The true northerner., 1889-03-20
VOTED IT GOOD SPORT.
TIE LONDON VIEW OF THE AMERI-
CAN NATIONAL GAME.
4 Wei 1-Contested Game at the Oval
Cricket Grounds Witnessed by 5000
Spectators, Including the Prince al
VALE -Corditlly Received.


Gable dispatch from London.l
The American baseball teams played their
irst game upon English soil on Tuesday after
aoon, and aside from the miserable condition OF
he weather, tho event may without doubt be
out down as the most memorable I'm the history
of the American national game. The drizzling
ain which was falling when the boys turned out
d bed ia the morning ceased toward noon, only TO
give place 10 n genuine representative London
og. which settled down like a pail upon the city
- well as upon the spirits Of the players. Pres-
lent Spalding sdetermined 70 carry out the pro-
gramme announced, however IL il was in
any way practicable, and at half-past twelve
o'clock the teams entered two handsome
irags in front OF the First Avenue
Hotel and were driven TO Kensington
Oval. Here a number OF prominent membersSpf
the Surrey Cricket Club had prepared an elabo-
rate luncheon for the party, the committee which
received the players as they entered the club
house consisting of the Duke OF Buccleuch, the
Duke OF Beaufort, the Earl OF Coventry the Earl
of Bessborough. the Earl of Sheffield the Earl
of Londesborough, Niscount Lewisham, Wis
sount ONenbridge, Lord Charles Beresford Lord
kinnaird, Lord Hawke Lord Lyttleton, the
Lord Mayor, Mr. White Charge d'Affaires OF the
United States; Mr. Waller, Consul General OF
ne United States Sir Reginald Hanson, aud
Dr. w. q. Grace. The forInalties of introduc-
lion over, Nscount Oxenbridge as Chairman Of
the committed welcomed the teams TO England
and 10 London in an address which, though
brief, was thoroughly expressive OF the warmest
hospitality.
During the repast which followed the Ameri-
sans were made through the courtesy and the
,ordialty OF their hosts, 10 feel thoroughly at
home. Capt. Anson remarked afterward that,
after ALL the English nobility embraced n
prising number OF royal good fellows. we for
got entirely" said Anson, that we were lnnch-
ing with Lords and Dukes. i never felt more
thoroughly at ease in my life and the rest Of the
boys seemed 10 feel as much at home as did"
Toasts To the Queen, the President OF the
United States, To the Prince and Princess of
Wales and TO the rest of the royal family, and
TO the American baseball clubs We're drank and
then Presidents sSpalding responded in happy
addressNto the last. Finally after the toast pro-
~ Al ffoir nf fba
United States in England, had been drank to
Niscount Oxenbridge and the Surrey Cricket
Club, three hearty American cheers were given
for all.
The players then adjourned TO their dressing
rooms 10 prepare for the game. Meantime the
log had been growing denser, but the crowd con-
tinued 20 pour through the gates until the club
house balconies We're filled and great assem-
blage OF humanity encircled the oval, their mov-
ing figures looking not unlike distant specters
in the sticky, drifting fog When play COM
menced there were 5000 people upon the grounds,
and had the day been fair this number, in the
opinion OF many, would have been doubled.
Despite the dampening effect of the gloom and
rainsthe livelest -interest in the players and in
the game was everywhere manifested among the
great crowd Every American present
closely questioned as TO the rules and the points
of play, and as to the characteristics and rec
safely said that never before have Englishmen
been familiar with the American game of
baseball as they are at the present time.
shortly after o'clock the players took the
field for practice and although the turf was
soft and in the worst imaginable condition for
fielding or base running, they gave exceed
ingly pretty exhibition of the great American
sport, the brilliant throws and catches being
warmly applauded as fast as they occurred and
that was pretty fast
DIR. w. q. Grace and w. w. Read, the cele-
brated English cricketers, watched the work OF
the men from one of the clubhouse windows
and stilne and again accorded the boys their
hearty applause.
The anxiety of the crowd TO see the gamo
commence, however, soon made itself manifest
After the boys had INDUCED in ten fifteen
minutes OF preliminary practice cries OF Play
ball, play ball - and begin the gamel7 Dust rs
happens on every diamond in America) arose
from all parts of the oval.
Thereupon George Wright walked upon the
field and called all the American boys 10 the
bat for the game, which then opened amidst
almost breathless silence. AS exhibition after
exhibition OF swift throwing TO bases, OF pretty
fielding, and of clean hitting and desperate base
running followed one another murInurs Of adni-
ration were heard, while time and again the
crowd burst into hearty applause which contin-
ued 20 the close Of the game.
While Chicago was Mt the bat in the second
inning there was stir among the occupants OF
the grand stand in front of the clubhouse, and
then the hundreds Of spectators arose and lifted
their hats as the Prince of Wales tbok seat ut
q big window with Prince Christian and Presi-
dent Spalding.
Play was Immediately stopped when the
Prince appeared, and Capt. Anson, calling tho
boys up 20 the home plate. led them in three
hearty cheers and still heartier tiger for the
Prince. The act called forth responsive cheers
from the spectators The Prince watched the
game with keen interest until the close OF the
eighth inning, asking President Spalding innu-
merable questions the game proceeded aud
nodding his head approvingly Us he grasped the
points of the play
At the close of the fifth inning an intermis-
sion nf ten minutes was called and the players
led by Ward and Anson, ascended TO the Princes
point of view and were formally presented 10 the
future King OF England Tho Prince had
pleasant word and cordial grasp of the hand
for each OF the players, and compiimented them
upon their playing. More cheers greeted the
teams as they CSscendedsand took the field for
the remaining innings OF the game. The score at
tho end of the ninth inning stood: Chicagos Z;
All-Anericas, 4.
The Speaker Of the House Of Commons made
arrangements for tho members of the teams 20
visit the House in Il body. The Century Club,
on the nomination OF Mr. White, Secretary OF
the American Legation, elected the players hon.
orary members during their stay in London. In
the evening they were the guests of Henry Irv-
ing and Ellen Terry at the Lyceum Theater
The general impression seems to be that the
game is far beneath cricket, and that it will
never be adopted in England.
The Post says that the general verdict of En-
glishmen, if not cricketers, will be that there is
no game they would rather play than baseball.
BASEBALL. BATIERS.