The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-22
Hoot Mon

good many people have asked me what the
heading OF this column means. do not know. Maybe,
like the column itself, it does not mean anything
1t is Scotch expression which may mean the equiv
alent of the American slang Gratis or it may signify
cultivated dissent from the conclusions of your
Wis wis., The first Scotchman who made use of it
follower of Robert Bruce. Bruce was an
aspirant for the Scotch throne. So was the Comyn.
They met day at church by appointment and
each tried to induce the other to withdraw In the
heat of debate Bruce drew his dagger and stabbed
his rival Rushing from the church he shouted:
81 doubt have slain the Comyn."
"Hoots mon,' exclaimed one Of his retainers
''You doubt, max siccar.' Whereupon he entered
the church and finished the job.
Historical presidents all have their value. This
may, have bearing upon the republican con-
gressonal situation in this district but it is worthy
of note that the Comyn had hair red Bert Halls
and that Bruce was patient and panstaking about
having his way in politics Your Uncle Loren.
There Is widespread impression that the Scotch
while very charitable, extremely frugal race
There is extant in Chicago story of a Scotchman
who swindled out of 500 by gold brick scheme
What made it remarkable was the fact that special
inquiry made the country and this was the
only Scotchman who had been done up in that
manner. In the of the inquiry many good
stories of Scotch caution brought out. One Of
into gambling house by ''capper." He in
duced to bet "sixpence." He won. The seapper''
urged him to double his bet as his luck was evil
IDENTIFY good. He did so and again and again the
"eapper" urged him to double. The Scotchman held
up crown piece and said to the s'capper'' SO that
the gambler could hear him: ''I1l risk a crown and
if win I'll put down a sovereign. The crown won
and the Scotehman raked his winnings in his pocket
and walked out.
Another was Of Scotch workman who was called
witness to the mental capacity of the defendant
in law suit. He asked if he knew anything
about the which would indicate he was "wrang
j. the heidi 49,
He did.
What was itf
Once the man had been overpaid by the office and
discovering the error he had taken the money
back to the manager.
Sir Andrew Mcdonald, when he was In Mime
apolis told story Of Scotch thrift which is as good
any apochryphal travelling about in the news
papers. He said that when James G. Blaine and An
drew Carnegie came to Edinburgh to dedicate the
Carnegie library the iron master made himself quite
obnoxious. His guilt consisted in refusing to rise
when the queen g health proposed
'FCould this be true,'' Sir Andrew was asked.
"True' said Sir Andrew, sfI saw his wife pu,
him up by the scruf o. the neck Oh there was great
offense taken and there talk of refusing his
library. It might have been done, too," said Sir
Andrew, "if it had not been so valuable"
When the history Of Minneapolis Is written there
will necessarily be chapter on baseball. Baseball
has been epidemic here since the days when the site
Of the Nicollet house was the and all games
from three old cat to politics played there.
Professional baseball includes the career of such man.
agements those of ''Pope" Gooding, Morton and
Hach, II. L. Hach, Tom Murphy, John Goodnow and
"Watty." 'Watty'' was the only real baseball man
VIII he he all
or less "angels'' amateur devotees of the game
Incidentally it should be said that they all lost in
their ventures. "Pope" Gooding got together
good team and being an enthusiastic baseball man and
popular in the city looked forward to good run for
his money. But unluckily he went up against the
Sunday law. His baseball park somewhere near
the Milwaukee shops By horse it took about half
day to reach it, People generally went out by the
shortline trains passing splendid farms the
way. But when Gooding attempted to play Sunday
games agriculturists, with phenomenal hearing
came in and swore that the noise disturbed their de-
votons. The Sunday games stopped by the
court and "Pope's" investment went with the de-.
cision.
When Morton and Hach took over the team they
sprang scheme for ball park back of the West
hotel. The plot just big enough for legal dia-
mond and when secured it furnished baseball to the
whole city, for might sit in his office and know
from the of applause when the home team made
hit. If the noise was merely pestilence it was
base hit if it stopped the clocks Nicolet
it was twobagger, if the city hall rocked its
foundation it home with the bases full.
If the visiting team was ahead people used to 60
to the grounds and cut out pieces of the silence
souvenirs.
The Morton and Hach management dissolved and
II. L. Hach took the team for while, which ended
in financial disaster. Nothing daunted, Tom Murphy
essayed the role of managing director of the baseball
fortunes Tom was saloonkeeper and tho there was
evidence that his baseball management interfered
with his regular duties to his customers there arose
at the annual meeting of the association highly
moral discussion whether the franchise should be
given to him again After profound debate the
question went against Tom. There came up then the
claims Of two syndcates, headed by Colonel John
T. West and the other by Mark Hayne. They had
been warm friends but appeared before the assoca-
ton as rivals and in anything but Damon and
Pythias attitude Hayne IS faction when it came
out that John Goodnow to be the acting manager
of the team. The redoutable consul to Shanghai was
the fussest manager that ever happened. He used
to stand upon the steps by the main gate check