The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-20
DIGBY BELL AS A FAN
Star of "A Midnight Bello Has Taken
Many Degrees

Star of "A Midnight Bell, Has Taken
Many Degrees.
On the occasion of the last benefit
given to the winning base ball club
In New York, the various participants
in the benefit decided as a novelty to
make up In appearance and as far as
possible portray the various prominent
managers OF the theaters In New York
and Digby Bell was delegated to i'm
personate A. M. Palmer, whom he re-
Sembles very much in features but
In no other way. Digby had never
met the astute manager and consulted
with his friend, Amos j. Cummings
as to the best methods for him to
pursue in order to secure an inter
view, so as to be able to properly de-
p1ct Mr.. Palmer in voice and gesture
MT Cummings suggested the advisa-
bility of Digby soliciting Mr.. Palmer
to purchase box for the proposed
penent, which was acted upon imme-
dlately, and Digby forthwith sought
Mr.. Palmer in his office, on entering
which Digby presented the subject,
and requested Mr.. Palmers contribu-
ton and presence.
Much to his surprise Mr.. Palmer
launched forth in a TRADE against base
Dall and base ball players, to the crest
fallen Digby, who Immediately sought
MS friends, Amos J. Cummings and De-
Won Hopper, and poured forth his tale
! OF woe relative to Palmer's reception of
nus overture, which was received by
these gentlemen in full, together with
a capital imitation Of Mr.. Palrnar's
tone of voice and mannerisms. Mr.
Cummings and Mr. Hopper both sug-
gested that in order to get Square
ne (BelD could adopt no better measure
than to give complete reproduction
OF 1t, with the makeup added, on the
occasion Of the benefit, which Digby
| a fA n
The day Of the benefit arrived the
house was jammed to suffocation, the
members of the two teams occupying
the hrSt two rows of the orchestra
chairs. The first three numbers on
| the programme passed off with more
or less applause. No. was accredited
TO D1gby Bell, in a Recitation The
large audience settled back in their
! seats with looks upon their faces an
ticipatory of something funny. Imag-
Inc their surprise when, as the figure
mo. went up, q short, corpulent indi-
V1dual. with gray sidewhiskers and
gold-rimmed glasses, whom they in
stantly recognized as A. M. Palmer,
walked down to the footlights, and.
waving down the feeble line Of APP
plause which greeted his appearance.
in ministerial voice and nasal tone
commenced a TRADE Of denunciation Of
the game of baseball, baseball PLAYERS
and everything pertaining to the ma
tional game.
On the conclusion of the TRADE, Dig
| by dexterously removed his wig,
Whlskers and eyeglasses, and disclosed
| himself to the astonished gaze of the
vast audience. who quickly recognizing
the artist, greeted him with tremen-
dous outburst Of applause After his
second recall, Digby advanced to the
| footlights and was about to make
| speech of thanks, when, on looking in
Manager Miners box, to his utter
horror and amazement, he recognized
| Manager A. M Palmer, surrounded by
Amos J. Cummings. Henry c. Miner
and the long comedian, sDeWolf Hop
J per, who were purple with suppressed
/ laughter. The situation was grasped
by Digby in an instant and he beat a
hasty retreat, and notwithstanding
the tumultuous calls of the audience,
refused to respond. Since then Mr..
Palmer and Digby Bell do not speak
as they pass by
Since then, also, the team has
changed hands, and fallen into the
hands Of Andrew Freedman, who, it
has been said, knows as much about
q game as a Chinaman knows about
making beer Still he insisted upon
running things to suit himself, and as
a result gave the city team with play
ers in it who cared not whether they
won or lost. He supposed himself to
] be car in the base ball world and his
| head sWelled to several degrees be-
| yond it's natural size. He was obsti-
nate and insisted upon having his
| own way in everything, no matter
whether it was to the advantage or
| detriment Of the club. Digby made an
| effort to have Freedman settle the
Rusie case early in the season, but
! without success. The only answer
! severe nature. Since that time neither
Digby nor Hopper have any use for
| the wou1d-be car, and they never
speak as they pass by" Shortly after
Mr.. Bells trouble with Freedman he
was rendered several passes from half
| a dozen of the National league manag-
! ers. He says he accepted one from
! John r. Brush, because that gentle
| man hated Freedman worse than q
! Kentucky colonel hates water. Mr.
| Bell Is now pulling for Cincinnati to
! get a piece of the Temple cup money,
but the odds are in favor of the Cleve-
| land club at present. He has fol-
| lowed the career Of the Milwaukee
ball club closely and says he cannot
understand why the team should be
| so slow in the race. He is anxiously
awaiting the time when the National
| league magnates shall come to their
senses and turn to the old American
sociation-National league plan. Base
ball, he says, was never so prosperous
as in those days and the interest was
always at fever heat. He Is confident
| that within q year or two the twelve
| club plan will be abandoned and in
its place two strong eight-club leagues