The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-07
LITERATURE.

States on the celebrated '.around the world
tour OF American baseball players, assisted
by j. A. Fynes, managing editor of the New
York Clipper; Frank Richter, editor Of
exponent of baseball, and a number of
well-known authorities on sporting matters,
has placed before the lovers of athletic
sports most interesting volume, which en-
braces the history, characteristics, sketches
of famous leaders. organization and great
contests OF baseball, cricket, football, la
crosse, tennis, rowing and cycling, also an
entertaining account CT the tour around the
world OF the famous teams of American
baseball players. In this volume, which ia
one OF the best of its class ever presented to
the reading public, those who are lovers
OF the great American game of baseball
and those who are fond of the other manly
sports named will find valuable mass of
Information which cannot be obtained
under any other one cover. The sport to
which the greatest amount of space is de-
voted is baseball, the origin, rise and prog
ress of which is detailed in a mastery
manner. w. l. harris, who describes the
great national game, writes:
Baseball was not born; like Topsy, it
"erowed." The first games played were no
more Ike The present Scentihc game of bail tina n
The New Amste dam OF the Dutch settlers is like
the New York of 1889. The primitive game was
hrst played in this country, so far as !, can be
asceltained, as far back as the beginning Of tie
nineteenth century. 1t Undoubtedly originate
among the schools boys Of that period. John N.
ward, WHO Is one OF The most ardent advocates
OF the origin OF the game, claims that cat ball
was the foundation upon which the improve
ments have been made, and the game brought by
evolution 10 its present almost perfect condition.
Certainly there Is ample evidence that this game
oil " Old cat" and It's variations OF II under yari-
Gus names, We're the forei uDners OF the present
national game. AS the pastime was improved
ard extended II attracted The attention OF older
heads, who saw the opportunity 1t afforded for
healthiul, manly and enjoyable exercise, and
realized somewhat the advantages 10 be derived
from code OF regulations 10 govern lis play.
The hrsi regularly organized club OF which we
have any record was the knicKerbOcker Club of
New York. The organization was purely an
amateur one and tooA form IN 1915.
The writer then devotes chapter TO de-
scriptlon OF the progress made by those who
played the game in the old way and to the
organization OF the first professional league
III 1857, and step by step details the advance
made by ball-players until the organization
OF the American Association, which has,
since 1888, divided with the league the re-
sponsibility of conducting the game upon its
present honest and reluuneratiye basis"
The writer follows with description of the
various games that were played by the early
clubs and the various degrees of interest
that were manifested by the people as they
became more and more interested in the
game. Alter this there is Il chapter that is
OF great interest TO all lovers OF the game,
for II details al that is worth knowing
about the crack players. In relation to tue
famous Red Stocking" club, which visited
San Francisco when 1t vas in the height Of
its glory and played to admiring crowds at
the old recreation Grounds, Mr.. Harris
says:
The Red Stockings were dsbaaded In 1870,
most OF them going TO Washington. Those who
Went 10 The capital were Allison, Brainard,
Sweasey and Waterman. Allison was the only
one OF them who played any bail worth mention
ing after they leit the great team The Wriguts
Leonard Gould and MclpV HOstOu
and did exactly tie opposite from their recent
partners, founding Tie great hub team. which
held the championship SO many years. Brainard
OF the old Red is dead, the Wright brothers are
yet prominent In tie game aud trade, Andy
Leonard is clerk IN the Water board OF Newark,
Gould Is Deputy Sheriff iu Cincinnati. McVey
runs saloon at san Francisco, Hurley is a
lawyer in Cincinnati and Wateimau and Sweasey
are hustling against 1aie. When last heard
from one was III Cincinnati and the other In
Providence.
This is followed by most interesting
record OF the various clubs that have figured
in the annals of the game in the United
States. The tour OF the Great American
Ball Team" Is described at length and how
the boys" were received at the various
places they visited and the games that they
played is told in most entertaining way by
Harry Palmer. This portion of the book is
illustrated with large humber of sketches
OF what was most attractive to the tour
lists" when they were circling around tile
world showing the natives of foreign couu-
tries how they play ball in the United States.
After describing the reception of the team
at San Francisco. Mr. Palmer writes:
In no section OF the United States possessing
the same population TO The square mile are base
ball enthusiasts more numerous than at San
Francisco. They can play bali there all the year
round, and their championship season begins
Wnen lie seasons OF The league and association
end. They have turned out some OF the greatest
ball-playing talent In America to day, such men
as Fogarty, Brown, Van Haltren and others of
abillry ms fro
the Pacific Slope 10 don the uniforms Of the great
Eastern clubs. In San Francisco they like close
scores. They want no errors aud they would
rather see siAteen-inning game then shake
hands with the President
The several chapters devoted to lawn
tennis, lacrosse, polo, football college base
ball, aquatlcS, rowing, cricket and cycling
are full OF interest and very instructive.
On che subject ut athletic sports, Henry
Chadwick, in his introduction, writes:
In lie race for the laurels of The arena of ath-
letc sports there is, of course liability TO go 10
extremes. as ID every other struggle for sup1em-
acy; but the happy medium In This pursuit ull.
que>tlohaOly recognizes tile fact that outdoor
Iecreallve exercise must 20 hand III hand with
the cultured growth of Tie nina. The moral as
pect OF The case 100 is one which gives hearty
encoui agemeDt 10 ma lonal sports and pasiimes
as essential 10 the health ana proper growth of
our young people. The Inhabitants of our large
lacked healthy physique as a rule. This
has been largely due to the fact that
their meEtal powers have been allowed To draw
too lai geiy on the nerve force OF theiI bodies
and lie result has been that tile middle period
OF life has seen thousands carried to premature
graves, WHO, with proper attention to physical
exercise and recreation IN youth and early man
hood, would have reached Il healthy old age In
TACT, costly experience has taught US as a people
that our old-time American system OF " all work
and no Lay" OF overtaxing the mind at the ex-
pense OF a neglected physique, Is q very short.
sighted policy, aud very Enthusiastically we
have prohted by experience and gained wisdom
= ne lie I'M ed and,,r
popularity OF outdoor sports for men as well as
boys, ana also OF physical exercise for the fair
sex as well, throughout the Giles and towns OF
The North American Continent.
This book ought to do much to stimulate
desire for heathful recreative sports. 1t is
Tor sale by the Pacific Publishing Company
of this city.
The VoICE.-By Theodore E. Schmaut.
(John Il. Alden, New York; In neatly
bound volume of 40 pages, the author has
given quite thorough study of the human
voice, with the intention of imparting to
speakers and singers some very sensible
suggestions relative to the cultivation and
the control of the vocal organs. He quite
thoroughly reviews the construction and
progressive changes of the larynx and vocal
ligaments. The book abounds with sug-
gestions, new and old, from which those
who love the arts OF speech and song may
derive no small amount of benefit. 1t is in
tended not less for conversation and singing
in private circles than for public efforts.
The whole matter is eXcellently arranged,
being enriched by copious quotations from
standard authors, and shows thorough
knowledge on the part of the com piler with
the subject he places before the public.
THE ROMANCE OF SwEDENBoRG's LIFE.
BY Anna Cronjelm Walberg, &c. A. Murdoch
& Co., San Francsco) In neat little volume
of 20 pages. Miss Wallberg, who as
lecturer on Danish topics has attracted CON
siderable attention and has shown by her
lectures that she has made a special study
of the literature and history of Scandinavia,
presents very interesting sketch of the
romance of the life of the disciple OF the
Swedenborgian doctrine, Emanuel Sweden
borg. 1t is story that is told in simple
but entertaining manner, aud Is based on
historical facts. For sale at Doxey's and
other book stores.
Book Notes.
The ]. G. Cupples Company of Boston
will soon issue very dainty holiday book
entitled "Aunty's Elfu Land" 1t is col
lection OF fairy. stories; or, rather. the
combined histories of three children who
had most strange adventures in the land of