Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-23
He was doubtless a newspaper re-.

newly acquired knowledge, l whispered
to my teacher: ..This is wasting time,
why don't they play?'
A half amused look from him andthe
answer: "They are half through the
game
'.You do not mean | began.
81 mean" he answered with clabor-
ate precision, 'that they have never
ceased playing.'
then made a mental resolve to in
terrogate my left hand guide. A
woman would be less clever in the
intricacies of this modern puzzle. She
would be lenient and patient. just
then a Blue started on Il run and after
a furious race he suddenly fell sprawl
ing, with arms outstretched and legs
| extended.
''Great heavens. he is killed!' l cried
in an agony of dread. Surely his head
struck a square stone which happened
! to be at that corner l trembled from
| head to foot and convulsively grasped
the arm of my friend.
.'Hush." she said. che only fell in
order to touch his base"
''But such criminal carelessness as
to have stones in the way [ answer
back Indignantly.
"The stonei is the base and he dropped
to touch it, said the laughing voice
of this woman-wholly equal to base
ball.
Then why not stoop and touch it?"
I asked with the blood consciousness
of right.
A lightning glance from her and 1
continued:
'He looked like a lizard after a
wagon has run oyer it."
This brilliance was lost in a new
commotion. To me it was pande-
monium; to others clear us MONDAY.
They smiled, and clapped hands, and
nodded knowingly to each other; and
the great crowd cheered like madmen.
One ball multiplied to six. The Blues
and Athletes darted here and there
without system, some running to one
corner of the little foot-path and some
to another, while a few remained in
one spot and continued to alternate
their feet in spite Of the man with the
book and his derisive shout of ''foul.'
At that moment put him out! put him
OUT" was yelled by 4 hundred voices.
rs there a thief about?n | inquired
timidly.
No answer to my question, but
another shout from the spectators, wild
racing, furious yells. intermingling of
the brown and the blue uniforms, when
in Il %twinkling the Athletes dartcd away
and left the Blues to $50 it alone"
Among artists this blurred chaotic
mass might be called an impressive
picture, so tartling was the resemblance
to some great work of the modern
school. ''See Naples and die" ought
to be changed into "Paint baseball us
it is and die" Put Il quantity of paint
on a great canvas. let four giants bring
it down suddenly and expertly; and
presto! the impressionist has the pict-
ure and frame too. Such were my
~infantile and not very elcvating
thoughts when the voice at my left
exclaimed delightfully."-: "Athletes
eleven to four" Her fair face beamed
with satisfaction and herhands clapped
softly together. 1 seized the pfopitious
moment of her restored good humor.
to seek information on what was to me
the most vital and p%erpleNing part of
the game.
"My dear" I asked earnestly, "tcll
me how such young boys learn this
difficult game?"
1t will be understood that by this
time | was eating a goodly share of
humble pie. My friends sole answer
was a look after the manne of Il city
belle to her rustic cousin, and then she
turned away from me. Not to be
snubbed, I boldly plucked the sleeve of
a mild-faced old gentleman who stood
near me, and said:
"Sir, will you tell me how these ten
der boys acquire such dexterity and
strengthgn
''Boys:?" he asked.
"Yes,n I answered with fine enthusi-
asm, ''this is marvellous for such young
fellows
A smile leaped into his eyes and he.
too, turned to watch the game.
Baseball is not conducive to good
, manners" | unused, ''whatever it is
for muscles"
.'Thc pitcher is out of his box
shrieked Il small urchin near.
"What does that mean?" l asked.
cit means this came the patient
explanation from the forgiving teacher
at my right, ''the person standing in
the center is the pitcher; there is an
imaginary line around him called the
box. He has no right to get outside
this imaginary line
Eyes, yes, | see. he pretends to be a
pitcher in a bowl-or box"
This pitcher in his box CD was a
conspicuous individual. Heperformed
marvellous feats in throwing. and he
held the ball oh! so tenderly. He
caressed it full moment each time be-
fore sending it from him. 1t was the
old smile Of the cat and mouse. He
pressed the ball. patted it, turned it
about, looked at it adoringly then sud
denly and cruelty hurled it away as
one would hurl Il viper. A vague hope
stirred my soul at this period, that the
game was about to be developed to q
point within my comprehension. Its
wild trimmings, sudden sprawlings, base
touchings, were still ~insolvable riddles.
Nevertheless, l decided not to be a
skeleton at the feast of fun, hence the
inane smile Of an imbecile spread itself
dutifully over my face.
What have the Blues done now?' ]
mOdnct1v innuiraH ne toy,;fc cbout