The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-21
WOMEN At A BALL GAME
Tley Do Not Swear. but Instead
Scream and Sometimes Weep
just a Little.
How the New Gable Road Is Max
ing Broadway, New York,
Almost q Horror.
AR. In Making n Miik rpnoh- How the
American and Englishnaaa Differs
Regards Their Clothing.

Especial Correspondence of THE INDEPENDENT.
- Ew YORK, SEPT. T.-YoU HAVE
fnt seen women at the races. Ihsy are
TX interesting objects OF study. But as
a rule they are not tender birds.
At a baseball match it is another matter.
All sorts of women go 10 a ball match.
Sometimes tine range ia startlinely iucius-
i've. for where special personal taste ceasea
to exert an influence patriotism eones in,
and, cynicism to the contrary notwith-
standing. women are susceptible to certain
parliamentary forms Of patriotism. Base
ball ia the national game, and if this does
net make q demand it offers Nm excuse.
Moreover, local pride, ar infinitely stronger
passion, comes into play, or perhaps |
should gay, comes in TO see the play.
Ihsre are certain trits supsrstitions about
vomen's ignorance OF base ball, but they are
kept alive by people who do rot go to ball
matches. OF course, there are noyices GA
the grand stand who ask maddsning quss-
tions; and sorns women are unquestionably
hapelessly incapable of compromising the
distinction between a foul ball and q stolen
base. The point is that the majority of
women who acquire technical knowledge of
base ball is greatly larger than the mere
theorizer aupposss.
In Brooklyn they have a "ladies' day" on
Thursday Of each week when the players are
In the field. The innovation has been a
great success. The spectacle presented by
the feminine company that assemblies there
is curious and instructive. Bat one does not
need to attend = ladies' day ball match to
find himself confronted with any remark
able illustration of the feminine character.
When women are taking the first and
second degrees, rs it were, OF their inltla-
ton, thsir interest is not scientific. Any
man who is running hard for a base has
their sympathy. Then they naturally ad-
miro the pretty men. In the case of the
pretty man it is enough for them that he il
doing his beat. They do not send so many
letters to the hero of the diamond as they
do to the leading man of a dramatic COM
psny, but they dote on Roger Conner, of
the New Works, and on Adonis Terry, of
the Rrooklyns.
When she has, in the spectatorial sense,
mastered the game, q woman's enthusiasm
il infinitely more picturesque than a mans.
Yes, your dainty belle of the drawing room
shouts instructions to the men on base.
Che ean't help it. She splits the palms of
her gloves in a little agony of applause. She
has even been known-and the ofense dis
graces nobody who is wholly human-to
stand on the seat and scream. Is this alb
surd? Perhaps you have never been to G
ball game.
OF course these women do not swear at
those crises when coarssr fibred men forget
their carly religious training. They only
weep and laugh through their tears at the
FIRST hopeful turn in the game. And when
the game is over they emerge into the outer
world with that i%ndsdnable rufied look thas
the sex Id known to exhibit after three
hours delightful suffering over an emotional
drama.