Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-09-16
.BOYSOFTHE DIAMOND.
HowYoUNG AMERICA IN CHICAGO AaUsgS
HIMSBLF.
The Juvenile Of To-Day IS tho Best Judge Even Of
Professional Contests, and the 0ld-fimsn
are Anxious 10 Win His
Good Graess.
Gioaqo Tribune.

Good GraesA
| Chicago Tribune.
"The Young Rivals desire challenges
from clubs composed of members between
the ages Of twelve and sixteen"
The Tribune has within the last few
months printed items in its sporting col
umns like the above by the hundreds. And
in the base ball reports of tbs Sunday and
Monday newspapers have appeared the
records of many scores Of these amateur
clubs.
The passion for che national game, which
has reached ont and taken possession OF
the Board of Trade man, the lawyer, the
preacher, the doctor, the merchant, the
editor-men Of every class and profession
has absorbed the Young America OF to-
day to even q greater extent. And no
where is the craze 20 pronounced a. among
the Juveniles Of Chicago.
The boy of to-day is Q thorough master
of the ins and outs of the game. In his
Judgment be could umpire with as much
knowledge and IS good judgment and
probably give greater satisfaction thsn a
professional. Not o player in the National
League is unknown to him; and he may
despiss arithmetic and be Q dull lad in
itiggers" Mt school, but he can be relied
on to have at his fingers ends the batting,
fielding, pitching or base-runniDg record
OF Arson, Kelley, Ryan, GARRISON, "Old
Silver" or any one of the long lat OF men
who earn their living on the diamond.
When the clubs play in Chicago, the kid
Is in clover if he has only schemed sufii-
GENTLY to put aside the price Of admission
TO the grounds. Failing in this, he can be
found Just outside with troop Of his fell
lows eagerly awaiting his chances to cap
ture ball which has been knocked over
the fence, and the presentation Of which
at the gate insures his admission. And,
once inside, woe betide the uplucky
player who is guilty Of any rank breaks;
il is from the bleaching boards, where ja-
venility has assembled, that the first
ho Wis of derision come, and they continue
INCREASINGLY and uuspsringly throughout
the game On the other hand, the boys
set the pace for the applause when good
playing Is offered, and are just as vocifer-
Gus with their praise as they are with
their manifestations of disspproval.
Said Fred Pfeffsr once: "Give me .
10. of boys at the games-lads from twelve
10 sixteen-to pat the players on their
mettle. always cast my eyes over the
seats to ses how the kids have turned
out when start in game, and if l see a
big attendance of the little fellows | feel
that am on my good behavior and must
'plsy ball for all there is In it or suffer
the consequences. Why, l have known
the Chieagos 10 pull out Of hole just be-
cause the bowls from the bleaching. boards
stuug them so. The same feeling extends
all through the League, and the managers
recognize il, too, in many cases, and fire.
quently pick out dozen Of the lads best
versed in the game, admit them free, and
seat them Just where they can take in all
the points, with the express understanding
that 20 curb is TO be placed upon their
feelings or actions"
BOYS WILL BE BOYS.
But the boy is not satisfied with merely
seeing games; he must be a participant;
and therefore it is that, Saturdays and
Sundays, all the vacant blocks throughout
the city are pre-empted by THE Young
Rivals" the 'White Diamonds" the
prairie Waits" the Champions Of Goose
Islsnd," the 'Lsrrabee Street Red SIX"
and other clubs with equally high-sound.
ing titles. The moral atmosphere sur
rounding snch games, especially when
played Sunday, may not always be the
best; but that is not under discussion.
Sunday, it remains as fact, is largely
given over by the boys to playing this fss'
ciuating game, and while many of them
no doubt get thorough drilling in pro-
family and cigarette smoking on the Lords
Day, and the Sunday school attendance
may perhaps suffsr, undeniably knowl-
edge is being acquired by this training
that will in time develop these lads into
$40, 900 or $40, 900 PROFESSIONALS.
"Do we have any trouble because OF
these games?" said police sergeant. mo
| can't say that the boys make themselves
40 much of nuisance rs might be ex-
pected. There is generally policeman
around, aud while the little chaps may ex-
pend great deal Of force in yelling and do
little hard swearing there is little fight
ing or quarrelliug. In fact, think there
is more genuine msuliuess in little fellows
dozen years old than in boys seventeen
to twenty-thoss whose mustaches are
sprouting and who aspire TO be dead rank
tough and rush the can fill up on had
beer, and generally wind up their games
with q free fight. The smaller boys, too,
are moee considerate than the older ones,
and people living in the neighborhood
where games are played seldom ask Us to
stop the sport of the smaller fry, while
there are frequent calls to stop the
tough gangs OF which / have spoken"
A visit to one OF the games Of the twelve
year-olds and under that age Is we'll worth
taking. Ia fact, the base ball enthusiast
can probably derive more satisfaction from
Satching such game than in witnessing
O contest between the leaders in league
contest.
The boys straggle in from all directions
toward y common point. The look of eager
expectancy, and ct the same time Of grim
determination upon each visags, is study
in ITSELF
The captain Of the Young Rivals, the
vi " Ccb Oh DuiCh oSAOOt, eiOCtc
the nightly chief OF the White Diamonds,
who claims the belt on Eighteenth street
and Blue Island avenue, with lofty look
of superiority, which is returned with o
stony glare Of defiance.
BEGINNING THE BATTLE.
eli, dere, Eddy bring on de batsr'
A boy staggers toward the home plate,
bearing az armful Of bats, most of which
are twics as long rs himself. Then some
one fishes ont cent; the captains Of the
opposing hosts Zip for position, and the
Young Rivals take the field, with the
White Diamonds at bat.
The pitcher Of the Young Rivals stands
in the box, twirling the sphere with the
skill of veteran. He poses on his toe
with Clarksonian air that would be ludi-
r