The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-24

places no virtue on the cheers of a
crowd, though he does highly value
the friendship he chooses. Burlett Sc
lects enemies as carefully as he makes
friends.
His demeanor on the field prejudices
people against him. Indeed he does
give them a chance to call him "a surly
fellow" He delights in nagging oppo-
nents kicking against hard luck, TAX
ing opposing sides in a discussion, and
above all fighting spectators from the
field. Among players, Burkett is ra-
ted "as a good fellow, but a queer
one"
Never speak to him." said a player
to me once, unless he speaks to you
first. lie is a cranky sort of a fellow,
but the best boy in the world at bot
TOM"
And so 1 found Jesse Burkett to be.
Thouhg he may not be popular with
the base ball fans, there are some peo-
pie who think the world of Jesse Bur
kett. There will be a happy little fam
lily reunion at No. g. South Wabash
street, this city, beginning after the
National league season closes. Mrs.
Granville Burkett mother of Jesse Bur-
kett has received a letter from her
son. saying that he with his wife and
baby girl, will spend at least a month
home in Worcester, Mass.
There is perhaps no player in the
National league so well known as Bur-
kett, nor is there any player who has
less friends among the fans, but at the
same time there is no man in Nation
al league uniform so popular in his
home town as is Jesse Burkett in
Wheeling, where he was raised and
where his mother still lives. The great
of tIa rrrl, r.. -
for his mother has been the wonder
and admiration of Wheeling residents
ever since he was seven years old, and
by her his love is returned fullfold
Jesse 8urkett has been a puzzle to
many, but those who have known him
best are satisfied that there are now
but three persons whom Burkett really
loves,-his mother, his baby and his
wife. There once was a fourth mem
Der of this little family, but a wee
white stone in a Massachusetts grave
yard, now marks the bed of Burkett's
little boy.
Burkett's mother is a pleasant faced
woman few years past the half cen
fury mark Every little child for
squares around knows her and loves
her. The pleasant little home in which
she lives is a present from her son.
who scraped and saved enough out of
a Dali
player TO buy the home and place her
there.
Pat Iebeau has often remarked that
he was never sure of Burkett when the
st. Louis team landed in Pittsbure
for Jesse would always take the first
train 10 Wheeling to see his mother no
matter when that train left. Mrs. Bur
kett met with a sad accident early last
spring. She fell while crossing the
CT. nr,l f,45Y 4 l.. II.
time 1t was feared that it must Nbe
amputated Jesse was almost distract
ed and spent night and day by her bed
side. He purchased for her one of the
most elegant and costly invalid c'R .irs
to be had for money. When the ST
Louis team visited Pittsburg on its
first trip of the season, Burkett was
missing for a couple of days. 1t was
given out that he was confined to his
room with sprain, but this was not
the case. He was at the side of his
mother in Wheeling soothing her aw-
full pain, while the most eminent sur
geons and specialists to be had were
examining her injuries. She had said
she could not stand the trial without
her son was with her and Jesse was
there.
Jesse Burketts support of his mo-
Their has not been only since he became
supported her since he was nine years
of age. Staunch business men of Whee-
ling are now happy to grasp the hand
of the cross king of base ball players,
and say they knew him when he was
little "carrying-in in the glass
house working early and late beyond
his strength, so that on each pay day
he might carry home to his mother a
few dollars. More than once was little
Burkett found asleep in a dark corner
of the glass house, where he had fallen
down utterly worn out by the long, hard
work. 1t is little wonder then that
the mother now looks forward with
joy to the coming of her boy.
There are others in Wheeling who
await the visit of Burkett with great
interest. There passes the residence of
Mrs. Burkett each day a bright young
business man now attaining his ma
jority. Strangers who notice the bow
and smile John Plummer bestows on
the old lady at the windows of the