Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-11
A VAST ARENA.
That into Which the Ball Park
is Transformed.

is Transformed.
NINE THOUSAND ADDITIONAL SEATS
Some Idea Of the Changes Made for u.xt
Weeks Great Attractlon-"A vor,cu.- \,
all its sPlenpor, Interest and Iu,truct,op
"A Great Event.
1t is an accomplished fact!
That which up to now has been
merely prospective is now an abso-
Lutte reality. and the bali park has
merged its identity into that of a
massive arena. Where was once the
diamond upon which our bows have
done so much excellent work of late
there stands a structure containing
seats for thousands. Where but YES.
terdayy. as it were, the frisky iniield
and the acrobatic second baseman Law
in wait for the hot liners. is now laid
an enormous stage upon which, pres
entity, to the inspiring strains OF OF.
to's music the nimble feet of more
than an hundred comcly .maidens will
trip the light fantastic toe and exc
cute with agility. born of skill and
love of their profession, the difficult
measures of the ballet. Soldiers will
pace their martial way and perform
with all the solemnity of actual ser
vice the military maneuvers of the
army. The Father of his Country.
white of locks and benign of counte-
nance, gracefully bestriding his gal
liant steed, will cavort across The
center field now ab,aze in the glare
OF electric lights. All this and more
in honor of his highncss, "Ameri-
Gus"
he this rs it may, the author has
taken the spirit of .'Americus" as his
base in building up the magnificent
spectacle which, all who wish, NAV
look upon Sunday. night by merely
exchanging some of their coin for
one of Charley Kindt's pasteboards,
and interviewing the gentlemanly
door-keeper to the end that he be
allowed to pass into the charmed
precincts of the ball park.
Possibly after this successful ne
SotiatiOn, and his subsequent admis-
sion, the visitors first impression
will be of delight at his surround
inSs. Once seated, his mind, if he
be ut all imaginative, will carry him
backward 125 years, to what was
then the village. but now the city. of
Chariestown, Mass. Stretched
across the entire field from fence to
fence he will view a mimic reproduce
ton OF that famous locality, which,
by the way, was painted and con-
structed from old prints in possess
SIGN of the New England Antiquarian
society. The market square with its
converging streets is faithfully and
WILDLY represented. Houses, stores,
street lamps. signs, ETC., are all
there to aid his imagination. Even
the life and activity of the village are
there, for arriving through different
avenues comes mob of simple viii
layers in their holiday attire, seeking
to celebrate in their old fashioned
way rustic wedding. 1t is fresh
and stimulating picture and prepares
one for the sterner events which soon
follow. In the meantime. however,
and under cover of a flag of truce
between Washington and the British
commander, they proceed with the
ceremony, and do more, for they eel
citrate its consummatiOn with num-
Der OF amusement features, which,
though not exactly historically cor
rect, are, nevertheless, very enter
tanning. The battle follows of
course. That event could not be post
poned for very long. for George had
a contract on his hands to "kncck
the socks" off Lord Corn
wallis, and he was eager to
be at his work, and have done with
it. since there was a certain widow la
dy in whom he was very much inter-
ested to whose presence he was anx-
ious to repair; SO he lost little time.
Every school boy knows the result,
and how, having accomplished his
end, he carefully packed up his little
Ratchet. which he always carried
with him. in some jewelers. pink cot
ton. and putting spurs to his steed
hled him away. Indeed, SO great
was his haste TO be gone, that he did
not wait for the fireworks which fol-
lowed his victory. As a matter of
fact he don't go to see his Martha at
all, but goes instead to his dressing
room at the back of the ball park,
where he divests himself of his wig
and Continental trousers and top
boots, :and makes a rapid sneak to
the Harper house. However, it is
not necessary to mention this fact,
and not many who see him tomor-