The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-01-13
J. r. HUNTER.

In her great sorrow.
j. R. HUNTER.
That Base Ball Controversy
Again-Last Innings for the
Leesburg Nine.
LEEsBURG, Jan. 4, 1876.
EDITOR NEws:-On reading the re-
markable communication from New
Lexington, in the News of Dec. 30th,
over the signature of "R. E. P" a
somewhat philosophical train of re-
Election was awakened in my mind,
the import of which, proverbially and
sententiously expressed, was about
as follows: "He that smiteth with
the sword, shall be smitten by the
sword" and "The pen is mightier
than the sword"
By substituting ir the first of the
above proverbs the words "Base Ball
Bat" for "sword," the proverb will
adapt itself most excellently to us at
the present time. The application of
the second proverb in this instance,
and to these articles, is obvious to
every one.
These doughty knights of the bat
from New Lexington, came down
from their stronghold one afternoon
of last summer, and played match
game with the juvenile club of this
place. The result was score of Is
to 1 in favor of the Lexington nine.
Greatly elated at their victory over
the children, (which for aught that
is known to the contrary may have
been their first victory on any feld)
the valiant (s) champions of Lex.
crowed SO loudly that they attracted
the attention of the regular Lees
burg nine" by whom they were chal-
lenged to a contest of skill, to be de-
termined on the grounds of our boys
at this place. They accepted, and
in the pride of their former victory
over the children, and flushed with
success,
''Like wave with crest of sparkling foam,
Right onward did Clan Alpine come"
But alas! They met with all of
Clan Alpines i'll luck, and were as
badly demoralized as that famous
clan is recorded in history and song
to have been-the score standing ten
for the Leesburg nine, to sac only
for the Lexington boys.
Mortified over their defeat, the
Lex. boys refused to be comforted,
even by the memory of their former
victory over the babies of this place,
and, as is their usual custom, (not
having wisdom or manliness enough
to submit gracefully to defeat in q
fair contest) they set about trying to
lessen the contempt with which they
were regarded, not only by our COM
munity, but their o'o'e also, by resort
ing to subterfuge and chicanery.
We have evidence of this in their ap-
peal from~the bat to the pen; and
their attempt by this means to create
false impressions on the mind of the
public.
= "R. E. P" throws down the gaunt-
let in defiance, in the News of Dec.
30th. In reply I would say, (by au-
thority) that we do not feel called up
on to notice the challenge of such
irresponsible and aci,ady fellows as
''R. E. P" any more than we do the
weak fulminations of his impotent
anger.
We would not accept even a regu-
lar challenge from the Lexington
nine, for the reason that their bad
graces and i'll manners of tie past,
together with their foul misrepresen-
tations of us, have rendered them su-
premely contemplate and beneath
our notice.
When next we try our skill on the
field, we intend that it shall be with
''foemen worthy of our STEEL" or, to
be consistent with the change of the
first-quoted proverb, let us say sim
6er."
1t is a rule of the Code Ouelo that
a gentleman is not bound to give sat
isfaction to another, on challenge,
unless that other be his peer, or in
other words a gentleman also. We
apply the rule in this case, and un-
hesitatingly shall decline any chal-
lenge sent by the Lexington nine.
We mediate, however, sending the
babes up to Lexington next summer;
confident that by that time they will
be able to vanquish the Lexington
nine on their native heath, and thus
secure their revenge.
And with this, we take leave of
the subject. A PLAYER OF THE NINE.
Marshall TIP.