New-York tribune., 1886-07-18
A BASEBALL GAME IN JAPAN.
QUEER RULINGS OF A BLACK-EYED UNI
pIRE.
THE FIRST AND LAST JAPANEsE-AMERIcAN GAME
ryns IN RACE ACEOss COUNTRY.
Washingtoa, u. C., July 10, 1885.

THE FIRST AND LAST JAPANEsE-AMERIcAN GAME
rvDs IN A RACE ACROSS COUNTRY.
II rny seem strange to the free-bora American
citizen that there 81 ould be any Intellect unable to
grasp the intricaces of tho game of baseball Some
times it is true the feminine min d-not having had the
necessary co-educatIonal adva tages-is unable to
seize the fine nonts Of "dou)la plays' or to recog
uize an "errorr At sight. The tale that q sun
Drowned specta poured into the ears Of reporter
at the Polo Grounds the other day, would seem to
Indicate however that there are whole race; SO con-
structed mentally to ail in appreciation of the true
inwardness of the game The stranger, whose mahog-
any -coIored skn broad brmmed hat OF finest straw,
and light clothing of unconventional cut. gave him
semi oriental air had been warmed mp to enthusiasm
by a sharply contested game of ten innings. When
it was over and the catcher lad removed his mask and
liver pad this tanned spectator with the Eastern air
grew communicative.
@That was a good game' said he "but there wasn't
halt the fun it that there in the last one played
ed I've been in Japan for the last ten years and base
ball players professional collegiate. not as m
portant members of society there in this country.
One of my schoon ates who emigrated to Japan
with me- went to teaching school and built mp
quite little academy back in the centre Of the island
The Japs make the most dutiful of schoolboys but
they're gre garous in II cir sports, and my friend
thought it might promote the true schoolboy spirit If
they learned tie lascnations OF baseball. He abored
long and faithfully with them. full set OF rules, in
cluding that important one about not throwing beer
glasses at the Umpire. were translated INTO purest
japanese aud the w-Iegged little followers of Con-
ucius practsed throwing and stopping hot liners
When be thought his nine sufficiently trained he
wrote to me in Yokohama. asking to get up an
other nine the Ame rican clerks there and come
out Tor u little international game. 1 used 10 Ilay
one old cat down in the meadow lot in old Connec-
cnt, the days forgot to go TO school well
a more preentious variety OF the game known as one
two three. This last we played the village green
recess-that precious fifteen minutes of liberty
which brightens every three hours confinement in
hot schoolroom. So, you see, was pretty we'll up
on the old fashioned game though these new tangled
rules ould have been too Gu tor me- and easily
got together nine to go and play the youthful Japs
That was great game. 1t was equally the first
and the last of the international championship series
and as it ended in a somewhat riotous and wholly
indecisiye manner, the question OF baseball suprema-
CIV has yet to be fought between the Oriental and
Occ' ental civilization. / he umpire was jap who
spoke English That the first difficulty under
which we labored When a disputed point arose the
whole OF the other niue wOuc lutter classic japan
ese at him by the yard. evidently quoting al the
fathers from Confucius down while our good old
Anglo-Saxon eIpletires were lost him. Ibis with
d
trim for running soon put us on the wrong side OF the
tally sheet. Matters grew until in the fourth
inning, when hit upon a bright idea. | Knocked a
grOundtr and started for rst-base at nv best stop
thatcar speed The fat little shortstop fell on the ball
in bis usual haphaZard but lucky fashion licked il
up let it drive at SUM Toxic the biackeycd first
baseman sunni caught 1t like little man aud stood
squarely IN my path with his artless japanese smile
and the ball. Acting under sudden Inspiration |
lodged TO the left. executed n flank movement ana
react ed the base before sunni realized the situation
Then there was "a hnbbub. The almOnd-eyed Japan
umpire stood to his gum. however. lie SAID that
had reached the base without being touched and that
| was therefore safe according 10 all law and prece-
dent Ny men were 30 conS ulsed with laughter that
the next one who came To the bat knocked a feeble
daisy cutttI into the secoDd baseman's hands and
then ran me of my base | started Tor second, hos
eyei fully determined 10 steal that base if Yankee in
gennity could do IT, sunni the blatkeyed first basemau
hot upon my trail. dodge to the right but the
second baseInan was prepared and headed me oil
Finally outmanOeuyred him and got be cen him
and the base. But new difficulty awaited me- The
ceutre fielder had played up in good shape and GOV.
cred the ba-e The ball thrown to bim by the now
breatless baseman aud was again headed oil. cir
eled about H. the hope Of Turing the fielder from the
base and succeeded But this prohted nothing. for
by that time the hole jar anese nine was gathered
around that base in a state bordering on insanity
After two three revolutions In my orbit | broke
away for neighborng rice field with the whole nine
at my heels aud the umpire running along to fair
play. Finally laughter and an unseen obstacle
brought me to tie gfOund The centre fielder Jumped
upon me and pounded me triumphantly with the ball
while the umpire officially, and with much solemnity
as his lack Of breath permitted. declared me out
That broke up the game Ny men fairly doubled
up with Laughter and my friend the schoolmaster
ragged up and down. filled with scorn and wrath
against his unfortunate pupils. into whose heads he
base bali with this ludicrous result lie sent them
home in disgrace kept them after school every aay
Tor week until the bitterness Of failure wss forgot
teu.D