The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-21

ed on the next poster; the playing of mar
bles and the spinning of tops by boys on
the street; the chasing by police of the bi-
cycle scorcher and the license dodger-time
was when all these things were regarded as
indications of spring, but they were not al
ways reliable. Sometimes Old Winter. after
lingering unduly in the lap of the vernal
maiden, made feint to retire to his north
ern realm, but came back in a few days to
daily longer, bringing his freezing machine
with him. In fact, this year he has tricked
us until he has gained the reputation of
being more tickle than Spring herself in
her most natural mood. Therefore, as
stated, the signs of old cannot always be
depended on.
There is one sign. however, that never
fails. 1t is the opening of the ball season.
When players and city officials parade
through the streets in tallyhos or trolley
cars, with the band playing Hot Time;"
when the mayor tries to toss the ball over
the plate, after practicing week, but
misses it by a yard; when the star player
is presented with a bouquet a diamond
pin as he steps to the plate. and then pops
up an easy fly, while the unheralded dub
lOnOWS Will d WHtH tie game Is
a tie and hit will win and Casey strikes
out; when the band returns to the city
playing dirge; when both phones are
ringing at the same time and the Office boy
is wearing out shoe leather and his temper
answering the endless call, whats the
score?''-then, and not till then, has spring
surely come. Then 1t is the new ball re-
porter, seeking reputation for eccentricity
or marvellous slang, takes three hours to
write 500 words of marvellous descrip-
ton and forgets to tell how the game was
played. Sometimes he does not wait for
the first game, but opens the season HIM
self with circus gem, as, for example,
the following from the Chicago Tribune:
First appearance of Hart G. Loftus's CO.
lossal circus at Cincinnati to-day. Great
est show on earth. Dazzling. glittering,
triumphant return of Hart d LOftuS'S great
moral and spectacular pageant Fresh
from gorgeous. souI-harassing triumphs
before the crowned heads of Selma, Ala.
great, astounding. paralyzing melange
OF wondrous. marvellous. magnificent stars
from four corners of the earth and half
of Texas. The opportunity of lifetime!
watchl Waltz, Wonderful See the terri
bic, untamed Anarchist, "Donahue," the
only wild man who smiles in captivity.
See Ryan. the child wonder, who enters the
Wild mans cage at each and every per-
Torrance, positively patting the wild man
upon the head and making him say he
likes it. The cunning, clever, captivating
Cupid Childs, the winged fat boy; flies
DER telegraph poles and grandstands in
devious, dizzying, dumfounding flights after
wild fowls. See Ned Garvin, bullet-proof
Texan. from the far-off Rio Grande; In
dian player, trapper, poet and scout; is
now perfectly harmless and will eat from
the hands of the most timid child. Formid-
able Sandow Mertes, the baseball Hercules;
he lifts large balls over center field every
once in a while. See, Griffith and his won
derful performing geese, that lay nine large
white eggs during each and every per-
Torrance. which he presents TO the other
fellows. Here We are againi The only Sam
DUNCAN! 1he sad-faced clown. Come and
weep, See the bountiful. byzantine, boast
full acts of baseball brilliancy, the cute,
curving. captivating capers, the splendifer-
Gus, scintillating slides. the jaunting jump,
the terrifying, twisting. tantalizing throwsi
The chance of your lifetime! The supreme
occasion. The great day. The wonderful
world wonders. Do not throw away this
opportunity. You can't tell,