The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-06-17
WOMEN AT BASE BALL.
one of the Most Remarkable Speci-
mems OF the Great Nation-
al Game.

From the New York World, lith.
The clergy and medical faculty of
the city" were invited yesterday after
noon to a game OF base ball between
mines of young women on n vacant lot
at Forty-ninth street aud Madison ave-
nue., and quite a crowd, not distinctly
clerical or medical, though a number
of clergymen were undoubtedly pres
ent, assembled. Out on the dusty op-
en- field the eighteen young women
pranced about, essaying base ball nm
til the audience roared itself hoarse.-
The mines were styled OF course "The
Blondes" and "The Bruneltes," and
wore respectively blue and red skirts
and leggings. They have been in
practice for four weeks. Such playing
had never before been seen, but il was
certainly earnest and even savage play
ing. The viciously whacked ball often
passed he pitcher, and the running
from base TO base was a cross between
skip and a jog-trot. The players
wore small jockey caps atop of their
top-knots of plaits, and whenever the
hats came of. which they always did,
all thoughts OF the ball were pro tenn
pore dismissed till the disaster was re-
pair9d. The "mufiing' was supreme.
In the course Of three hours OF really
vigorous work, about three balls were
caught on the fly in an incidental sort
Of way. There were a few Of the
usual ball field incidents. The red
catcher took a missed ball on her eye
lid, but allowed ID 10 fall off while she
sat down 10 endure the ministrations
II the first and second base women.
The styles OF playing were as various
as could be. The blonde captain was
very tall, and once having made hit
shinned around the quadrangle IN full
confidence that the mufling Of the field
ers would permit her TO get through all
right. The blue catcher wore her hair
down, and, when the umpire had called
three strikes for her, she dashed off in
u nebulous state, pursued by the ball,
and generally made her base, since the
ball was thrown wide for fear OF hit.
ting some of her. The batting was un-
ique. The bat was held above the
head as nearly perpendicular as might
be, and brought down with the grace
and force that adorn the act Of domes-
tbs discipline administered with a
broom. Naturally. almost every ball
hit was "grounder," and was scram-
bled mp and thrown with an overland
stroke. The changes in the innings
we're picturesque, cloud Of blue skirts
and forest Of blue legs advancing 10
the shelter tent, while a flock OF red
legs and caps scared out over the field.
The blue legs were the longer, and
won the match by this virtue, but the
red young women did the best catching
and fielding. Now and then a home
run was made, and then there was
general hugging aud kissing in the
tent as the victor came in. The cap
tains were specially dignifed. The
red leader was broad-faced, stout
limbed young woman, who. at one time
was known 10 the public as the chief
victim Of "show OF beauty" in this
city. Two Of the blues ago were fiat
riders of Barnum's Hippodrome. Fe-
male trapezsts, song and dance "art-
lists" aud such made up the rest of May
and Gypsies OF the troupe. When the
band played Killarney four OF the
tielders kept time TO the air with their
feet. Now and then n hall flung with
the usual vim, and caught inadver-
tently in the region OF the stomach,
brought out n suppressed scream from
the victim, and litter from the other
/ Jeunies and Gracies and Josies on the
| field. At 3 o'clock it was declared
that the score stood as follows:
Braneties.........o i-si
The manager Of this novelty put his
hand upon his heart and declared
my object is 20 start a new thing. To
develop the women of America / am
going to open here a field for their
physical perfection. There is to be
base ball, lacrosse, archery, polo, walk
ing, running, yelocipede-riding and
everything. The ponies are now in
in training. Doctors tell me il will
knock sevon-eighths OF their business
sky-high. / am going to have a tent
made go feet square 90 travel round
the country from Omaha 10 Boston. II
is going to work revolution in this
country and the world. These ladies
are all cultivated women, who of the
J field are able TO grace any drawing.
room. 1 tell you that ID is the biggest
thing that has ever occurred for the
women Of America.
One Of the women players added
that she was agoing 10 get 80 on Mon.
day or know the reason Why"