The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-07

The St Paul Dispatch has the fol-
lowing tribute to Deacon Philippe, who
pitched for Fargo perore going to Min
neapolis. Louisville and Pittsburg:
Down in Pittsburg they are dividing
their enthusiasm between a new ball
park and a new Deacon Philippe. Now.
the deacon couldn't really be new, be-
cause he was born old, but he has
suddenly blossomed out into a second
childhood of pitching, and Is shooting
them over with elegant precision again.
reminding the Pittsburg fans Of the
days when he held the team up on his
lone shoulders.
Today they call the pirates the
wagner team. Six years ago they call
ed 1t the Philippe team.
They won't ever call it that asain.
OF course, but it is natural to rejoice
when cloud breaks and gives the
world chance to see two sunsets at
one admission.
If Deacon never pitched another
game, Pittsburg could AFFORD to keep
him as a matter of sentiment.
Pfttsburg has something besides
smoke, for Pittsburg was touched into
spasm of hystertcal generosity when
PHILIPPE fought the worlds champion
ship series Of 1908, single handed, and
almost won it. Pittsburg turned over
large hunks Of real estate and dia-
monds to the Deacon, until he had
cuff-buttons enough to pass all through
the two Dakotas. 1t wouldn't take
many cuff buttons to do the Deacon
for a lifetime, unless the example of
the Pennsylvania steel magnates has
corrupted him of hate.
1 shall never forget the day the
Deacon first blew into Minneapolis,
thirteen years ago, and reported to
Walter Wflmot Roger Denzer, In his
most promising days, never looked so
awkward as the DakoCan did. / had
the honor OF buying him his first soda
water. He SHE'D at 1t until assured
that 1t was not boiling. He wore an
old derby hat OF the vintage of 1865,
with wide brims to keep the sun off
his ears-two sizes too big for him.
That is, the hat was too sizes too
big, not the ears. 1t lay down over his
head almost to the shoulder BLADES.
and it had a different color streaked In
1T for every summer ii had meandered
among the wheat fields of his native
farm.
He had the tremendous advantage.
however of not knowing too much.
The only hopeless man in this world
Is the fellow who has too much stuff
to unIearn.
He went out to NicolIet park, and
the fellows all nudged each other and
laughed. Then the Deacon stood up to
see what he could do, and began set
ting the batters down like a hungry
man shelling corn in hurry for sup
per.
Wilmot allowed he might do. And
he did.
He never got the idea that just be-
cause he was from the country he
ought to see everything at once, so
he went slow and therefore he went a
long way.
Having smoked corn-sflk on the
farm, the cigarette never appealed tn
him, anymore than prunes will get 10
q nan who likes strawberries.
On the wide horizoned prairies he
had learned the rare art Of silence and
= '."ye1 deserte., him. And never hav
ing learned to talk tco much. he never
ic.lned to hear too rgeh. and the
con bination pavsd ar Immediate way
to success and popH't 'ty.
When the umpire didn't see the
strikes he. curved over, he decided
simply that he had more left, and did
not proceed to enlighten that official
with humorous dissertations on the
quality Of his eye-sight Some ball
players never appreciate the fact that
It takes two parties to make situa-
tion humorous. And the average nm
pire generally saves his sense OF hu-
NOR for after hours.
So the humble, and plodding Deacon |
ploughed his furrow patiently, with the
same art that he had ploughed straight |
and true across the Dakota lands.
He drew his money and stuck IL I'm