The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
THE ROAD TO GREATNESS.
How the Louisville Man Manages TO Reach
the Pinnacle of Fame.


Louisville Commercial,
Farewell, brother
"Good bve, old man.
The whistle of the engine shrieked with shrill
warning and young Mr. Ambition was borne
southwark at midnight on an L. o. n. through
sleeper to Columbus, Ga, while his brother
stepped YEARLY off the depot platform and
trudged sadly up town. with great load ON ms
heart. He would have given six years OF ms
life to have gone whirling out into the placK
night with his younger brother, but erueI
Providence had not made him an efficient pase-
ball player, and he was compelled to remain at
home and work along in hum-drum
fashion for $l5 a month, like other young
men of his station. Young Mr.. Ambition was
born twenty years ago, in fashionable, house
on Fourth avenue. For FIVE years he has been
known as favofite in youthful society. AL
though he comes of gentle parentage. our hero
was born with large arm and stout straight
legs. He could cast stone at ten years with
unerring precision, and none OF the lads at schoo
could run more than seventv-fve yards, while
he was covering one hundred. AT an early age
he was known as che best second baseman In the
Seventh ward. After awhile he added new lau-
rels to his fame by developing into q brilliant
short-stop. Then he essayed the position OF nrst
base, and acquitted himself with so much credit
that he was made captain of the infield and first
batsman in all championship games But this
was not all. Our young friend felt
that he could do as we'll behind the
home plate as any other youth of his years in
Louisville, and it was not long before he was
recognized as the prize catcher of the Seventh
Ward Daisies Then he became first class out
fielder, and finally the best third basemen in the
club Thus step by step he climbed the ladder
of fame until the top round was reached. This
was when he had mastered the ball so thor
oughly that he could pitch three distinct curves
and hold down the high-school champion to six
hits on one game. Then he became what is
called phenomenon, and Louisville was too
small to hold him
II will go away he said resolutely to his broth
er, land win fame and fortune in new field Then
I'll come back to Louisville and accept cottage
from the pubic as small token of appreciation"
Late one night nearly a year ago our young
hero, with the assistance of a friendly maid
servant logged his trunk down the back way
and conveyed it wheelbarrow to the l.. 81
N. depot, where he boarded a train for Column
bus, Ga, and signed with the Stars of that city
to play left field during the season OF 1884. His
cunning did not desert him in this far-away
cline, and even among strangers his former
efforts were speedily eclipsed. He soon became
as famous as if he had killed a man and suffered
the death sentence. Before the season closed
great triumph was In store for him. One day
during a game in which he had made three
singles, a two Dagger and one triple, with six
put-outs, five assists, no errors and home run,
many admlrlng friends presented him with a
gold badge in the shape of two bats, one ball and
a broad diamond of gold, upon which his name
was engraved in glittering letters of gothic
architecture. He clasped the gistening bauble
to his bosom, gracefully bowed his thanks,
made another base hit and signed for the sea-
son of 1885 at a salary of $75 month and board
When the season over and his club had
quilted the arena champions of the Southern
League, our hero returned to his home In Louis
vile to spend the winter with his parents and
play polo at the skating rink, where he gained
new honors and black eye. His father said to
him several days ago:
My boy, you must take a position in a bank
hot hove mad np nnd Ia ON
out of yourself. Some day you will get to be
the cashier and
"Go suddenly to Canada, interrupted the am
bilious lad. mo father, don't like your rack
ct Excuse me, if you please"
Then the youth went to bed and dreamed of
cross eyed umpire who gave every decision
against the home team and fined the local man
ager $40 for kicking On the next morning he
stealthiy packed his trunk, and at ii o'clock
last night the pathetic episode of year pre-
vous repeated Young Mr.. Ambition is
now speeding over the rail to the sunny South
land, while his brain whirls with dazzling
visions of new triumphs, new badges, new
tracts for next season and real Hecker cottage
with red front door.