Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-14
RED AND BLUE LEGS.
A High old Game of Base Ball
BY Eighteen Women - The
Blondes and Brunettes of the
Diamond Field.

DAaAAOnO II ACAus
New YORK, May 1.-THE CLERGY and
medical faculty ofthe city were invited
yesterday afternoon to game OF base
ball, between mines OF young women, on
a vacant lot at Fiity-ninth street and
Madison avenue, and quite crowd, not
distinctively clerical or medical, though
a number OF Clergymen were undOubt-
edly present, assembled. Out on a
dusty open field eighteen young women
pranced about, esSaying base ball until
the audience rOared itself hOarse. The
mines were STYLED, of course, THE
blondes and "the brunettes, and wore
respectively blue and red skirts and leg
gings. They have been in practice for
four weeks. Such playing has never
been seen, but it was certainly earnest
and even savage playing. The vicious
" whacked ball often passed the pitch
or, and the running from base TO base
was cross between a skip anda JCg-trot.
The PLAYERS wore small jockey caps atop
of their top knots and plaits, and when
ever the hats came off, which they al
wavs did. all thoughts of ball were, pro
tsmpOrs, dismissed till the disaster was
repaired. The mutting was supreme.
In the course of three hours OF really
vigorous work, about three balls were
caught on the fly in an accidental sort
of wav. There were few Of the usual
accidents. The red catcher took miss
ed ball on her eye-lid, but allowed 1t 10 fall
off while she sat down to endure the min
istratiOns offirst and third base women.
The STYLES of playing were as various as
could be. The blonde captain was very
tall. and once having made hit Skinned
around a quadrangle in full confidence
that the mutiiing of the helders 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 of IN nebu-
lous state, pursued by the ball,and gen
erally made her base, since the ball was
thrown wide for fear OF hitting some
body. The batting was unique. The
bat was held up over the head as nearly
perpendicular rs might be, and brought
down with the grace and force that
adorn an act of domestic discipline adj
ministered with a broom. Naturally
almost every ball hit was grounded,
and was scrambled up and thrown with
an overland stroke. The changes IN
the innings were picturesque. \ cloud
Of blue skirts and a forest OF blue legs
advancing 10 the shelter tent, while a
flock Of red caps and legs scared out
over the field. The blue legs were long
or. and won the match by this virtue,
lint the red Young women did the best
catching and fielding. Now and then
a home run was made, and then there
was a general hugging and kissing IN the
tent as the victor came in. The captains
we're specially dignihed. The red leader
Was a broad-iaced, stout-limbed young
woman who, at one time, was known to
the public as the chief victim OF the
''Show of Beauty" in this city. Two OF
the blues wears ago were the fiat riders
of Barnum's hippOdrOme. Female
trapezists, song and dance artistes, and
such made up the rest of the mags and
gypsies of the troupes. When the band
plaved Killarney four Of the tielders
kept time 10 the air with their feet.
Now and then a ball flung with more
than usual vim, and caught inadyertent-
IN i'm the region of the stomach, brought
a suppressed scream from the victim, and
a litter from other Jennies, and Gracles
and JOsies on the field. Ut five o'clock
il was declared that the score stood as
follows: Blondes, s, ., /, 3, 3, 0, ., !, 10
ID: Brunettes, 9, !, >, 1, D, ;, /, l, I
81. The aides TO the captain OF the
brunettes were Laura Gray, catcher;
Mile Melville, frst-base; Oracle Cln-
ton. second-base; George LOStbaum,
third base; LOttie Drake, shOrt-stop;
Naude Tremaine, centre-tield; Minnie
Nollenhauer, right-held; Sadie Howell,
left-feld. Miss Alice Lingard was the
captain of the blondes and acted rs
pitcher. Her aides were Lille Rlch-
mond, catcher; Jennie Melville, hrst-
base: Annie Adams, second-base; Lou
Shepherd. third-base; Mary Adams,
short-stop; Gipsey Melville, centre-feld; ;
Josie Arnold, right field; Tessa Ban
ruers. left field. The manager of all this
novelty put his hand upon his heart
and declared. "mv object is to start a new
thing. 10 develop women OF America. /
ann going 10 open here field Tor their
physical perfection. There Is to be base
ball. lacrosse, archery, polo, walking,
running. velocipede riding and every
thing. Ponies are now in training,
The doctors tell me it will knock seven
righhts of their business sky high. am
r6ing to have a tent made go feet
square. to travel around the country
from Omaha to Boston. 1t is going to
work q revolution in this country and
world. These ladies are cultivated wo-
men. who Oft the field, are abe to grace
any drawing room. l tell you thatit is the
biggest thing that has ever occurred Tor
thp women of America. One of the wO-
men players added that she was a
Going TO get - on Monday, or know the
reason why