The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-20

saw vanquish the villain in the play that is now running at this house?"
 Madame" said Waddell. "I must be the same party, and what" gallantly asked the courteous George Edward, "can l do for you"
 Well, if you wouldn't mind" replied the St. Louis damsel who is noted for her self-assurance, "I wish that you would use your commanding voice in call ing out for my carriage. which I do net happen to see at the present moment"
 Outside of basebsll the only sport that appeals to Lave Cross Is duck hunting. and for this purpose Lave bought himself a farm down on the Delaware bay which has a clear sweep of the water, and in the off season it is really the talk of the neighborhood the manner in which Lave shows all the other natives how to bag the biggest number of the web-footed fowls.
 Lave is also a jokist. whose wit is in some manner always favored with duck ing stories. He said to Charley Jones the other day in the club dressing room: Are you good at riddles Charley?"
 Haven't any medals" laconcally re- piled the silent outfelder. for guessing"
 Well I want to ask you one, cried Lave what Is the difference between a successful duck hunter and a thief who steals oil painting?"
 Give it up," replied Jones.
 Why. that's an easy one." replied Lave. "One brings the canvasback and the other doesn't
 When Broadway Alex Smith, the once famous New ork catcher, and one of the fashion plates of the diamond, was in Washington during the last Benning meet he and Jack Dunn were sitting to- gether in the lobby of a downtown hotel. and the talk turned on lucky winners at the racing game. business that Smith is now following for livelihood, and Dunn. who, by the way, appears to be rounding up fast bunch for his Balti- more hall team. was telling Alex about some fellow who was catching a winner in each race every day during the meet. and says Jack, Did you ever see such luck. Alex?"
 No" yawned the dressy one; "that's the kind you don't see; you only. hear about
 In connection with the release of Buck Freeman by Boston to Washington there lies a tale.
 It is said, and on good authority, that Freeman was the player slated for the first base job on the Milwaukee team and that if Joe Cantillon had waived claim on the player he would now be in the brewer lineup. It is known that Presi- dent Havenor had lines out for the crack fielder who Is one of the most famous batsmen in the big leagues, and that he had the promise of the Boston manage ment that Freeman would be sold to Mill waukee if all the American league clubs waived claim on him. Six of the clubs, it is claimed. waived on him, but when IL came to Washington, Cantillcn thought that he could use Freeman in the Wash
 a-Il cordingly refused to waive. This resulted in the release of the player to Washing ton and now if Havener gets the old-time star he will have to purchase him from Cantillon.
 The report that Jake Beckley was the man Havener is after is unfounded. The St. Louis club is willing to let Moose Baxter go, but 1t is hardly probable that Beckley will go to Milwaukee.
 Baseball is Christy Mathewson's busi- ness; checkers is his hobby When the Giants are on the road the big fellow drags out his checker boards and seeks victims None of his teammates is able to put up game that can baff1e him, so he seeks out the local champions in cities where the Giants play. He will walk miles to meet good checker player. Ere quently he disappears from his hotel and at such times he may be found hunched up over a checker board in some fire engine house or some other quiet place where chacker players abound. 'Matty" was only boy when he first came to New York. He was big, lanky young fellow then, but he has filled out until now he is one of the biggest pitchers in the business. And none of his weight is superfluous, either. In his college days he was a tall. lanky fellow, much re- sembling his brother Hank" who is schooling with the Giants these days. At Bucknell college 'Matty" gained fame