The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-28

lItitl. NO USE oi tttikiilE. lllCIt1OEt
I've got YOU down for the right-feId
where you won't have much to do
but can put on all the style yol
wish
Unfortunately, / suffered mysel
to be persuaded.
The Fourth of July turned out t
be a splendid day-eool, breezy, an(
of Just the right temperature, and W,
were a jolly party that took the cars
early in the morning, and went Owe
into Jersey to spend the day.
! havn't space to describe Il fourtl
part of the history Of those hour
dissipated in the country.
There were about twenty-five
/ gentlemen, and the same number o
ladies-each of the latter having m
i escort.
1t was the expectation of us al
that our party-including the family
of the old farmer who owned tho
grove-would be the only witnesses
of this memorable contest but one
of his urchins employed himself fol
two days previous to the game in
spreading the news, so that by the
time three o'clock came, there were
/ several hundred ranged along under
the shadow of the trees to watch oul
performances.
The little rascal also pointed me
out as a former professional, who
had refused tremendous offers from
all the clubs in the country, so that
great expectations were formed con-
cerning me.
| grieve to say, however, that
overheard several disrespectful re-
marks concerning my ponderosity,
as | moved about among my friends
picked up the bats, and tried them
with the ofi-handedness Of pro-
fessional.
| was not without misgivings, for
there was nothing but my former
skill to count upon, and that was an
exceedingly slender thread.
In throwing the ball, before the
game, l tried my best to hold it, but
muffed every one, with a single ex-
ception, and that, | think, | held by
accident. But it made my hands
tingle and smart, though / didn't let
any one see it.
Ny great relief, however, was, in
observing thatall the rest were about
as deep in the mutiing business as
was and there's nothing like com
pany when you're scaredor misera-
bic.
! tried little with the bat, and
did better, forgetting that in this case
balls We're pitched precisely as |
wished them, while in the game it
would be exactly the opposite that
is, if the pitcher knew any thing
about his business.
| was the last striker of the nine,
and rs our PLAYERS were put out in
one-two-three order, il was not until
the close Of the third inning that |
stepped up to the home-plate, and
took up the ash in my old-time
style.
a good many remarks from the
crowd were audible: Knock the
stuffing out of it," He's George
Wright in disguise - Hes Dickey
Pearce, grown stouter!' - Try Anti
Fat" and similar expressions reach
ed my ears.
Ball players must be accustomed
to such annoyances, for they are
often uttered for the purpose of In
fluencing the game. But | was an
gered, and seeing the ball coming
fairly over the home-plate, | banged
away at it with all my might.
| came within about fourteen
inches of it. the momentum of my
own blow carrying me completely
around on my feet, causing my hat
to fall off and myself almost to stag
ger over ON my head with sudden
dizziness.
4 general laugh follow this failure
and my checks burned with chagrin
for | was sure that the hasty glance
which | cast down toward the grove,
showed my particular friend of the
gentle sex smiling at the figure !
cut.
Before could get in form as
they say, the second ball was pitch
ed. The umpire yelled, Strike =
Just as the cube struck me in front
and nearly took my breath away
There was another laugh, and tho
pitcher called out, BEG pardon :.
uttered Just as you Will hear it about
hundred times when a couple ot
college clubs are playing for tho
championship.
| told him it was all right, but il
I it was repeated it would be his last
performance, and | sc0wled terribly
and griped my bat in a suggestive
way.
/ drove away at the third ball. and
caught it fairly on the end of my
bat.
/ There was a sharp crack, like a
+ pistol-shot, and a roar of applause
went up from the crowd, as started
like buffalo for first base.
| didn't see the ball, but when our
captain shouted , "Come home
Come homer y | made a desperate
effort to complete the circuit of the
bases.
At the first, my hat went off But
what of it? No professional would
mind such thing. Before / reach.
/ ed second, one of my shoes shot W
in the air behind me and dropped
down on my head, and | heard
laughter mingling with applause.
BY the time | reached second
began to feel tired, and wanted Il
sit down and rest, but about all o.
our nine were chasing after me, clap
ping gtheir hands, dancingand scream
ing like lunatics.
Run il out \ home-run J The
best hit you ever made This'll vii
the gamel Run hard all the ladie:
are watching youw
couldn't think of stopping with
such indictments in my ears, thougl
/ was almost out of breath, and ;
sudden kick in my left ankle caused
me to limp and nearly fall.
went painting by second witt