Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-12-05
correspondence.
A Reply to the ROyaItOn B. B. Club.

upon 10 VlnulCale lne TlSlllS Oh our
club, and correct some errors made on
the part Of Mr.. Haughs in last weeks
issue Of your paper, we will first state
thai on the 10th Of October the Silver
Lake Jr, club received a challenge
from the Academy Nine Of Royalton
to play on Saturday, Oct. 18th. We
accepted the challenge and met them
on their grounds which are situated in
trout Of the Town House at Royalton,
dotted with trees, with a steep en-.
bankment behind the catcher leading
to the liver, which was great incon,
venence to him. TO this the Silver
Lakes made no objection, but accept
ed, thinking it to be as iair tor one
SIDE as the other and won the game,
which passed off very friendly.
We received another challenge
stating that the Royaltons were anx,
ious to play again as they had only
three of their regular nine. This also
the Silver Lakes accepted, stating the
day on which they woald play. We
received no reply but were greatly
surprised to see the Royaltons drive
up III a snow storm with six Of their
men the other three did not come.
Our captain informed them that we
would play if they wished; they re-
fused to do SO. Had they persisted in
playing we should have had to have
enlisted some of those "Backwoods-
men" of which the gentleman speaks
SO reproachtully. We again met
them at Foxville, but were prevented
from playing on account of rain.
On the 9TH of November we receiv-
ed another challenge to play on the
grounds selected by the Royaltons,
situated about half way between this
place and Royalton. 10 tins we re-
piled that we considered that we had
been tair in visiting their grounds
twice, and that we thought it their du-
ty to play us on our grounds to this
they consented. The following day
they came bringing with them men
which they had picked from other
clubs. We proposed to play them as
a picked nine, but they were unwilling
to do so, but at last consented. Owing
to the heavy rains which had prevl'
ously fallen our ground was rather
wet. We repaired it in the best pos
aible manner, but even this failed TO
satisfy the ir:epressible MT. laughs.
We saw the necessity Of having Il
Lumber yard close at hand. Could it
be that the gentleman was sober
Had he been taking any thing strong
err than the "well water" which he
found on our ground that impelled
him to see the necessity of crafts and
.'stilts" TO protect him from being
drowned" by the water" standing
Speaking OF the "umplre, III,
gentleman declares it was "anythino
but what they wanted" He had
seen the conduct of our umpire on
former occasions. If he was convinced
of his partially toward his own club
why did be not object to his serving
Doubtless he was satisfied with the
tarr ess shown by him, otherwise he
would not have dared risk the issue OF
the game in his hands.
He also states: "That they played
against ten men" This is false. AT
the beginning of the game we asked
the privilege OF playing ten men, al.
lowing them to do the same if they
chose. They objected, requesting us
to throw OFT one man, winch we did
During the absence of the umpire in
the sixth lining they proposed to fill
the vacancy by substituting one OF
their men. This we objected to.
The number of spectators was mall,
the whole number not exceeding more
than a dozen. During the last of the
game a quiet, peaceable and respect
able citizen came across the ground
with gun and ak in his hands. 1t
appears that the gentleman saw him,
and has ably portrayed him as being
formidable military company, followed
by pioneer corps. How low how
deplorable the condition of such PEI
son bearing the form OF a man. But
destitute of principle which should
at all times actuate him to tell the
truth, seeking to censure and scandal
Ize our quiet citizens who in 40 way
molested or interfered with the game.
Such conduct we disdain-it is be-
meath the notice OF a dog, much more