Telegram-herald., 1888-06-01
eooo sToar ON AnsoN


A tall hshlrh2ired u.an, dressed Ia a suit
ef black 9oxs1ed. st4lked Down south Park
axenGe ons eVeniag recently, says tie Cha-
eago Herald, Leading = little f4xen-haiFed
xixl Of ten sumuners. As the httle 0Ee
tripPed sioog the nsxstones she kept rp
sach an lzcssssnt chatter that sn ssnost
con stant sElile oxerspresd the san5Crned
features of the bsg maa. The boys on the
street corners ceased their noisy sports as
the couple passed and followed oa after.
At Ihs corner OF Thirty-third sfFeet the iit-
tlo enc withdrew her hand from the big
mans grasp snd ran up TIE steps OF a
ehzrch, laughing and shouting alternately
70 a group OF little girls about her age that
stood IN the vestsbale. Sun smiling, the
man with the red face aseended the stone
steps and followed the children into the s2nc-
tusFy, where . May pole festival was To %
he'd
The sunburned nan sought seat on one
side Of the big room, and looked over tho
audience IN search Of a familiar face tte
saw none. Five minutes later . bright lad
IA kn.ckerboskers passed him on the run.
As the boy raced by he gave one glance AZ
the sunburned man. and carted on TO .
crowd Of boys about bis own age and ira
parted 10 them some seemingly startling IN
formation. Their same Of tag stopped, aud
. short meeting OF very confidential
nature was held A few seconds later the
big man WAS confronted By At least twenty
five whispering boys The lads acted IS
though they wanted 70 say something TO
the sunburned man, but none could muster
up the proper amount OF courage. The boy
IN knickerbocksrs seemed 10 have an inspi-
ration, for be dArted away from his con-
panions and ran 10 tho side OF fashionably
dressed lady and tugged away az the drs-
perry OF her overskirt until something gave
way before no attracted her attention.
After borrowing . pm from the lady she
was talking with, the boys mother fshed
out stub Of pencil and calling card
from her pocket and gave thcn 10 the boy.
dis companions we're still debating and
eyelng the big man when the boy with the
pencil and card came up and hurriediy tod
Them his plan. They ecquiesced, and the
boy with tae pencil advanced toward the
big man, closely followed by the others
''Piease, sir, aia't you Captain Ansonl" the
lad asked
That's my name" said the famous cap
tain Of the Chicagos. with dignity. "What
can do for yori Are you . ball plsyeri
Tn always on tEo lookout for colts, and IL
you want trial 80 over 10 the ball park any
morning except Sunday and I'll see what's
In you
The little fellow and his chums laughed,
said they played ball some, but all they
wanted was his autograph
Certainly, boys; produce your contracts
and III sign 'era" For the next fifteen
minutes the big first baseman was kept
very busy writing . ~ c. Anson" on slips
OF paper and cards. When the captain
had finished with the boys be raised his
eyes. only 10 meet the laughing glances Of
q half dozen or more young ladies', every
one OF whom had pencil and paper in her
hand. The big captain, who had bluffcd
many an umpire, showed signs Of confu-
sion and locked about him for some channel
CT escape, but saw none He was hemmed
IN. lie accepted the situation, and face
tiousIy aid: Batter up.u The young
girls giggied. blushed and modestly handed
out blank cards and skipped away, after
thanking the sunburned man for favor ex-
tended. Young, married, middle-aged and
elderly ladies' took the places OF the young
misses, and gentlemen followed thsm,
for the news OF the presence Of
Captain Anson had spread over tho audi
encc, and every ono wanted TO see him.
The gentlemen didn't want the captain ;
autograph. Some talked about baseball
and the probable result OF the race for the
peuasnt, while Others talked On religious
topics. Tho man who commands the cor.s-
Ing champions was educated AZ Notro
Dame, and. althou~h a httlo rusty on re-
hxious matters. he remembered enough TO
keep up his end Of the argument When
the conversation Jagged. the captain said
by way Of explanation that his little ten
yenr-old daughter had been very anxious 20
take part IN too festivities that evening.
aud. "a Mrs. Anson was III, he escorted his
daughter there. tail. disnified-lcoSing
gentleman. who had been listening 70 the
conversation some time, then introduced
himself a. The superintendent Of the Sun
day school, and shook tbs big mans hand
cordially. hc had read a great deal about
the manner IA which the captain had edu-
Gated Young baii-plsvcrs, and had over
heard the conversation on religious mat
ters. lie was much impressed, and ex-
tended Chicags's great captain an invita-
ton 20 take boys class IN Ssbbafh-school.
How would you Ike that, boysp' the
captain said.
First rate replied al = chorus.
4" You'd have 20 mind OF I'd punish yoa
"what would you DOR
"Oh guess I'd give you pass to the
bal game"
sDo come, We won't mind a. ALL the
bows said sTnid laughter, and waile the
captain was framing some excuse tao OPEN
fnr scene q the evenings festivities was
announced. and the captain escaped fur
f...~-