Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-03
GOOD STORY on ANsON.


Asked to Teach a sunday School Class.
A tall, light-haired man, dressed in suit
Of black worsted. stalked down South Park
avenue one evening recently, says the Chr
cago Herald, leading little fiaxen-haired
girl Of ten summers. AS the little one
tripped along the f1agstones she kept up
such an incessant chatter that an almost
constant smile overspread the sunburned
features of the big man. The boys on the
street corners ceased their noisy sports as
the couple passed and followed on after.
AT the corner of Thirty-third street the lit
tie one withdrew her hand from the big
mans grasp and ran up the steps OF a
church, laughing and shouting alternately
to group of little girls about her age that
stood in the vest!bulc. Still smiling, the
man with the red face assembled the stone
steps and followed the children into the sane
tuary, where May pole festival was TO be
held
The sunburned man sought seat on one
side of the big room. and looked over the
audience in search Of familiar face he
saw none. Five minutes later bright lad
in knickerboekers passed him on the run.
As the boy raced by he gave one glance at
the -sunburncd man, and oarted off to
crowd Of boys about his own age and i'm
parted to them some seemingly startling N
formation. Their game Of tag stopped, and
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 as
though they wanted to say something TO
the sunburned man, but none could muster
up the proper amount of courage. The boy
in knickerbockcrs seemed to have an inspi-
ration, for he darted away from his COM
panions and ran to the side of a fashionably
dressed lady and tugged away at the dra-
perry Of her oversight until something gave
way before he attracted her attention.
After borrowing PIN from the lady she
was talking with, the boys mother tished
out stub of pencil and a calling card
from her pocket and gave them to the boy.
His companions were still debating and
cycling the big man when the boy with the
pencil and card came up and hurriedly told
them his plan. They acquIesced, and the
boy with the pencil advanced toward the
big man, closely followed by the others.
''Please, sir, amt you Captain Ansonw the
lad asked.
That's my name" said the famous cap
tain of the Chicagos, with dignity. "What
can do for you! Are you ball player!
I'm always On the lookout for colts, and if
you want a trial go over to 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 I'll sign 'em." For the next fifteen
minutes the big first baseman was kept
very busy writing " a. c. Arson" on slips
of paper and cards. When the captain
had finished with the boys he raised his
eyes, only to meet the laughing glances of
half dozen or more young ladies', every
one of whom had a pencil and paper in her
hand. The big captain, who had bluffed
many an umpire, showed signs of confu-
sion and looked about him for some channel
OF escape, but saw none. He was hemmed
in. He accepted the situation, and face
tiously said: Batter up" The young
girls giggled, olushed 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 them,
for the news of the presence of
Captain Arson had spread over the audi
ence, and every one wanted to see him.
The gentlemen didn't want the captains
autograph. Some talked about baseball
and the probable result of the race for the
pennant,' while others talked on religious
topics. The man who commands the COM
ing champions was educated at Notre
Dame, and, although a little rusty on re-
ligious 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
ycar-old daughter had been very anxious to
take part in the festivities that evening,
and, as Mrs. Arson was i'll, he escorted his
daughter there. A tall, dignifed- looking
gentleman, who had been listening to the
conversation some time, then introduced
himself as. the superintendent of the Sun
day-school, and shook the big mans hand
cordially. He had read great deal about
the manner in which the captain had edu-
Gated young ball-players, and had over
heard the conversation on religious mat
tiers. He was much impressed, and ex-
tended Chicago'S great captain an invita-
ton to take boys class in Sabbath-schooi.
How would you like that, boysP' the
captain said.
First rate" replied all in chorus.
YOU'D have tc mind or I'd punish you.
"What would you do!''
ooh guess I'd give you pass to the
ball game"
do come; we won't mind at ALL" the
boys said, amid laughter, and while the
captain was framing some excuse the open
ing scene of the evenings festivities was
announced, and the captain escaped fur