San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-06-27

inning, the other innings are to be play
ed outside of home, and there umpiring
of the highest order is required. In
matters of business, legislation, com
merce and politics; in the machine
shop and in the factory; in the church
and in the college; in social life and in
all our recreations as well; allwheres
and at all times the services of the
| umpire are needed There is not an
hour Of the day throughout the entire
year that some question does not
arise as to this or that, in the game of
life, upon which the decision of the
umpire is really needed. The whole
playing of life's game depends upon
how this umpiring is done.
1t is not the design of this discourse
to tell you how, in this or that emer-
gency, you as parents who umpire the
game for the little ones and the home.
are to do that work. 1t is your work
not another's, and it is your business
to study the points in the game, to
know how the bases are run, whether
the strikes are fair or foul, whether
there is balk and all the rest of it.
1t is the same in the other larger
though no more important fields out
side of home. The business of those
who umpire the game is to understand
ii. To know what are legitimate
points and what are not, and then with
clear sight and honest mind and quick
judgment make the decision accord
ing to the rule and stick to it.
1t does not change the ruling hair,
nor does it vitiate the necessity of liv-
ing squarely up to the regulations be-
cause you are umpiring your own
game, while at the same time you are
one of the players. In the later sta
ges of the game of life every man is
his own umpire and the whole business
of your life is to see that it is done
justly, no less for yourself than for an
other. No man has a right to call
himself out on balls or bases when he
is not, simply to give the other side
chance. That is not the game. Hon
esty in decision for every one who is
in the game with you is imperative.
The whole duty in so far as the game
is concerned is to play it fairly and not
obstruct the other players.
If two trains attempt to pass each
othey on a single track, we know not
only that the atetmpt is destined to
failure, but that some law of the road
has been broken. So in the game of
life, there is a right way for every
man. The lines to the bases which
he is running are right lines. He has
the right of way or he has not, just as he
is playing fair ball or otherwise. If
the other player is not playing fair
,s,-o -, af tln
he refuses to go, then exercise your
own judgment as umpire of your own
game how best to prevent him from
making his points against you unjust
ly. While doing this it is wise not to
impose penalties on him that he will
not pay, or you cannot enforce.
Remember that at every turn, every
point of the game is likely to be dispu-
ted, not only by those who are play
ing the game with you, those who are
umpiring for themselves, and some
of them consciously dishonest, but by
every rooter on the grand stand of life.
This is where the need of thoroughly
understanding your game comes in.
Also the wisdom of patience and the
absolute necessity of governing your
own temper and actions and words.
The umpire who chins with the grand
stand is lost. Once he allows what
they say to draw him into a retort or
controversy he is a goner. His bus
mess it not to let them interfere with
his business, and so he has no ears for
what they say, only eyes for the
game.
Beloved The good umpire on the
baseball field is a scarce commodity,
because it requires in combination
qualities that are rarely found togeth-
er. All the same he affords a splend
id object lesson to all of US who are
playing the game of life. particularly
to those of us who, having passed the
practice grounds of home, are umpir-
ing our own game. Much more then
is it wise to be instructed by him If
in addition to our own game we are
forced to umpire the work of others.
word to the wise is sufficient. UNI
pire we'll your game of life. 'Tis
there the honor lies. Let the rooters
yell. They are not in 1t.