The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-13

ADRIAN {. ANSON IN 1910.
flow the grand old man OF baseball looked
when he began playing In tho National
league
marck or Gladstone OF tho national game
has been continuously on tho diamond for
20 years. In 90 Of the 25 seasons mo has
given his services 20 the National league.
OF moro than 100 baseball players who
made up tho teams in 1875, the first year
Of the National league, Arson alone Is
left an active player IN the major profcs-
sion. Around him rs members OF the 12
National league teams are more than 200
other players, every once % whom has come
into professionalism since Arson became
-fanaetis a. ~ 4ffeH4her of Tire cid -t4ffefgo
White Stockings ina the Centennial year.
1t is like looking at the survivor OF q past
generation 20 look 20 this man az ho stands
amid tho ranks uf the National league
players. when James O'Rourkc, two
years ago, dropped out OF tho National
league ranks, Arson was left tho "last
leaf on the Old League tree" and no
doesn't intend TO quit the business even
now. Said ho, as / reminded him that
his ago was approaching the half century
mark.
'Thcy say a woman is MS old as she looks
and q mar as old as BIO feels. II that he
true, I'm a little pas: 81. And let me as
sure you IL Is not a bluff when / say that
although I've played ball nearly a quarter
Of a century / expect to DO playing when
the next century begins. a few Of the ex-
ball players who dropped out Of the game
Some years ago, through knotholes in the
fence watched me play back in the seventies
when they We're boys. Why arc they not
playing yet? Because instead of husband
ing their talents they wasted Thorn in care
less or Incorporate habits"
I asked him what lac did to preserve his
playing abilities for so long a time.
swell, I've not burned tho candle Mt
both ends, for one thing, " no said. when
j tell you that ] have not touched liquor OF
any kind during tho last 90 years, i am
telling you in generality tho truth. The
only exception 10 that statement L. this:
When | was married, my wife was present
ed with a dozen bottles Of champagne.
Nino OF those bottles were consumed by
our guests. OF tho three remaining bot
ties two were opened when our eldest
daughter was born. Several weeks ago
that daughter celebrated tho completion Of
her eighteenth year, and on that joyous CO.
casion the remaining bottle of wine was
opened and distributed among a large par
~ WulOn EhtItIbu III HonDF VI INC Dlrln-
day. The proportion per head was about
y tcaspoonfpl. To please my daughter !
drank my share. Now, that teaspoonful
Of wine represents the sum total of all the
liquor I have drunk in Is years"
And do you smokef'
II hayen't used tobacco I'm any form for
eight years. ] quit smoking the moment
! was convinced IL was doing me harm.
Yes, ] believe that tobacco has put many
good ball players out of the business. L
nm firmly convinced that it killed one of
my players. i refer TO Camp, who died
some time ogo. / have seen him sit up In
his berth whom called while travelling In a
sleeping car and light a cigarette before he
made "a movement 60 put on an article OF his
clothing. There are two members OF my
present team who are slaves 10 cigarettes.
The habit will surely take them of the dia,