Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-05-07
The Baseball Question.
BAI7,NoRE Mn. Nav 10,

BALTIMORE. Nd, May 5, 1908.
EDITOR REGsTER-I have noted tina
one or two meetings have been held il
Shepherdstown in the interests Of you
| local representation in the great na
tionAl sport Of baseball. 1t recalls event
of some years ago, when "Billy" Jone
was the Casey" OF local renown anC
when ShePherdstown got together I
team for two seasons that held thu
championship Of the Eastern Panhan
die.
The movement that has now beer
started by new enthusiasts and old
time rooters should receive the hearty
support Of the people Of the town and
those around about. Let those who
scoff at the game now 60 but once, and
they will remain, not only to "root'
then but run and root" again. Base
ball is gloriously uncertain; the enthu-
IiaSm IL generally catching and happily
beyond control. The few deaths that
haye occurred on the ''side-lines" from
heart failure have had the sole effect
of making the survivors the more jub-
ilsntly joyous. In large crowd, every
spectator feels that the fellow next him
is, or ought to be, lifelong friend. II
they had an opportunity to root for the
the same ball team, the Hatflelds and
McCoys would have ceased their feud
at once and proceeded to take it out at
the empire.
was in Maine last summer, and ev-
cry town boasting q score Of boys and
men Of any age had its team. The
neighboring farmers either played them
selves or regularly rooted. / tried
simple straight" on farmer of fifty
and he banged the ball over my center
telder's head as the next batter up
was q Harvard man, had job TO mold
my farmer friend to the base on which
he finally landed when the ball came
back from where he had forwarded it.
The farmers of Jefferson have better
crops and more to do than those in
Maine but let them try a ball game
once in a While-it is reported that
farmer can get a better deal at ball
game than anywhere else. As for the
town people and the town in general,
nothing is better than to have a ball
team as an outlet for energy, an adver-
tisement for the town, amusement for
the summer visitors, and as being 9TH
erwise profitable in q hundred ways.
In the future, towns will recognize q
real need for an athletic field cOnven-
lent to the greatest number, and will
regulate its use and prevent its abuse
by council action.
The abuse Of athletics comes in where
the spirit arises, not II developing To-
cal ability, but Of encouraging a spirit
solely of winning or quitting" Ey-
eryone should have fair chance in
his home town, and borrowing" a
player for game Injuries the sport in
the long run. Your present athletic
committee has happily corrected this,
and, believe, has secured a list Of ELF
gible players from each town TO com
pete in your games.
l would further say that in answer TO
the letters from my friends on the base
ball committee who have asked me TO
lend hand, that | will be ION the job"
when can and will attempt to do with
Judy" to-day what | used to do with
"Billy" before-When my noW-doubtful
arm holds true. wish to say again
that the enterprise deserves the sup
port Of everyone that isn't wholly foI-
SLICED or absolutely poverty stricken.
The returns, collectively and individ-
ually, will be found to be more than q
small expenditure.
Yours very truly,
N. PAGE ANDREWS.