; but the constant en-
ployment of the same action by all the
bowlers strikes the English eye as wear-
some. On the other hand, base ball is free
from the WEAKNESS which comes over the
spectator of a cricket match when steady
play on both sides is evnced by the fact
[ that for some half hour or more nothing
/ happens except the movement of the field
and the change of bow lers at the end of
| every over In base ball. action Is contn-
! ~ IL l.. al,
matter of bowling and batting at base ball
| is madeup in that of fielding. After due al
| lOwancc Is made forthe difference between
IL cricket ball and the ball which is
employed in the Ameaican game,
the fact remains that the fielding
Of the American players is singu-
larly accurate The certainty with which
catches are made, the judgment and quick
ness with which the field back one another
up, the neatness and rapidity with which
balls are STOPPED and thrown in, might
serve as models to cricketers. The en-
ployment of one of the side who are in to
watch the movements of the field and adj
wise the runner accordingly is a quaint de-
| vice which savors of American acuteness.
| The running is of course great element
| in thu game, and is very pretty feature
in it. It gains in grace probably from the
| fact that the runner is not embarrassed by
Il bat. One curious circumstance of base
ball is the waste of force which follows
from the rule according TO which all hits
must be made within certain limits. BY
this means all the fine hits in the direction
of square leg go for nothing. Another re-
markable feature of the game is the pro-
cess which takes the place of stumping
/ out by the wicket keeper at cricket. If a
/ runner unwarily advances too far from his
base in order to gain beforehand some of
the distance which he hopes to run, it
seems competent for the bowler to put him
out by throwing the ball into the base be-
fore he can return to 1t. This gives rise to
| the employment of the same kind of his
tiiouc teints and ruses which make dis
| linguishing feature of American card games
\ bowler will watch his opportunity
two or three times, and apparently abandon
the idea of outwitting the runner. Then, as
he seems about to deliver the ball, with a
marvcllously rapid change of action he will
do his best to throw the runner out. This
amongst other things lends variety to the
game, and helps to keep the spectator
amused. Base ball is certainly pretty to
look at, and probably appears game of con-
| siderable skill and interest when the intri-
cacies which it has gathered to itself in the
progress of development from FOUNDERS are
mastered. 1t is not likely, however, to be-
come so popularn England as to endanger
| the reign of cricket.