The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-08-18
FROM Rutland.

or late our attention has been called to
several articles IN the Ottawa papers in re.
gard to rural Sabbath breaking by base
ball clubs in general, and the Millikin
club In particular. When, where ana by
whom we received our new cognomen
puzzles US, never having heard OF 1t until
we found II in the TRADER Of the 2lst and
2sth uit 1t looks TO our eye as though
some one was holding up the Millikins In
a special light to CRAFTY personal spite.
To our knowledge none Of our club ever
pledged their word that they would not play
ON Sunday. If they did, others Of the
club did not, and before we abdicate we
wish to be convinced that base ball on
Sunday is worse than many other things
that our Christian friends tolerate with
impunlty. For example, We venture the
assertion that there are few dooryards in
Rutland but at some time within the past
ten years have been ornamented with a
croquet set, and that set USED on Sunday
for the championship of the ground, or in
other words, to test which were the best
players present. Now is 1t any greater sin
TO throw ball through the air and strike
1t with club, than to propel it on the
ground with a malletS If there is a dis
tinction, l am unable to see the difference.
1t is no unusual thing in this town to
see team hitched up on Sunday morning
and the family start out to make visit.
No sooner are they at their destination and
their wraps laid aside, than their tongues
begin TO wag about the whole neighbor-
hood and their affairs. Their faults, fail
ings and pecularlties are held up in a
light beside which the MONDAY sun would
pale, and when they are through dissect-
ing them there Is not enough left to make
a respectable corpse. Is base ball worse
than this? We think not.
"Outsider" displays a lamentable
amount OF ignorance In regard to the play
ing at Cyrus Debolt's. He must have been
far outside or grieveously mlsinformed.
The facts are these: The Mascots were pre-
pairing for the road, and were practicing
daily; they invited our club to meet them
at Mr. Debolt's on Sunday. -Four of our
club went. The Mascots furnished our
side pitcher and made up the requisite
number from their friends present. They
were practicing batting curved balls. The
playing that was done that day was for
practice and nothing more, Our vanity
did not lead US to suppose for moment
that the crowd came either to see our good
or bad playing. They were friends of the
Mascots. Another shabby trick of Out
slder" was to throw up our good clothes to
US. Financially you will find many that
are better able, but nowhere on the top Of
Gods green earth will you find anyone
more willing to wear good clothes than we
are. We worked and earned the money,
and bought and paid for our velvet suits,
and this entities us to wear them when and
where we please. We are requested to say
that the Methodist" and MascOts are no
spring chickens, and that they are quite
able to take care of their bedragled plu-
mage, unless outsider gets too close.
Our Christian friends have well nigh cx-
haustcd the vocabulary OF vile names up
on us-heathens, Sabbath breakers, liars,
lin polite way rowdies, &c. Now, this
was not the way our Savior reclaimed evil
doors, If you think This kind OF conduct
Chrstlike; we beg the privilege 70 inform
you that on the home run y0u are lett
There Will be no gates al ar for you.
ONE OF THE PETS.