, 1891-07-08

II Ha. Ia. DeIIEhts aud Difficulties snd
II Produces Good Players

II Has Ia DeIEhts aud DImeuItIes aud
II Produces Good PIayerS
With the boys games am more at
home. Let us see whether you will no
learn from these boys some games TO
take to your friends out Of town
First and foremost comes baseball II
any one doubts the universal popularity
Of this game, one afternoon upon the
street will convince him that the Amer
can boys love of baseball has become
hereditary. IL seems almost as II these
boys no sooner left the cradle than a base
ball found its way into their hands. They
Cmmence 10 play as soOn as they can
roll a pal across the pavement From
a real game. with nine linen" OF a side
and three bases, we shall see everything
in bali playing, down TO the solitary
y0unster who rolls the ball up an avn
ing and catches 1t as 1t returns 10 him.
And these boys can play baseball too. |
hesitate to admit 1t, for | was a country
boy; but I'll warrant you that from the
inhabitants Of a block / can select nine
boys. none of whom shall be over ten
years of age. who can defeat the best
nine Of thirteen-year-old fellows your
village can produce.
They play in the streets; they play on
the sidewalk: and they go at IL with a
vim and earnestuess one grows enthusi-
astic in watching. They pitch curves,
and why their catchers' intent and mask
less little faces are not more frequently
damaged by the bat they catch Off Of,
no n can say. All this, remember, on
the cobblestones, with slippery car tracks
dividing the field, " aud wagons. drays
and cars constantly ulSziug.
IN any field a quick and practiced eye
is required to measure the arc Of a Fly
ball % and to select the spot from which
it may be captured; but when the ground
is a crowded street, and there is added
the more or less rapidly passing vehicle,
the chances are even that the fielder may
get under a horses hoofs and the de
scending fly" at the same time. Many
narrow escapes ave | seen, but some
how the active little bodies always man
g to be missed.
But the cars and wagons and pedes-
trians arc as nothing the players look
out for the former two, the last must
care for themselves II they wish 10 avoid
a batted ball or a runner making a fran
tic dash for first" What these boys
really mind. because it is an ef~Tectual
preventive OF bau plAylnH- II lhe due
coated policeman, known by the boys As
a "cop." an abbroyiatiou Of copper, %
the origin OF which name is uncertain.
Here is a game in nctiye progress: there
Is intense excitement; shouts Of cncour-
ngement fill the air. Turn away your
head for an instant. Now look again.
Where are our players7 Not one Of them
TO be seen; only a few boys strolling along
the sidewalk; not a bat nor ball in sight.
What does it all mean2 Truly, you have
never seen so abrupt an ending toa game
of ball. But look; coming up the street,
a block or more away, in all the stateli-
ness Of blue uniform and brass buttons,
idly twirling his club, comes the awe
inspiring copper, &"
For you must remember that it is
illegal 10 play baseball in the street, and
ever player il liable TO imprisonment.
How would you like 10 have one Of your
so interrupted? Is the game ended?
BY no means wait a moment, this is
only time" Slowly the retreating blue
coat fades in the distance; then like
magic each player resumes his place, and
the game is resumed with all its former
ardor. Frank NJ. Chapman in st. Mich
olas.