Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23
Baseball in England,

Baseball in England.
The Britishers are determined to make bold
effort to establish the national game of America
in Great Britain and Ireland. A league has
been formed and the intention is to commence
a seasons series of games in April or May. In
the meantime the Secretary of the English or
ganization has written MI. Spalding, asking
him TO send over number of young ball play
ers who are not frst-class, but who are steady
and intelligent young men particularly en-
thusiastic about the game. A salary of SIS per
month is offered One or two young men in
Pittsburg have applied for an engagement and
would like to see them successful because a
trip of the kind and under the circumstances
cannot fail to do them great amount of good.
don't altogether mean In baseball sense,
mean that years sOjourn and travel among the
English, Irish and Scotch people will broaden
their minds and extend their experience. From
a baseball standpoint it is exceedingly proba-
blematcal as to whether the venture will sue
ceed. There certainly is a very great difference
between trying to Dopularise game by the use
OF foreign talent and by trying to do the same
thing by home talent. The use of the former
clearly indicates that the natives are not very
enthusiastic about the matter to start with be-
cause wherever there is very strong enthusi-
asm existing about anything game or sport
there is invariably spontaneous effort to learn
it and introduce it to the public by members of
the community. really believe that the
chances OF baseball succeeding in the British
Isles are poor. very poor. Certainly American
talent will arouse curiosity IN the game but
question very much whether it will create
lasting enthusiasm, an enthusiasm that
is. above all, necessary to keep
the game going. Curiosity to see
a game is one thing and an enthusiasm which
gives rise TO admiration is another. The
former is very ephemeral while the latter is
more or less lasting. 1t is not because any love
for that counter attraction, cricket, that fear
baseball will be neglected by the British peo-
pie. Cricket is not as popular as it was in En-
gland. Football is rapidly killing the interest
in that pretty and historic game. Probably no
sport ever was riding upon such a wave of
popularity as football is at present in Great
Britain. Its popularity is one of the modern
marVels of the history of sports. Judging from
the attendance at the various matches the
public enthusiasm about the game knocks that
about baseball here into a three-cocked hat
Well, tins enthusiasm, and it is comparatively
new, will have a great tendency to draw atten-
tion away from baseball But beyond all the
American national game will be looked upon
as something OF exotic by the Br1tisherS and we
well know that exotics have many disadvant-
ages to battle against But despite all these
probabilities and conjectures it would seem
really good thing for young man who can
play ball tolerably well to get an engagement
10 play the game for season among the En-
glish people. The salary, SIS per month will
keep man admirably.
Developing Athletes.
A few evenings ago paid visit to the East
End Gymnasium and was exceedingly inter-
ested and somewhat surprised at what saw. l
don't think that. very many people have any
idea Of the excellent institution there is at the
East End for the purpose of giving health,
muscle and form to young men, The building
is an excellent one and certainly there is good
work going on within its walls under the
guidance of that very able man,
Prof. Kirschner. A visit TO that
building on a class night will amply repay any,
body who is at all interested in anything having
for It's object the development of health and
muscle. because the exercises as mapped out
by the Professor are exceedingly attractive to
the eye Of the onlooker. When looked in
class of about 20 strong and well built young