The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17
On the BAN Ground.
Youths Companion.

n IL
An smaieur baseball match syskiiled per
formers is for many reasons spectacle wor IA
contideIinP. IL is certainly very pretty
sight, with the youthful players In neat, gay
uniforms dotting the close shayen green, add
the ladies In summer b'illiancy seated rank
aboveIank on benches like ihsss OF a circus,
while boys squat on the grass IN groaps, or
lie down with head ard heels In the Dir. OF
catch glimpse OF the game from some dis
tant corner Oh n pile OF boards higher than
the fence.
lisa very striking spectacle when the
game is At critical point, and all eyes are
strained TO watch the issue OF a'capital
stroke. We have seen farmers on load OF
hay, on day threatening showers, come 10
a halt and liDger Tor whole hour, unable TO
SET away from the fascination OF the contest
New England people, who are not gifted in
cheering, really abandon themselves 10 APP
rlause when favorile player saves the
game by great hit or splendid catch.
They cheer like New Yorkers-slmost.
People who think the human race Is dstA-
ricIaiipg in America do not iind confirms
ton OF their theory on the Background
Both the strength and the beauty oil the /.
man form are exhibited there in as near I
approach to pefectlon IS In the areas OF
Greece when Phidias and Pfaxlteles seal ,.
turt Il.
This game calls into the most active exsr.
also shows off the symmetry OF a fine form
10 great advantage. and We are sure that our
ball players could furnish to sculpture
shasts as perfect as those OF The accepted
Apollo.
The undiminished excelleucs of the manly
form we have also an opportunity OF noting
OF. the bathing beach az Newport every after.
mon at one O'CLOCK. when the ascent OF 5
fay announces that bathing in the natural
way is permitted In an in, tsnt the beach is
covered with Apollos, many OF which Pnidias
whould have been glad TO translate into
snowy marble or i'm perlshaole bronze. Mach
has changed in three thousand years, BAT
IL Q human form divine ha, rot changed.
Bsse ball is now TO Americans what cricket
has long been to Englshmen. Unfortunately
the practice OF professional playiog han bs.
cone almost universal in this county. Taere
are professional cricket in Eng.snd bat
they are comparatively few. Oace year there
is q great match OF gentlemen against
play era" in which, by the way, the gentle.
men sometimes come OIL vic;ors
In this country every large town supports
It's local club OF professional bsll players. who
are paid salaries. and spend their whole time
in doing nothing but playing ball. IL
census were taken this year probably more
than three thousand young men would class
their occupation as baseball plsye rs."
That the business is a bad one for the
youpg men themselves, every one ca see
That 1t has bad tender CT among those who
90 TO professional matches is evident 10
thoughtful observers. The numerous bet.
ting places and 'pcol-rooms" in the large
cities where throngs OF men aud boys Assem-
bic to gan bic over the result OF ball games,
are evidence of the effect which professional
base ball has upon n class OF the community.
There Is no better or more exciting sport
than base ball; but let IL be al athletic sport
In the innocent eense, and not . Dntest be-
tween hired men, who may be hoaest or not
Let the boys train their own bodies and as.
mire physical perfection in others; bat let
them not m axe heroes OF the PROFESSIONALS
who devote themselves to . LIE which no