The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-07-25
BASE BALL IN ENGLAND.
LOndPn Punch Chooses to Wax Mildly Sa
tirical Over Our National Game.

Here is what London Punch has to
say about base ball: Wonder how
.'AlI-America" and Chicago" like
playing their great national game in a
fog on Il mud-swamp? What lot OF
left-handersi Fine-built fellows,
though, and natty dress. Look at that
broadshouldered chap in spotless-
Bang! By Jove what downer! He's
not spotless now. either; plastered
with Surry slime from neck to ankle.
they up to? Look to me like lot of
tipsy fellows in fog. Somebody
sprawling every half minute. Find it
difficult to follow the game, and as to
the scorlng-well. do they score at all!
Br-r-r! it is cold! All out? Why,
hardly knew they were in. Scorer
Nothing? And after all that scamper-
ing and stumbling. Rum game this!
All! that's good spank! First fair
hit I've seen. But what a skyer!
Caught? Why, of course; dropped in
to fields hands as easily as an egg
into cup. What are they doing nowP
All! there's a swipe! Run, sir, run!
Why, he never stirs! Foul hitP On!
hang it all! What with misses and
fouls, and skyers, and stumbles and
other mysterious movements l can't
understand, they don't seem to score
at all! 1t may be all very scientific,
but We ''dou't get no forrader." Yes,
they do catch we'll, certainly, and
they throw straight, only nothing
seems to come of it.
Pitcher throws as if he were pelting
frogs in pool. As to catcher, he
looks cross between Falstaff, fencer
and Thames diver. Game resembles
a gloritied more dangerous
FOUNDERS, only nobody has made
''rounder' yet, as far as I can see.
Br-rr! it's cold; yes, and slow-distinct-
ly slow. Without the prolonged charm
of cricket, or the swift, short excite
ment of football, but with all the tedium
of the one and all the mud tumbling of
the other.
What? All overP Why, they've
done nothing yet. Oh! interval of ten
minutes, ehP To take breath and talk
to the prince. suppose. Hope II. r.
II. enjoys it inside the pavilion.
don't outside.
Out again? Well, let's hope they'll
make it a little more lively this time.
Don't look as spik-and-span as they
did at first Too much Oval mud
about them. Why are they always
tumbling over those India rubber hot
water cushions-oh! bases are theyP-
and dirtying themselves so dreadfully?
Part of the ganep Humphl Probably,
but hardly explanatory. Rooray!
First genuine cheer of the afternoon.
Good hit, that; what, at cricket, we
should call a 'tswipe to the boundary"
for-how many. four TO six, is itp Eh!
WhatP Game altogether only five to
two? Oh! dash it all, that's too draggy.
Worse than Scotton at the wickets.
Humph! Slow again. And, by Jove,
half the spectators. have 'mizzled,"
like the rain. Think I shall do like
wise, for I'm cold as ice, can't see any
thing but muddle and mist, and don't
feel to care much for seeing anything
more. Eth? Games ut an endP Well,
well-and who's wonp Don't knowP
Neither do I-nor care. Smart fell
lows. quick as cats, and straight
as catapults. Should think they'd
make splendid ''ields," rafting
throws in" and snperb ''catches"-at
cricket. But their skill all seems
chucked away at this game. More
scientific than cricketP' Bosh! Like
ly to be popular in this countryP"
Walker! Fancy grown-up FOUNDERS,
with a few hits and scarcely any score,
superseding willow and stumps! Don't
this game? Well, no,
dare say not, and up to now, somehow,
l don't seem to want to.