St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-03
HELEN WAS TO BLAME
The Formation Of the Broth
erhood Was fastened by
Women's Rivalry.
Mrs. Spalding Did Not Enter
tain Mrs. Helen Dauvray-
Ward in Chicago.
This Set the Clever Little
/ Actress to Evolving a Pre-
tentious Scheme,
Which Was Nothing Less Than
the Launching Of the Base
Ball Brotherhood.

Which Was Nothing Less Than
the Launching Of the Base
Ball Brotherhood.
"a
Special to the Globe.
New YORK, Aug. 2.-He was wise
old Caliph who, on being informed that
one of his courtiers had been killed by
fall from the roof of his palace asked:
"Who was the wOman?' for investiga-
ton developed the fact that the courtier
in question had had bis attention
attracted by beautiful houri
in an adjoining court yard
and while abstractedly contemplate
ing her charms had inadvertently
stepped off his edifiice into the embrace
of the grizzly old reaper, Death. The
pOtentate knew that woman was mex
plicably mixed up in the affairs of man,
hence the pertinancy of his query. I
was very forcibly struck by the truth
of this not long since when I was told
that the formation of the base ball
brotherhood was largely due to the in
fuence Of a very charming actress, Helen
Dauvray, the wife of Capt. Johnny
Ward. The story as told me by my in
formant, who is intimately acquainted
with all the parties, is long one, too
long to be told in all its details in
single newspaper article, consequently
1 shall confine myself to its salient
features. 1t appears that Ward, Kelly,
Ewing and the other leading ball play
ers who were the stars of the League"
have been FESTIVE for several seasons,
and
Chafed Under the Rules
imposed on them by the sO-called s'mag
nates' or proprietors of the clubs con-
shutting the league. One of the most
Objectionable of the rules was the one
which permitted club to reserve"
player from season to season, but still
more Objectionable was the right the
clubs had to ''sell" him to another,
irrespective of his wishes or his pref
erences. One of the leaders among the
magnates, Spalding, had been a ball
player himself. and a good one, too.an
partly through the profits he had gained
through his stock in the Chicago club,
but more so through the revenue he de-
rived from the sale Of sporting goods,
he had become a millionaire, or was
rapidly becoming such. He plays ball
no more and many of the men who do
claim that his interests as a ''magnate''
have made him lose nearly all sympathy
for his former confreres. His wife is
very estimable lady, but, like many
other eStimable ladies. she is not inSen-
sible to the fact that wealth nowadays
is power, and that the possessor of 1T
can aspire to social recognition that sal
aired people can seldom hope to attain.
She would not be true daughter OF
Eve if she did not desire to shine in
family circles whose heads were of
equal financial standing with her hus-
Helen Dauvray, the actress, began TO
take great interest in base ball. She
was popular manageress in New York
at the time, the theatrical pet OF society,
and the papers almost daily contained
notices of her attendance at the games
in which 1.-THE Giants" participated and
of her satisfaction at their victories, and
of her s0rrows when they were de-
feated. By and by she began to take
A Warm Interest
in the players, and later on she evinced
an especial attachment for the clubs
famous shOrtstop. 1t was not long I'M
til she became his wife. She was to
have accompanied him when he became
one of Spalding's famous aggregation
which went to Australia and around the
world. She did not do so, how
ever; but, as Rudyard Kipling
would say. "That is another story"
When the dashing shortstop first es-
poused the charming actress, she was
presented, among others, to Mr.. Spald-
ing and his wife. The latter, it is said,
was fairly gracious, but nevertheless
she contrived to impress Mrs. Ward
with the fact that she considered that
grade or two higher in the social scale
than the bride of salaried ball toSser.
This was not done obtrusively or otfens-
iyelv: had it been it would have been
instantly resented, for Mrs. Ward is as
high-spirited and mettleSOme as
thoroughbred racer. but ladies have a
way of doing these things that cuts to
the bone, aye, to the core of the heart,
and yet gives the wounded one no
chance of Immediate reprisal except at
the risk Of being considered rude and
| ill-bred. Mrs. Ward. with her husband,
was even asked to "COme and see us
some time when you are in Chicago"
Speaking of this indefinite invitation to
II was naturally anxious to further
Mr.. Wards interest all could, and to
make him all the friends possible, but l
never intended to accept this invitation
unless it was repeated in Chicago and
made formal as to date" The exigen-
cies of ball playing called MI. Word to
Chicago. Mrs. Ward accompanied him.
Then occurred an incident that made
Mrs. Ward feel that
She Had Grievance
| indeed and that her position as the wife
of salaried ball player had not adj
yanced her socially. Mr.. Spalding
waited upon her husband, and in very
abashed and apologize manner said,
in substances: John, my wife invited
your wife to call with you on us when
you came to Chicago, and she intended
| the invitation, too, when she extended
| it, but the fact of the matter is
| that she has just made complete
change of servants and it is utterly I'M
| possible for her to entertain you now,
and so she has sent me to ask you it you
won't kindly accept her explanations
and excuse US, old boy. She's really
| that can't be helped, you know,
| So sou : am am l." Of course, Mr..
Ward accepted the excuse. He
couldn't help himself if he wanted
| to, but Mrs. Ward was not in an angelic
| frame of mind when she heard OF the
| affair. Base ball was in the zenith of
| its prosperity in 1889. 1t is said that
| the profits of the "magnates" amounted
to $500, 900. The players, though well
paid, grew more and more FESTIVE.
| They asked for conference with
their employers with view to set
Element of grievances, but they were
airaly put off until the end of the sea-
son. In other words. the magnates
were too busy to attend to them or
their trouble just then. Mean while;
number of capitalists, learning of the
big profits In the sport, began to init
mate to the players that they were fool
| ish to permit the aforesaid magnateS to