The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-16
ANSON ON The STAGE
The Old Man Ready to Do His Turn
in "a Running Colt"
VICTIM OF STAGE FRIGHT
Hoyt's New Farce Comedy Prom
ises Great Sport to Theater-
Coers = An Exciting Ball
Game In the Last Act.
From the Syracuse Standard.


have heard the expression Of Proprietor
Mckee, who is putting up. 1t is said.
for The Runaway Colt" which is to
be presented In this city for the first
time tomorrow night. the laugh would
echo across the country.
''You cannot see Mr.. Anson,' said the ]
rotund Mr. Mckee at the Wieting last
night This is the first dress rehear-
sal and Mr.. Arson Is very nervous"
Can any one imagine nervousness In
the makeup of "Old Adrian" man
who has been the principal figure on
the baseball checkerboard for many
years and who is the captain of the
Chicago baseball team? Perhaps An
SON imagined that the play included a
tank scene or thrilling ride for life or
something of that character. Possibly
the fall he took from his wheel, and
from which he suffered severe injuries
only recently in Chicago. made him
dread his first appearance this year on
the boards. But Proprietor Mckee
was determined that no criticism
should be passed on the rehearsal.
The Runaway Colt" is farce COM
edy, written by Charles Hoyt, the
first real baseball play that was ever
staged. In looking about for a central
figure no man on the diamond seemed
more prominent than Pop" Arson.
This remarkable parsonage has COM
manded the attention of the baseball
public for some years and there are
many who wish to see the captain of
the Chicago team in action.
The scene in the first act Is laid In
the home of Rev. DR.. Manners, near
Racine, Wis. Arson visits the minis
ter's son, Manly Manners. who is
college pitcher of some repute, and
whom Arson wishes to secure for his
club. The parents of the young pitcher
look with suspicion and contempt on
Ixff a xrrir l.a <pf q Qnn2re
and consider the professionals no bet
ter than ruffians. They reluctantly
consent to Ansons visit and when the
ball player arrives he is introduced as
"Mr. Adrian" Manners mother and
Mercy, his sweetheart. receive the
captain. The subject of Manly's in
fatuation for baseball arises. and the
old man" is compelled to hear some
''hot stuff about his own supposed
brutality. They tell "Mr. Adrian"
that this awful man. Arson. is to dine
with them that evening. Just then
they get news that the bishop is also
coming to dinner and the two women
almost faint To think of their bishop
meeting that boor. Arson, the ball
player! They finally beg Mr.. Adrian"
to make one of the dinner party. just
to help tighten the disgrace which the
presence Of Arson will be to the bish-
op-elect-and Mr.. Adrian" consents.
In this scene the heroine, Mercy, sud
"'Mr. Adrian. do you know anything
about baseban?"
And Adrian" promptly replies:
Not a thing. The only people who
do know all about 1t are the baseball
reporters"
An announcement that the bishop
would be present at dinner does not
tend to harmonize the feeling and. nat
urally, confusion results. But the ar
rival of the bishop dispels the cloud.
He had been a. famous college twirler
in his early days and was great ad-
mirer of Captain Anson. The bishop
greets the hero warmly and persuades
the Mannerses to let Manly pitcn Tor
the Chicago team.
The second act is laid at the Ponce de
Leon hotel at St Augustine, Fla,
where Arson has taken the Colts Tor
practice. Here the conspiracy begins.
Two brothers named Haight, with the
Manners family are guests at the no
tel. One of them is In love with Mercy
and determined to win her at all haz-
ards. The other brother is a full-fiedg-
ed gambler and conspIres to get Dali
ton, Manly's younger brother, in MS
net. In the third act he triumphs. The
third act shows the Chicago club gym
nasium with all the paraphernalia, in
GLIDING horizontal and parallel bars
rowing machines, punching bags and
a variety of other things.
er brother into their tolls by inducing
him to bet $4,000 which had been in
trusted to him as a. bank messenger or
the result of the Chicago-Baltimore
game. which is to open the season and
in which his brother, Manly, will pitch
for the Chicagos. They feel pretty sur,
that with the amateur pitching
against the champions. the Chicagos
will be defeated, Dalton VIII be in tbs
tolls, and to save him from prison
Mercy will marry the chief plotter
But to make sure of Vt the gambling
brother is induced to go into Ansont
dressing room and bribe him. A grea'
noise follows his entrance to Arson.
private quarters, but when he emerges
a few moments latter, the TERRIBLE re
suit of his effort to bride ''the old man
is most marked.
The events of the last act take plac,
in tire upper tier of the grand stant
of the Chicago baseball ground durins
the progress of the great Chicago-Bal
timore baseball game. In the first par
of the act the spectators are seen com
ing upstairs" by means of rral
stairway from under the stage. Their,
are Cullom, Dixwell. Wilder. Hopper
Della Fox, Nat Goodwin and all tn.
characters of the play. Harry Saev
ems, the celebrated score card man
greets them all in turn. and later oil
announces the progress OF the game
while Dixwell and Cullom have a sett
at repartee.
Before the game begins Haight dis
closes his power over Dalton to Mere.
and drives ner to agree TO marry hin
II the Chbcagos lose the game. Thel
she sends for Arson. who knows all
and begs him to save her from Haigh
and Dalton from the penitentiary.
You win win this game to-day. cap
tain?" she pleads.
III try to do that. anyway" comes
the reply. which is expected to bring
down the house.
This last scene is supposed TO be awe
inspiring. The ninth inning is played
The remarks OF the umpire are audibl
to the audience. The description &
most minute. Every ball, strike o
stolen base IL graphically depleted. Tn
crack of the bat is as realistic as sta
craft can make 1T. The score is 10
in favor OF Baltimore and two men ar
out. Dahlen is on base. Two strike
and three balls are called on Arson