, 1884-05-10
The National Game.

Gentle reader, we are appealing to
the ruder sex, did you ever tackle
base ball? If you never did, don't
do it. 1t is game comingling ami.
nation with stiff joints, amusement
and broken fingers; little pleasure
and a big per cent. of bruises,
sprains, bumps and things pertain
ing to assault and battery. 1t is a
beautiful game to look at. You SEQ
nine men scattered about a large
field, and nine others huddled about
the lower point of a diamond out
lined on the ground called the home
base. One man stands in advance
with a club poised in the air. There
is look Of doubt sprinkled with ex-
pectatiOn in his eye. In the centre
Of the diamond another fellow, the
pitcher, fondles a globular object
called ball. 1t is a simple looking
little affair, but one does not fully
realize the possibilities of the play
thing until he catches it on his nose
or the ends of his fingers. 1t is not
quite as hard as billiard ball nor as
soft as a ten-pin ball, and when taken
on the fly feels as though just from
red hot oven. The object Of the
pitcher is to put the ball where it
will do the most good, /. e., where,
the striker can't hit it, or if he does,
where it will drop into the hands Of
one of the other eight fellows, who
watch every movement with hungry
anticipation. Bang goes the ball,
whang goes the club, If the ball is
within reach, ofl1e striker almost
turn inside out his anxiety to
hatten the globe. If he hits it he
starts out for first base as though the
lives Of community depended on
his getting there. If the fielders are
mutfers and fail to pick up the BALI
and throw it to the base in time, he
saves the base. And 50 the game
goes. Those in strain every nerve
to stay in, while the outs are work.
ing harder than galley slaves to get
in. The play is overlooked and reg
ulated by a party who. stands near
the striker and is known as the UNI
pire. Dread and spasmOdic unccr--
tainty fits athwart his brow. If he
says one thing there are nine very
xrnipng hnorl
says another the other nine lift up
their wall and wall. Perhaps there
is no position in life that is more
thankless than that of an umpire in;
a match game, unless it may be that
of running a paper. If most men
posted in the game were to be asked
their choice between serving in that
capacity and dying, would merely
eXclaim "Brlng on the executiOner."
An old player can be readily picked
out of a crowd. His finger Joints
will be found scrttered along his
arms all the way from the wrist to-
the shoulder. His nose generally
looks as though he had been in the
WY VI bINhH hiOPpVu AIOiil u BItdG
hight and there Is strange habit of
throwing up his hands at the passage
Of an object, indicating the ruling
passion strong in life Of taking
things on the lily. Our people may
possibly nave an'OppOrtunity Of wit,
Messing some of the eccentricities of
base ball, as an organization has been
effected in our midst. Quite a mum,
Der Of our young men have expressed.
a desire for exerciseand there being
n tread mill handy, propose to get
up muscle by playing ball, and eXme-'
plifying to neighbOrs that the know
ledge of how to do il Is confined to.
the limits Of this place. OF course
this is problematical, as we have ex--
perienced the cnagrin Of discovering.
that the other club sometimes Is
pretty well posted. However, the
boys have the enthusiasm, the
grounds, the inn le nents Of warfare
and propose to Try conclu ions with
any p9rty desiring tocOn lude.. The
Spokane Base Bah Club Is hOw O,len
for contra Is and the hrst bid. w.
anxi0usly booked for