The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19
Warden Hoyle's Theory

Warden Hoyle's Theory
The authorities at San Quentin are
very kindly disposed toward the con-
victs' interest in the great American
game. 1T keeps the boys busy" said
the captain Of the yard. and when
they're busy, why there's nothing do
ing And Warden Hoyle regards those
semiweekly contests as one OF the most
pleasant features OF prison life He
has encouraged the league from its in
ception and the boys" have manifesto I
their appreciation by being good BOYS.
It's long time, now that we come TO
think OF II, since we have heard OF
any trouble over in San Quentin The
warden thinks, and he ought to know.
that this Is due, among other things. TO
the interest the convicts take in the
dofngs OF the league.
Probably some OF the prisoners ars
not In the best OF spirits when they
ME out OF the Jutemill early some Sat.
urday afternoon, but they can not
long remain possessed OF the bIus
devils The very sight of SNOWFALL
is enough to dispel the bluest devil
abroad. Hey there" be cries TO one
OF MS dusky comrades who has knocked
SIX fouls In succession, L guess they
sent 20 up heah for stealin' chickens.
Tom What human being. however
wicked or depraved. could nurse a
Crouch within hearing of that luminous
comment?
There are a few guards scattered
about the yard while the game is in
progress, but they really have nothing
20 do They are as much interested
In the contest as their charges are
and every bit as enthusiastic Base
ball Is baseball. you know.
TIL bet the coons go to pieces in
ne last inning" a guard confided TO
one OF his fellows.
Nothing like that" came the re-
sponse. but the other boys are out to
win, all the same.
Those are the remarks you and I
make when we go to see the big
leaguers cross bats. or when Sacred
Heart and Wilmerding dispute tbs
supremacy of the Academic league. 1t
was very difficult to realize that the
men talking were prison guards men
who were there to keep watch and
ward over criminals whom the laws
Of the state deemed unsafe to be abroad
In society.
That sunllt area before the iutemin
seemed very unlike a prison. That
laughing, dancing, gesticulating thronz
seemed more like a group of college
boys at an academic meet than men
who had been grasped by the long
arm OF the law. The click of the bat
was as real and as convincing as il is
at the Valencia street grounds. and
much OF the playing was quite as
good, while all of il was somehow
vastly more interesting. All about US
were the convict spectators, rolling
cigarettes or, between laughs, sucking
sedulously at their odorous pipes. II
was a church picnic. a track meet. a
professional game. a bushIeaguer con-
test-anything you please. in fact. ex-
cept baseball in a prison yard
But. My eyes slowly Travelled M
the wall to the right OF US and there
were riveted. Along the wall. with one
hand sliding on the iron railing and
the other balancing a polished rife on
his shoulder. came a guard He waS
minus coat and waistcoat, and his
broad brimmed hat shaded a round.
good natured face. But he was a guard.
That solitary figure on the sunlit wall
was the symbol Of the eternal vigfla=c.
which Is the price OF Iiberty-and
alas, the penalty OF its abuse. Fer
moment very brief moment--hs
paused and glanced down upon the
players and the spectators in tho
yard: then he took a fresh grip on his
rifle and slowly walked on till an angle
OF the wall bid him from sight.
His passing cast no shadow. Tha
game went on as before The PLAYERS
were oblivious OF his presence. Yer
they knew that he was there-fhevs
always know that he is there Vvithone
his passing this would have been basa-
ball merely; his customary stroll mads
II In very truth baseball In q prl.on
yard.