The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-06-11

al aged individual with streakg Of gray
in his hair.
so much the better" declares an
other 1T just shows what boy can
do II you give him chance. Hey,
Matty. show us how &c throw an out
curve, will you?"
Not infrequently have seen the big
pitcher Of the New Yorks condescend
| to give the urchins demonstration
oil curve ball pitching. And rest as
sured that the next time the Eagle
Eyes" Of the village played the Young
Rusies" OF the adjoining hamlet. they
lad for their pitcher the youngster
who by that time enjoyed the reputa
ton of having been 'one of Mathew
sons boys" With that prestige to
start with any team would go into
the game with the battle half wen.
But II there arc small boys to watch
for the ball players along the railroads
there are larger boys to entertain
| them when they reach the various
cities of their destination. There Is
a peculiar class of men IN every city
of the United states whero q profess
sional baseball is played who spend
great portion of their time and no
small portion of their money entertain
ing the players.
They get nothing in return for II,
and expect nothing more than to have
IT generally known that they are
fiiends of Davis, Lajoie, Dowle, Col
lins, and one hundred and one men
who have made baseball famous. If
| the player wants to smoke. thc cigars
| are his. If he wants to drink, there
are drinks so long as he wants them.
II he desires to go 10 the theatre. his
accommodating patron will secure the
tickets, even though he be obliged to
pay a premium for them.
When the players are on the road
| they seldom get morning practice, and
| that affords them no little worry. Con-
| stant exercise is necessary once the
season has fairly begun. A ball play
er does not train to the finepess of a
college athlete competing for example,
in a rowing crew, but even then he
stiffens up quickly and his playing
form vanishes II he does not keep his
muscles in proper trim. Strange to
say, with the knowledge of this truth,
there are few of the players who exert
| themselves further than to walk
around the block now and then. They
are always willing to take the chances.
There are not many of the players
who are early risers. 1t is true, too.
that there are few who ere in any great
haste to get to bed. The tendency of
many of them. who have graduated
from minor leagues, where they have
not been fed on pate de foie gras and
few similar delicacies, Is to eat ali
there is on the bill of fare when they
first sit at table in first class hotel.
The veteran knows better. Expert
ence has taught him q lesson. In fact
the veteran ball player is something
of an epicure, and he is inclined to
be rather abstemious than otherwise.
A hearty breakfast Is perhaps the
best meal of the uay. At luncheon
little soup, perhaps vegetable or two
some ice cream, and slice of water
melon in season. That's all before the
game-a queer combination, but
ball player with an overloaded stom-
ach is an abomination to his manager.
At night, and mere is where the profess
sonal player grumbles, and really has
grievance, the dinner is often cold.
The player. after finishing the game,
changing his uniform, and preparing
himself Tor the evening, arrives in the
dining room when the dishes are be-
ginning to cool and the walters are
impatient to get through. But there
is misery in store for the waiter who
shows it.
Not moment that the player is not
under the watchful eye of the manager.
Sometimes he believes that he is not,
and when he should Lave been in bed
at IL o'clock he fixes up a dummy
in the bed, which the manager may
see If he peeps throughout the key
Lcle to ascertain whether everything
is all right.
Next salary day, however, he dis
covers that that dummy has cost him
fine of ten dollars. II he is wise he
takes it gracefully. He knows that
If he does his duty on the field and
plays excellent ball in the next few
weeks he Is likely 10 find the ten dol
lars returned TO him.
Professional ball players, notwith-
standing their years of discretion, are
a great deal like overgrown boys and
they have to be treated as such. They
may get little bols,erous IN public
now and then, but almost never are in
tontionally offensive. Each year finds
them growing about the hard work
that falls to their lot to travel around
the country and have a good time, and
each year they declare will be their
last.
But they are around next spring
hunting up the old trials and tribu-
intions, including the lower 3erths, as
OF they had never gone through them
hefore.-John b. Foster, in Golfers
Weekly.
Bee Census.
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