Evening star., 1897-03-24
Ground at National Park Was Too
Soft for Playing.
NO WORD YET FROM KING OR MAUI
First Game of the Georgetown
University Nine.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

Last nights rain softened the earth at
National Park to such an extent that the
usual mornings practice could rot be in
duiged III today and will also knock out
this afternoons work. Groundkeeper Mil
Ter was at work early with his rake this
morning. and the grounds. as viewed from
the grand stand, are delight 20 the eye.
The grass inside the diamond has grown
TO the proper height, and around the base
lines the brown earth forms a pretty con-
trast between the green Of the in and out
fields. After going over the diamond. Mil
ler Immediately set to work digging out
the earth of the foul lines, whi h will be
filled in with cinder, beaten hard and then
coated with whitewash. This work will
about finish up the diamond. Considerable
work has yet to be done upon the stands
and fences and the drain pipes.
Practice being out of the question 1t was
case of come into school," and all the
boys filed into the dressing room and had
an hours talk with Manager Schmelz over
the playing rules, discipline and team work
Each man took the advice offered in COM
mendable spirit, and many original sLg-
gestions in the way of tricks and team
work that have been thought out during
the winter Were offered by almost all the
old players The new men are naturally
modest. and played the part of silent wit
n.
majority of the scholars mounted their
wheels and secured little exercise in that
way. 1t is bad thing to let up in training
for single day. and all the players
know this they took exercise of some kind.
AS there will be no practice this afternoon
bicycle runs and walks will be the program
for every body.
Hillary Swain has become a general fav-
orfte with everybody. including the at
taches of the grounds Being big man, he
Is naturally good natured, and has CHEEKY
word for all. Manager Schmelz excused
Swain from yesterday afternoons prac-
ice. and the big fellow took the opportunity
to renew old time acuua amt ance with
Senator Mark Hanna at the Capitol The
senator greeted the new base ball senator
IN a cordial way, and quite long conver-
sat-on followed. The fact that Hillary was
not after an office might have contributed
TO a consi 1erable extent to the Ohio sena-
tors good nature
Swain was born and raised about thirty
miles from Canton. Ohio, and the Hanna
and Swain families are on quite intimate
terms. The big pitcher is Just twenty
three years old. and last year saw his first
professional service. The year previous he
took his first Try at the national game while
attending college. Fort Wayne signed him
last year, and he was the rubber fifty
times. winning thirty-eight games quite a
remarkable record for beginner. especially
as the league that city was in was CON
siGered more than ordinarily fast. All the
players unite in predicting good work from
the big Ohio boy
All reports to the contrary. the players
have yet to feel the least bit sore or out
Of keller over the practice already in
dulged in. In fact. the watchful eve of
Manager SchmelZ kept the younger mem
hers from OVERRIDING themselves. and the
older players are far too foxy to be caught
at that game.
Complimentary book No. 1 was given out
THIS morning. and Mr.. Michael B. Scanlon
was the lucky recipient
Earl Wagner's mail was heavy this morn
lrs. but nothing came from either King or
Maui, the majority of missives being from
lady base ball enthusiasts requesting the
Hsual privileges of last season in the way
of ladies day tickets. These letters will
be kept on file, and as soon as the tickets
are printed VIII be sent out to those who
have made the applications