Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-01-12
THE GAME WAS LOST.
AND 412 POUNDS OF BASEBALL IDOL
WAS SHATTERED.
The lanOmtnioss Downfall Of the
Ligktf0Ot Lilies Club Mascot
When In an Ill Advised Moment
They Told Him 20 Slide.

They Told Him 20 Slide.
We'll. why is 1t you never played
baseball yOurself?" asked a latter day
fan OF the Very stout man sitting In
the corner, "You say you We're the
mascot for the famous Lightfoot Lilies
Of Jones county, and yet. with the ex-
ception Of the time that they put you
ia 10 force the winning run in the thir-
tecn,h by being hit in the stomach.
you never seem to have played your
self. After such successful daring were
you never asked to play again? don't
quite understand"
The stout man snzed at the speaker
searcbmely for few minutes and
then. apparently satisfied that the ques-
lions were asked in good faith. proceed.
I'd 10 unfold the one dark shadow in
his otherwise sunny life.
Have you never heard?" he began.
Then now you shall hear. and. though
| think no blame should rest with me,
you yourself shall judge Of that. LIS
ten. You have already referred to the
contest In which ! forced the Winning
run owing to the pitchers inability to
pui the ball over the plate without
striking my corporation. This, ! be-
llcye, was ,lue to law Of physics
which state that but one body can oc.
cupy The safe space at the same time
or words 10 hat effect. But, whatever
the cause, | acquired reputation for
high class baseball second to none In
Jones county aud at once got n regular
position on III" team. My figure being
my stock in trade, Captain Slugger
Burrows OF the l.ishtfoots spared no
pains in IN aging me to physical per-
feet on hrfor III" next game with the
lton.prS. Under carefully selected
diet OF beer. butter. lard. potatoes and
COZ liver oil rapidly rose from mea-
gel 80 pounds TO the magnificent tig-
ure of III.
"l'or HE first eight innings Of the
CREST contest. which ultimately proved
my downfall, | fully sustained my en-.
vialle reputation for artistic ball play
Ing. Three times the bases were full,
with The Rnarrrs one run in the van.
Three times | proved the Lightfo0ts'
salvation by forcing the tleing run by
means Of my superior figure. Three
tines the home rooters We'd with one
another in futile attempts to pay me
suitable homage. was truly more
than queen. And then that fatal ninth.
with its brlmful cup Of gumless bitters.
Four hundred and twelve pounds OF
shattered idol!
In the last half Of the ninth reach
ed first through my customary strategy.
Later succeeded in gaining third by
daring bit Of base running while the
Roarers' felders were searching for
'liulr Thompson's liner on the other
side of the center field fence. Sammir
Salmon and one Of the Foote twins
died easy deaths on intield pop tlies.
There we were: Ringtail Rourers. II:
I.ightfoot Lilies. 1G: two out. Thomp
son and yours truly op second aud
third bases respectively and the IN.
vincible Home Run Hankins at the
bat. All were breathless with sus
pense. The pitcher swung his arm
back slowly. and then. swish. bang!
Home Run Hankins never missed his
aim. struggled brnvely toward the
plate, and H. less time than 1t takes to
tell it Thompson was at my back push
Ing violently doubled my efforts. 4
moment later Hankins himself caught
NJ and Joined in the single file struggle
for hrnh" and victory. 'T""~' iv W
die, and the people We're like lunatics
in their wild excitement. Spurred Oh
hy their ,errs. was soon but five
feet from tn" plate. with Thompson
and Hankiuo still dancing at my heels.
Thcn suddenly voice rose clearly
above the others Slide. Willie. slide!
!, rang oui OH, fatal wOrds!'
Al ibis pOn, the fat "X mascot WA
ovcryom" by emotion and stopped
s!oi", II WAS some minutes before IN
could puH b,mself together sufficient,
10 20 on win his suu story
Well" i.r said AZ last, ~ slid ID!
Ing gracefully forward. ! slid Il uir
calculated slide thu, brought my 81
directly above The ru!;.!rr But the "n
llUs'nS,u his 0c,msonrd among IL
ln,,~ was ShOr, lived
"'rpucb the plate. you foot; touch TIA
n..lp" 'Rull' Thompson nEd I!"..: u
y"il"a together
"%Dw would you believe ii. SIT.
a. wnuId | oonldni. My corporntn'
l:'.! hrrn overturned Lying fac" dow
was 50 high from the ground that L,
AIMS wnul' nni reach the plat"
"'Emk ne" | cried Rock RE-
i;ork y"N:' Bull Thompson rear.
'I:nrk ynu: Wen rock you. >iom" y
r"r you. and touch that plate a.
hearT
"'Hock mr. | pleaded with I':"
IN my eyes You don't understand |
Eork me like you would n r"kinr
horse Tilt me can't tonrh hr,l"ln
"''Iwas too late While had bees
explaining m! predicamrni 10 'l"s'
hGrn heads the Roarfrs' heldrrs frind
thr l.i!l ana cr well. we lost After |
wa;l rn!,! Captain Sluggrr Burrows
how II happened and begged ia. iusi
ne nmtrr chance. SO use, He said
VA rMy fool with my shape ought to
az. :, ;.sr rough to slide on his hack |
.''l '';;.' hrt say honest !ninn. now,
i, yIu lil:nS was in any way 10
,aM"t' Stew York Sun.
observation-disclosures