The evening Republican., 1902-09-01
he EXPLAINED THE GAME.
And 1t Was Not Altogether the Young
Lady's Fault That She Didn't
... Understand.

/ There are very few young womel
left in the land who do not unders ia nj
the rules of our national game, bu
there's at least one whose education
has been neglected IN this direction
She's brotherless girl, of course, else
she'd have known all about base hits
and three baggers long ago. She's fell
her ignorance keenly fer years, and SC
the other day, when two masculine
cousins, who are enthusiastic on the
subject of baseball. offered to take her
to a game and teach her its intrica cies,
she accepted the invitation gratefully
and went, relates the Baltimore News.
She didn't learn much before the
game commenced, because her escorts
were too deep in discussion of the
merits of the man who was to pitch
to pay any attention to her, but when
the first inning commenced both men
like this: "It's perfectly plain, Elsie;
you see the pitcher stands in his box
and sends the leather over the plate to
the batter, who knocks it out for a
bag if he can. He gets around the dia-
mond and-Yi! vi! vi! VII"
The vi! vi! Yi!' vi! wasn't part Of
the explanation. 1t was tho shout that
went up from the threats of the speak
ers at an achievement of a Baltimore
player that took place at that mo-
ment, and both young men, with one
accord, rose to their feet.
Elsie, watching diligently, as she
had been told to do, got very dis
tinct vision around the edges of their
tapping coats of two daisies and a
tuft of grass growing in the field.
what happened?" she asked, when
order was lsstored. "Was any one
much hurt?"
what happened? Why, the great
est play of the season." replied one
cousin, excitedly. "He smashed out
two-bagger. I declare, didn't think
it was in him, did you, Fred? Vow!
Vow; there it goes again, good for
run this time"
And again the two youths were car
ried to their feet by their emotions
and again Elsie, peeping around cor
ners and under edges, succeeded in
discerning a small boy sitting on the
ground near the bleachers.
"It's very interesting, isn't it?" she
asked, when all was quiet once more.
$50 foolish of me never to have
learned the game before. Your ex-
plantations have helped me wonder
fully"
Her escorts looked at her suspi-
cionsly, for men hate sarcasm. "All
yon have to do is to keep. an eye on
the ball and the pitcher and catcher
and home plate and the men on bases"
they assured her. "See, that one was
scooped in by fielder. Now watch
us retire the other fellows in one-two-
three order"
"What is 0ne-tWo-three order?
Why, | knew that when l was four
years old. It's--what in the name Of
thunder does he mean by such
throw? They ought to retire that fell
low on a pension. He's in state of
decreptitude. BY George, caught at
the post! Look at him! Look at
him!"
And Elsie, viewing the scene be-
tween waving folds of serge and
tweed, saw one gentleman sitting on
another gentleman's head, violently
cutting him.
"You never told me this was a prize
fight" said she, reproachfuliy, then.
81 wouldn't have come if had known.
When does the ball game commence"
"My dear little co.," replied the old
err of her relatives, as he famed him
self with his hat, you have just wit
messed part of one of the most ex-
citing baseball games ever played on
these grounds. lfyou haven't enjoyed
it. it is merely because your taste
runs more to ping pong than to manly
sports and not because Fred and |
haven't conscientiously endeavored to
explain the rules to you and make
YOU mistress of the subject. Keep
quiet. like n good child, little while
longer and going home in the car I'll
explain to you what pitcher is and
likewise who won and what city the
team is from. Hi! You!
There he goes again!' And that's
positively all the explanation that
Elsie received that day from the gem
cousins.