The evening world., 1894-02-27
BASEBALL TO THE 'FRONT.'.
From Now On Active Interest Will
Be Taken in the Game.
Smith willing TO Meet Fitzsimmons-
Other Gossip.
From TOW until next FAN baseball will

From TOW until next Fall baseball will
take first place among sports. n position
to which It is entitled. The Spring meet
ing OF the National loaRla marks the
time Tor a beginning OF active interest
In the game. The mignates seem to be
sincere in their beliefs that this viii be
an unusually good year for baseball.
Hard times do not affect sports much.
indeed the patronage that has been Given
them OF late woull Indicate that sports
are rather benefited by the present Condi-
ton OF affairs. This may be accounted
for by the fact that sporting events.
especially baseball. are cheap nmuse-
mcnts as well as enjoyable. At least,
that's the way the maEnates argue.
TIL" outlook for n close race IL perhaps
better this season thcn It has been for
several years past. Boston. New York.
Cleveland. rittsburE. brooklyn AMI Phil
adclphia look to bc pretty evenly
matched. with Baltimore. cincinnati and
Chicago close NJ. The adoption of rules
pcnalizing the hunt. doing away with the
trapped ball and declaring a striker out
If n ball touches him. should all quicken
and improve the game.
"Donvcr'' Ed Smith. who ever since
he defeated Joe Goddard has got the idea
into his head that he IL "A world-bcnter
and has been annoying all tho heavy
weights, expresses his Willingness to nght
Fitzsimmons. lie says he will meet
Fitz fpr $4,000 a side and 'the best purse
obtainablc.' The host purse obtalnable
these days would hardly be n very large
one If. indeed. any purse could be obtain
able.
Then. again. Fita's elevated ideas o.
his own value would probably not agree
with those Of any club. Judging from
the following remark. Mr.; "DenYer'
Smith Is much better than that Of the
general pugllistic public: 80 far ns
meeting Chuynski is concerned. that
would be fool.siincss. as there Is no Gues-
ton ,3t my superiority over him in the
ring"
Things are in good shape now. for y
race to decide who IS the singIc-scull
champion Of the world. James Stau3-
bury Is in Australia. but anxious to row.
Gaudatr, the recognized champion Of
america, is without n legitimate engage
mont. New Zealand has a man
sullivan, who gives promise of being n
crack-a-jack. while British rowing critics
believe their new asnlrant for aquatic
they ever saw. With such a quartet OF
celebrities to select from some enter
ought to make n lot of money ~
RI iaSo' rex, sun hopes TO secure the
COrhett-Jackson affair. The Committee
cch,rsmo' "is nv; ."n'rh ms inc mater IN
er,ar5n,oa ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "a position 10
EEirmnni Vii tn Ia no tn'erItrehcs OF any
sao noo mrs n praSu. ,'S oNer OF a
wire. hut the Committee believes that
when Its letter reaches New York en-
planning the plan OF no Interference the
result VIII be reconsidered. 1t is said
that the fight can take place there and
~ hnuI.ion 10 inwering me teh,mlie
.''He :, ""I a. ,ip'-
first quarter in los, which is as. better
than the American record held by Paul
sen. Before johnson went his great trlp,
2,s., which now stands as the profess
socrat,rios lamont o,l rro-hor, ,or.
decided to prohibit football contests in
the future between Annapolis and West
AlN FIhANF Cll NhA on V1n1 Tot ri