The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-01
Our ness.Isali Literature.

Bill Nys. In New York World.
lam extremely sorry that Matthew Arnold did
not live 70 read more Of our American baseball
literature. think he would have liked % bet
ter II he had done 80. In saying that we were
vulgar people and that the American humorist
was national misfortune think no criticised
Ne hastily, for no was only IN this country lit
sle while and judged our homor largely by the
supply he read while hero and which he brought
with him In his trunk. but u he could have seen
the baseball word painting of our glorious
country he would have loved us.
IL he could have read that Richardson won't
out Irwin 10 FsrrAr. that Fostsr hit safely aud
stole second, that WeIeh hisd out 90 Wood. and
oil about TiernAp's scrateh hit snd Ewins's fall.
uro 70 sacrifice and Wards miss Of q grounder
that went through him, Mr. Arnold would have
said that hs had done us Al injus,ice
We do nos claim much for our long limo OF AN
esstry, and those who came over Ia tho May.
flower try 10 conceal 10 as quietly 80 possible.
but here IN this wild and savage land We are try
Ing 10 build up olassis style OF writing mp our
na.ional. game that will make the mother eoun'
admit that cannot understand II all yet.
but an striving 70 do 90. aud am willing To
work hard.
I so,ns,imss wish that Lord Tsnnyson could
sblsachlng.boArd, with bis numerous hair hang
Ting over his top-coat. while explained TO him
"thAt 10 looked rather squAlly for the Giants for
instance. till slAttery jolted merry thunder OUT
Of the horss.hids, tore the tar out Ut the willow
smashed tho leather, aud thon, while ths Phillie
fumblsrs we're pulling dandelion green's beyond
the Harlem, the Metropolitan inhslder liz out
like future punishment beating tan.bark, ao-
eumulated ono-oaeger, Two Dagger
aud . three. Dagger. Strengthened himself
plato and made his royal red homo run just az
the New York Central rot In with the ball and
tho baud played Tommy Make Room for Your
Auntie."
Lord likes . vivid and searching style no would
ind 10 here. am only beginning 20 write In
this way, and 10 Ia new 10 me. but think can
ultimately give description OF a ball game that
will appeal TO overy heart. When began 1
would have said. for instance. that O'Rourke
swatted at the ball and missed II. TIL the pitcher
hit O'Rourke's person with II, aud then he went
TO the frat, and gradually rot 10 the third base,
but now would cay that O'Rourke, the Gothic
extended catcher for tho Giants. strove 10 belt
the blooming ball TO windwArd. mauled the at
mosphere two times, and conoussed the hfe pre-
server on the right leg OF umpire Daniels, was
presented with ono base as mark OF esteem,
and with blister AZ big rs hornets nest
where no had tried TO bisect the orbit or hot
ball with tho bosom Of his knickerbockers, ho
bunglsd second and while Mailman was muff-
ing the orb, catching invisible crabs. hukng
everything 10 sight, and corking himself gensr'
ally, ORourke lit out like scarsd.to-death bob
tail comet. fell forty feet horizontally, and with
his ear full Of hot ball. q blister across his
meridian. fractured thigh. and his mouth full
Of sand. hoarsely calculated. Judgment"
There 10 description that appeals to every
heart There Is literary moss agate that ought
to tickle man like Tennyson, unless he has
foolish prejudice against American writer's
My ambition Is some day to write the lurid
description Of q base ball game which will co
snortine down the corridors Of time. along with
BalaklavA, Marco Bozzaris aud the stubborn
youth who stood on the burning deck want
to write IL so that IL will be bright and iaunty in
style. and yet would like TO sock listle sad
ness In 1t. . description that should be rich in
coloring, and yet free from information, care
fully and professionally prepared gem Of itera-
ture that would contain about a column and
nothing else whatever.
The London Saturday Review says that what
America wants 10 literature that shall smack
Of the soiL' Here 10 the opportunity. Let the
umpire take down the remarks OF . Giant who
has tried TO reach nine feet and catch hold
Of the third base with his front teeth, and then
demand Judgment before splitting out the north
end OF the Polo grounds. BILL NYR.