The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-29
TRIALS OF A REPORTER.
ENMITIES ENGENDERED BY THE AC-
COUNT OF FRIDAYS GAME.
Merchants and Cotton Men Real Mad
at the Publication of Their Pictures
and Exploits on the Field--Second
Edition of the Report-Pa. ched Up.
[By one OF The Appeal corns.l

and paste-pot this afternoon, and take a
little recreation, our baseball man is laid
up from lock-jaw, and want you to re-
port the cotton men and merchants game"
didn't say nothing, but only smiled. l
knew there was going to be trouble, for |
never saw game OF baseball before, ex-
cept last season when President John Nor
row, Of the Southern league, played first
base for the Nashville club. John and me
never has been friends since, at least no
hasn't and cuts me dead every time we
meet on the streets. He accused me, after
my criticism, OF ignorance OF the rudiments
OF the game, and while ii was true, every
word OF it, | wasn't going to acknowledge
it, and angry words followed. My special
field is the higher. plane literary work, and
the city editor ought to know better
than 20 bring me down to dabbliry in
baseball, horse-racing ard other sporting
jim-cracks. Lcastwise, il he's dead bent
on it, he ought to take out policy to
cover accidents libel suits and other I'M
pleasant paraphernalia.
When / showed up at the Office mt 5
O'Clock yesterday afternoon, found,
among the country exchanges piled up on
my table, few communications. On the
corner Of each one of them | noticed
hieroglyphics which, after being subjected
to microscopic inspection, proved TO be the
word Important" The envelopes bore
the marks, Cotton Exchange" "Mer-
chants Exchange" "Bugh Petit K Co., Z"
III. b. Schloss & Co.." "Overton &
Grosyenor," etc. Intuition told me what
the documents contained. and the diff
Guilty in deciphering the word "lmport-
anti arose from the fact that the writers
were nervous from excitement and even
wrath. In my feeble way had written
the first serial Of my volume on the game
Friday covering the first half Of the first
lending" With the aid OF my photo
graphic friend, also produced diagrams
Of few OF the players, as they appeared
at critical moments. / didn't know the
diagrams were loaded, and the boys were
going TO be mad about it. In fact,
thought was knocking the reptile" out
and the boys would all buy fifty copies
of my paper for distribution among
their friends. But they didn't; the ex-
tras are piled up under the counang-room
table and everybody is mad at me. The
business manager says l have got TO pay
for every one OF them, which will take
Sll.35, or my salary for two weeks. This
IL the reward for faithful attempt at enter
prise and scoops.
But them letters got the Office boy
TO open them and read the contents 10 me
In an undertone, 30 my associates couldn't
get onto them and guy me. Mr. Petit,
Mr.. Schloss, Mr.. 0yerton, Mr. Massey,
Mr. Harris and Mr.. Richardson were real
angry and threatened to break my Jaw on
sight, besides swapping the paper with
damage suits. The latter concluded his
remarks with the hintful statement 81
am myself again, and don't youforget II,
and subscribed himself "Yours muscular.
ly." The Office boy saws tainted at this
point and maybe / did. But / was at a
loss 10 understand why the Two exchanges
had contributed their respects. / didn't
say nothing about them. Then the idea
dashed through my mind that maybe their
communications we're on different line
and would revive my dropping spirits.
Thereupon dismissed the Office boy, and
lremblingly tore open the secrctiye en-
yelopes. Here are the letters
MENFHis, Tenn, April q, isss
To the Lltenry Editor Of The Appeal
DEAR SiR-Your account OF the baseball
game yesterday afternoon has brought
modification and distress upon every man
engaged in IL and their friends. But of
that will say nothing further, as all Of
them ara able 10 take care OF themselves,
and wall do so, even II they have 10 drag
you out Of the Office. What desire In a
statement from you whether or not the
picture Of and remarks about "The Mas.
colt were aimed nj me. My friends have
lntinatcd belief that they were, and !
must know the truth. Yours in haste,
T.. A. KEELING,
Secretary Merchants Exchange.
This was crushing blow, for me and
I'd have been friends for forty years, or
ever since we graduated at the foot of the
slaas. ! couldn't see no reason at all why
he should have thought meant the mas.
cott for him. only saw him once Mt the
game and that wasin the lemonade stand:
i took beer, and no man can say ever
went back ON or abused a friend when he
treated 10 beer. / framed an apologize
explanation and disclaimer 10 Ed, and
Then divcd into the communication from
The Cotton exchange. Here II iG
MEnrHIs. TEEs, April q. iSSS
TO the Literary Editor Of The Appeal
DRAR Swallow me 10 protest against
the mean advantage you took Of me for
refusing 20 pay for your beer nj the game
Of baseball yesterday afternoon. II there
had not been a friend with me when you
surprised mo in the rcfreshment tent,
would have volunteered the explanation
that | was busted" As II u, / will
never do 30 now. DO You think Il fair to
rctalatc by picturing me as dude Mascot,
and "beInoaning the absence OF n certain
style II accident" which ] interpret 10
mean something 10 take me of in the
prime ~ my life. But that's all right
nenceiorth we arc friends no more, and
don't want you 10 come nosing around
the Cotton exchange again. i will not do
you violence, for there arc others, gentle
men who have no families dependent upon
them, anxious for the Job and the risk Of
term in the work housc-that Il the
wors, that could bciall them for the de.
served. vengeance. Your respectfully,
l.. G. LAllAcHE,
Assistant Secretary Cotton Exchange aud
Manager Baseball.
Holy Moscsl Now, whatever could have
posscssed EmAe 10 take that shoo2 do
not, and mover have, classed him among
the dudes simply because ho wears side
burns and talks cotton. Some Of my most
Ultimate friends DO the samo thing; In
laci, my wiios brother does Il, and he
never was dude or mascot This was
mUrc than my timid nature aud frail con.
Eiiiuilon could endure, 30 ! displayed a
white cotton handkerchief and went on n
still hunt for Id and Emile. ] was O..
rorcd by an interpreter, 10 guard against
failure In case broke down from nervous.
mess, and also 10 rescue me II an assault