West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-12-04

1880 the show-prnters had the bulge on
the press for theatrical advertising. All
the observations which have been ma 10
from time TO time, howeve~ on the discoy-
erleS male among the ruins OF Chicago
are as naught, when we consider the
opportunity which il now given Us Tor
speculation and study by the great
Ind Just recorded by Prof Schle-
mann. From our news dispatches to-
day. we learn that the plan which the
pro o.eSSor has been following i'm his
work Cf exp lra ION and excavation in
Chicago, that of investigating the posi-
uon oil the corner Stoues among the
debris OF the largest structures, has re-
suited in the glorious success chron-
iclcd to-day, which is nothing less than
the discovery of numbers ot the da ly
papers under dates in September and
October, cf the year 1885. They give
long accounts Il most singular and
curious game. which, from the reports
seemed TO excite goodly number of
people to the highest pitch. In one
place an alllsi0n is made TO the coming
'battic of the giants" and the dcclara,
ton Is made that in the first game, Nc
Cormick, who must have been a very
celebrated man. will pitch for the
home team" What a teld for opera
tons in scientific research has opened
before us! Let us find out something
authentic in regard to the stature of
these giants; let us ascertain what
the features of this game of so-calcd
base-ball' were; let us rob the express
sions: "Ausou's hot-llncr." "Welch's 5
sky-scraper' and "krlly's daisy-cut-
ter. OF the mystery which surrounds
them. When we shall have been able
70 comprehend the meaning OF ~ rank
decision 10y the umpire" the statement
that 'Durgan was given base on
balls, the report that Williamson
flew out TO Gerhardt, and the cm-
phatic accusation that Gore took
chances, and stole second" we shall.
doubtless, have clear insight 70 the
peculiar customs and characteristics of
the people who lived IN Chicago i'm that
ancient epoch, together with some
understanding of their pastimes and
principal occupations. The mater al
now n the prOies or's hands will re-
qu.rc years TO exhaust by deliberate
study and scholarly criticisms. for how
long will it not take to master the sig-
niiicance of expressions like these.
"Spalding's Salvationists followed
amid tremendous enthu,iasm;" 'An-
sons infants have gained all the glory
there is in the world" New York.
boodlc-bearers have dropped both god
and glOry;' '',hc mascot stood on his
head Dal' let Gerhardt throw him
out at first Gillespie hit four bases"
lnow that man must have been Il
giant ]; "Counor stole one base on
Sunday this makes il clear that their
moral natures were sadly blunted
kelly : hDme-run was received with a
mighty yell etc.
The pulling quotations give but a
faint idea of the bew ldering mass Of
material Prof Schliemann has secured
among the ruins of Chicago. "A city.
which, judging by the report that "fve
thou and people were around the dia-
mond," mu have been one OF gigantic
splendor and unequa'cd resources We
have reason 10 cOngratu ale ourselves
on the brilliant results of Prof Schlie-
mann's labor and upon the valuable
addition he has made TO the history OF
America. True enough, it may b.
years before we shall get at the prec SO
meaning OF the assertion that "in the
poOl-rOOms men went mad, which sad
condition OF affairs, they tell US, was
brought about by "betting on run orno
NAAA III 'Aif EHAl NnllIllE III huOlilfI
account il is stated that "the pool-ioom
was suddenly emptied, and for n few
minutes loose tee h and bloody noses
were very plenty in the alley" All this
occurred i'm connection with what
was known as "base-ball" and the
meeting of the giants" From
this VIC should Judge that their
national game was of barbaric
nature, and that the people were
fond of violence. This idea is borne
out by the report that "Kely wanted
TO black Curry's eye for him. .n This
game OF base c-ball' must also have
been 20 the taste Of the masses. because
the papers containing the reports Of the
game were extra editions, and we are
tod that they sold ike hot cakes. "
Hot cakes must have been plenty and
cheap among that very peculiar people.
IL seems To us that men must have at
tained great eminencc in that city by
their connection with the "league," for
we learn that cXclamations like the fol
lowing were made on IN ''ground} and
in the ''pool rooms That " McCor-
mick is fine dandy" the Harlem
twirler IS no slouch.' ''no flies now on
tn pennant for Anson3' "what "a lalla
Gore is;' that 20 ROurke is a holy ter
ror.' Williamson can down them
all, and "Mutrie is a kicker"
We shall look with interest for fur
ther report from Prof Schliemann.
and with great curiosity for his under
standing Of the contents Of the papers
discovered. for 10 must be conceded that
the day these papers s were printed must
have been a red-lctter one in the Gallon.
dar, and that the accounts in them Of
the excessive strain of excitement en-
dured by the people over the "base-baI,
game" will prove study of intense
interest ChtcagO J0UrHN
Sleeping Time Of Fish.