Evening star., 1909-04-11
GAMES TOMORROW.
New York at Washington.
Boston at Philadelphia

Boston at Philadelphia
How many grandmothers will have to
die tomorrow to let the boys OH Tor the
game? It's an old old. old. very old joke
that diving grandmother joke. but 1t al
ways appeals to the fan. and besides
everything in base ball seems to be just
as old as il can be. and at the same
time lust as fresh and just as rip roar
ing fine every year. Now. you old FANS
YOU lust know it's old and familiar. and
that's why you're squirming around this
morning figuring out just how the game
&c going TO turn out You know every
sensation from the time you begin 10
smell the dust kicked up by thousands
OF feet at the ticket gate, to the time the
last man is out and the crowd files out
If it's a win tomorrow every man VIII
be telling his neighbor just how ne kne"
II would turn out that way, and II II $
a, lose every man will be saying. "Weli,
I betcha they put II on 'em tomorrow.
Isn't that about right?
Now. here's the way it will go.
About half an hour before the game the
real fans will begin to get of the 'th
street cars and place cigars in a very
handy pocket. and on their way to the
gate will have picked up acquaintance
that they have not seen since the hnai
game last year. Around the entrance
will be a very active bunch OF boys.
whose whole ambition in life is to sell
every body a bag Of peanuts. The cry
of Peanuts. five bag" and the smell
of dust. and the sight OF the crowd. and
the sun on the back of your neck-honest.
doesn't it recall fond memories OF Old
times? Then the real fan sits IN the
srandstand or in the bleachers or in a
box, wherever he wants to. and begins
TO talk about the game-the game.
From then on the whole traction sys-
TEN of the District see--s to be directed
to pouring humanity ir.-o the inclosure.
There will be steady tramp-tramp-tramp
up the gangway, where is the very
familiar cry OF ''Getcher 'fshul programs,
gents.
All Will Be There.
There will be the very fat man who
puffs hard. but who never misses game.
There will be the prominent citizen who
has never missed business engagement
in his life-unless ball game intervened.
There will be the boy who is going to
see that opening game If he has to give
up his job the next day. There will be
the sweet young girl who does not know
a thing about the game. but enjoys II
hugely just the same. When the umpire
bawls out TIE strikes and balls she will
probably think it is the catcher yelling
because the ball hits his hand hard
but what's the use Of trying to enlighten
her-she'H never learn, never learn. There
will he the man who keeps card index
on the game, so that at the end Of the
season he will be able TO tell YOU just
how many red-headed batters have
reached first base, or how many outshoots
the left-handers have hoisted into the
clouds. .4..-
There will be the large fat man who is
threatened with apoplexy every time
there Is a close decision. There will be
the doiorous thin man who watches the
game with as much evident interest as II
he were in Singapore and the game in
Argentina, but who the next day will
have the whole score down pat In his
memory. There will he the pest who slaps
his neiChbors on the back and whoops
and roars and falls into the seat behind
Kim when a run is made. There will be
the joker vino calls out things such as
Hand him lemon"' and "Oh, you Dele
hanty." and Look at the wise guy and
many similar and very familiar phrases.
DO you recognize them all? Oh, yes.
and besides. there are many others
Won't the diamond look nice and clean
after long winters nap? Won't 1t look
strange to see u new broom. though. and
won't 1t look just old and just as dis
reputable as ever after Silk O'Loughlin
and the rest OF them have swept off the
home plate several hundred times? Per-
haps they won't have new broom Per-
haps they'll keep on using that dear old
frazzled thing until it just les down and
goes to pieces.
Won't IL be grand when the bleachers
and grandstand echo and re-echo with
the rhythmical tramp Of thousands of
feet. just at the critical moment in the
game when u hit means run or MAYBE
two? Won't the players look nice and
clean In their new clothes. and won't
everybody have grand time?
That is-if II does not rain.
Gates Open Early.
The gates will be thrown open at !
o'clock. and the enthusiasts will have
two hours and forty-five minutes to get
into the grounds and crowd the stands. rs
Umpire Bill Evans will not start the ball
rolling until 3:45.
AS to who will throw the first ball into
the diamond. the directors Of the Wash
ington club probably know. but are keep
ing the news under cover. 1t will be d
prominent United States official. not quite
UP To President Taft. but very cl1se.
The Nationals are carGed to leave Co.
luInbus this evening at > o'clock. and 1,
their train is on time they will reach
Washington al o'clock tomorrow morn.
ing TIE boys will Immediately scatter
fer their hotels and boarding houses, and
will have plenty of tine to get the cinder:
out Of their eyes before the battle be-
gins.
There will be no parade. bat brass
band will be at the grounds TO enlivel
things before the game starts and prob
abiy head tine procession Of the National
and HigElanders from the clubhouse I,
the home plate.
The New Workers. are due to arrive II
Washington tonight from Jersey city, an,
will have the advantage over the Ma
tionals Of being able To sleep in regula