Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-09-13

The Antics of Girls on "a Base hall
biRmOnd-Kftfenish Play.

The largest audience of the season,
uesrly . 0D0 people, assembled at Quick.
stop Pa,k Fidsy afternoon to watch
the kittenish prsrkR If two tern OF
female base bsllists in short skirts aud
colored stockings at play. Among the
audience were large pumber of women,
and the liberal sprinklinR Ct gray heads
among the occupants of the grand stand
indicated that the front. row at-the show
del cation was out in force. The players
arrived at :hs field shortly after o'clock,
aid Scusht ssc'uEion from the gaze OF the
irqni sitive and protection from the sun
beneath come odds and ends Of canvass
stretched on poles. The teams called
'hsinseves the blondes aud brunettts
7 he iurmeT wsrs dressed in white flannel
skirts. cuinif z to the knee, trimmed with
blue; st ckihgs of blue, aud "pstty"
hats alike in color and trimming. The
byunettes We're similarly at,ired, save
their suits were trimmed with red.
The matiar OF selecting an umpire, left
with the captains of the two teams is
always one that proves troublesome. The
blonde captain has a preference for bru-
nettes and the brunette for blondes.
They demand an umpire should be impair
tiRi aud handsome. After short search
among tue ball enthusiasts present,
Charles Watt, formerly manager OF the
Quickstep club was selected as filling the
till in every particular. When Watt
recognized the compliment thus paid him,
he colored perceptihly, but his confusion
soon subsided, aud thu Play began.
The blondes went to the field and the
game of running after the ball began.
Tba Y,it i,har nf fba blnudaa uua tol
angular girl, scarcely ont of her thirtiss,
and delivered the ball in a reckless style,
which brought terror alike to the catcher
ard batter. Occasionally one of the
bait, RS would thump the bal, sending it
out of the hslf-sizsd diamond, which
would guarantee home ruu. Strikes
.reqdeutly took the batters around the
three bases safely. Their wild and
heroic pursuit of the recresnt bali was
sight for painter. None had
the hardihoo6 to attempt to capture
fly and the feet did service to stop
Rrounder. The catcher did not mask and
She blonde pitchers support was careful
lsast the ball would come In contact with
her hapds. The running Of the girls was
most laubhable. They ambled around the
bases with an awkwardness usually
attributed 10 Wsb-luOttu IOwl. AT the
bat their attitudes aud costume with the
willow ever their backs was rather
picturesque.
For the blondes the pitcher ard first
basemau did all the growing. The
| pitcher kicked (igurativsly) upon the
sligtsst provocation, and the position OF
umpire became anything but envisble. In
one instance Wait sent batter to frat
on strikes, when the angular blonde
shaking her fist under his nose, requested
him to learn the difference between
strik "a and balls before attempting to fill
the position again. AT another time she
informed the umpire that he was getting
funny for not telling her if batted ball
was fair or foul. Some, however, sub
mitted TO Watts decisions with a be-.
witching smile, and believed him gal
liant umpire.
The game continued until O'Clock, by
which time the sssemblage having seen
sufficient Of the kittens play had In the
main lett the ground. When game was
called the score stood blondes, 35 ;
brunettes, 81. One side played with but
eight girls, one having eloped, while the
club stopped at Chester, with a young
man from that city. Speaking Of the
difficulties he had to contend with the
manager stated his IS girls were more
trouble to manage than whole herd Of
prima donnas.