The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-04-17

TO SECURE THE REQUIRED COLOR.
be spoken of as the "Speechless Won
der" Lawrence had been interviewed
three or four times, and his views on
baseball--of which, despite his patient
study of full scores, he was profoundly
ignorant-were given at great length.
Paddy had read these articles and had
expressed the utmost contempt for
them.
''You ought to try to learn some
thing" he said to Lawrence. "What's
the matter with you, anyway? Can't
you get it through your head? It's
easy enough"
Once Paddy was caught by a report
er, and he gave first-rate interview.
AS he said nothing but yes and no, the
representative of the press was able to
talk all he pleased without interrupt
ton. He was an expert in baseball,
and his views, credited to Paddy,
seemed wonderfully sound.
Lawrence was greatly disappointed
with his own first interview. On
that occasion he had skillfully led
the conversation away from sport,
and had spent an hour or more dis
cussing educational topics in man
ner which he believed would win
him recognition from the authorities
of the collego. He had an idea that
the publication Of these views would
excite considerable comment through
out the country, and he told the re-
porter that such would be the result.
The reporter replied EYES," in tone
so oracular that it might have come
from Paddy himself. AS a matter of
fact the able journalist knew that
there was gentleman with a blue
pencil in the editorial room Of his news
paper, and that 1t would be easier for a
rich man to enter the kingdom than
for column of stuff about the best
method of instilling the classics into a.
freshman to get into print. He taek
down what Lawrence said because
Lawrence was looking, but he did not
make the mistake of turning it in as
copy.
When the article appeared the alb
sence of all reference to educational
subjects was the most conspicuous
thing about ito Lawrence. But it is
safe to say that nobody else noticed it.!
The reporter was very polite young
man, and did not wish to offend any
body who would be good for so much
space in the future as Larry Bangs
would. So he wrote a nice note to the
subject of the interview, explaining
that he had faithfully recorded all that
Lawrence had said, but, unhappily,
''space" was short in that particular
Sundays paper, and so the educational
matters, as being of less interest to the
public, were crowded out
Lawrence had a considerable respect
for the profession of journalism, which
he had some thought Of entering after
his college course was over. He did
not intend to reform it. On the con-
trary he thought it quite good eneugh
as it was to engage his most serious eff
forts. He was not nearly SO much In
clined to question the Judgment of the
editor who had omitted the educational
part of his interview, as one acquainted
with his studious disposition might
have expected that he would be. On
the contrary he was led to wonder
whether education had not ceased to be
of any Importance in the world. Evil
IDENTIFY that was the view of the editor,
and such man should be in touch with
public sentiment. The experiences of
his first year at college had naturally
prepared him to take such view.
Therefore on the occasion of the sec,
ond reporters visit he devoted all his
time to serious discussion Of basebal II
and its probable effect on the destiny
of mankind, interspersed-at the re-
porter's request-with stories illpstFat-
ing the most advanced methods of bull
doing an umpire as that science was
taught at Yale.
The whole of this interview was
printed. Most of 1t was unintelligible
to Paddy, but such parts as he under
stood-to use his own expression
''gave him pain"
"It's no use, Larry" he said, "You
haven't got the head for it."
And Lawrence was inclined to agree
with him in secret, though openly he
affected to despise advice from such a
quarter.
rs it possible" he said to himself
afterwards, "that in regard to certain
important branches of human knowl-
edge | am what Patrick would call
'thick.'n
No