Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-11-15
A BASEBALL DRAMA.
"UNCLE" ANsON THE STAR IN A PLAY
FOUNDED ON THE NATIONAL GAME.

Captain q. G. Arson, the noted baseball
player, has become an actor and makes his
debut as II dramatic star in "a Runaway
Colt a play written for him and around
him by Charles A. Hoyt. As he is the
baseball hero of America he becomes the
consistent star Of the only baseball play
ever staged and he has no minor part in
the cast, but is Oh the stage in every scene
from the rise of the curtain until he makes
the home run hit in the last act which
"rings down" the proper climax.
The scene of the first act is laid in the
home Of Rev. DR.. Manners, near Racine,
Wis. There Arson goes to visit the min
listers son. Manly Managers, who is ia
nous young college pitcher, and whose
services the Chicago captain wants to Sc
cure for his club. Manly's parents look
upon Arson and all professional ball play
ers as ruilians and ratheNSeluctantly con-
sent to let Manly invite HIM to dinner on
the day of his arrival But Arson an
nOunCes himsNlfas "Mr. Adrian, " IA friend
of young Manners, and is received by the
mother and by Mercy, the young cole
gian's sweetheart who do not suspect that
they are entertaining the awful, rutlianly
Captain Arson. Both ladies do their best
to entertain Mr.. Adrian, and the fun
begins
The subject of Manly's infatuation for
baseball arises, and the cold Man" is
compelled to hear some "hot stuff" about
his own supposed brutality. They tell
Mr.. Adrian" that this awful man. An
son, is to dine with them that evening.
Just then they get news that the bishop is
also coming to dinner, and tue two women
almost faint. To think of their bishop
meeting that boor, Arson, the ball player!
They finally bag Mr.. Adrian" to make
one of the dinner party just to help Tighten
the disgrace which the presence of Arson
will be to the bishop elect, and MIR.
Adrian consents.
In this scene the heroine, Mercy, sud
denly asks, Mr., Adrian, do you know
anything about baseball?"
And Adrian" promptly replies:
"Not thing. Tho only people who do
know all about it are the baseball report
ers."
Then tho mother asks what his business
is with Manly, and Arson, in order to
maintain his incognito till Manly comes
in, replies that he wants to employ the
son to travel mt Il salary of 50, 400 year
He describes the business:
"To travel more or less, to handle leath-
er goods and in certain cities to deal with
strikers
81 suppose that would be out west?"
suggests Mrs. Manly.
ain the west and SOUTH says Arson.
"ThCrc nro no strikers in New York, are
thero| inquiries the mother.
Then Arson gives Il body blow to the
1895 Giants:
"Thcro haven't been any this year in
my business
The mother goes out of the room and
sends servant in with a glass of wine for
"Mr. Adrian" 1t is waved aside and the
servant charged with the message:
"Thank her kindly and ask her to par
don me for declining, as don't indulge"
This line was writton to emphasize An
sons well known abstinence from the use
of all liquor.
AT dinner Arson, as "Mr. Adrian"
meets the bishop, who in his college days
had been "a pitcher for a ball team too.
The bishop recognizes Arson and greets
him warmly, being great admirer of the
Chicago captain. This commendation of
Arson and his advocacy Of baseball play
ing are so cordial that the MannersGs
change their opinion of professionalism
and let themselves be persuaded by the
bishop to consent to Manly's playing ball
for the Chicagos.
The second act is laid at the Ponce de
Leon hotel, at 1t. Augustine, Fla, where
Arson has taken his Colts for practice.
The scene shows " The Pool at that hotel.
The Manners family are also guests like
wise the two villains, brothers, named
Haight, one Of whom is cOnspiring to
force Mercy to marry him. The other is
gambler, who plots to got Manly's
younger brother, Dalton, into serious
trouble and in the third act he succeeds.
In the party at the Ponce de Leon is an
old maid, who, ignorant that Arson is a
married man, is following him around and
plaguing him with her marks of affection.
In one Of his diIemmas Arson asks Manly
to help him.
"Don't leave me alone with her, -" he
says, cor I'll cXpel yOu-worse I'll sell
you to Louisville"
The third act shows the Chicago club
gymnasium on visiting day This scene
presents fully equipped gymnasium,
with horizontal bars, rowing machines,
punching bags and other things. During
the scene speciality acts occur.
In this act the villains get the younger
brother into their tolls by inducing him to
bet $4,000 which had been intrustcd to
him as "a bank messenger on 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 sure that with "the amateur
pitching against the champions the Chi
Cages will be defeated, Dalton will be in
the tolls and to save him from prison
Mercy will marry the chief plotter But,
to make sure of it, the gambling brother
is induced to go into Anson's dressing
room and bride him. a great noise fol
lows his entrance to Anson's private quar-
tiers, but when he energies some moments
later the terrible result of his efforts to
bride the "Old Man. is most marked
The events of the last act take place in
the upper tier Of the grand stand of tho
Chicago baseball ground during the PROF.
ress of the great Chicago Baltimore base
ball game. In the first part of the act the
spectators are seen coming "up stairsr by
means of trap stairway from under the
stage. There are Cullom, Dixwell, Wilder,
Hopper Della Fox, Nat Goodwin and all
the characters of the play. Harry Stevens,
the celebrated score card man, greets them
all in turn, and later on announces the
progress Of the game, while Dixwell and
Cullom have a set to at repartee.
Before the game begins Haipht disoloses