Audubon County journal., 1911-05-18

gin.
I don't mind telling you that we
were t1ckled to death over the outs
come, but our rejoicing was SOON
| turned into fresh trouble. Father made
up his mind that we should have some
sort of an education even If the State
university didn't take kindly to the
scheme. So he sent us to Notre Dame
university, at South Bend, Ind, an In
stftut1on that had q reputation of be-
ing able to instruct boys when all 9TH
er attempts had failed When we were
made acquainted with the plan we felt
that everything was over with US; we
had heard OF Notre Dame and the
methods in vogue there, and we be-
lieved that no Anson could thrive un-
starting for the reformatory on that
day when we bade goodby to MARSHALL
town and baseball. we couldn't have
been more depressed.
Contrary to our expectations, We
found the Indiana school very much to
G~r liking. About the first thing that
was asked us on our arrival was
whether we played ball, and when my
brother, who acted as the Anson
spokesman, confessed to a mild fond
ness for the sport, we were given the
glad hand all around and taken into
full fellowship with the other boys.
After a day or two we were given
chance to show what we could do, and
our performance was so good that we
soon became two Of the most popular
boys in the school Naturally we be-
gan to think we had made great
mistake in our opinion of Notre Dame.
We really put in very happy win.
ter Mt school There were lakes in the
vicinity and the skating was mighty
fine. We were expected to do rea-
sona6le amount of studying, but We
were encouraged to take as much out
| door exercise as we could get, and \
always filled the bill nobly in that re-
spect. l don't mind telling you that 3
didn't astonish anybody with my
scholarship that winter. but stood A
who liked play better than books.
Both Sturgis and myself were given
places on the university nine, and we
certainty got good marks for our
work In that direction, even if those
we received in our classes were not
quite satisfactory.
When we returned home the follow,
Ing June Marshalltown was in fever
Of excitement over baseball. Father
seemed to be the moving spirit in the
craze, and he actually appeared to be
more delighted with the progress We
had made as members of the Juanitas
at Notre Dame than with the fattering
report of our attention to business
which the good fathers had sent after
us. At that time Sturgis played &
slightly better game than myself, be-
ing more speedy between bases and
also showing better judgment Later,
however, he strained one Of the ten
dons of his right arm and never after
word recovered good enough use of &c
| to excel In baseball. 1t was a great
blow to him, and to all of US, for that
matter, but he bore it manfully and
turned his attention to other things.
That left clear field for me, and
don't mind telling you that jumped
right in and took possession. Father
was SO gratif,ed over the fact that his
sons had actually gone to school an
entire year without being expelled or
even suspended that he permitted me
to take my fill of sports, and didn't
need very hard urging. l didn't real
lie 1t then, but l know now that the
old gentleman was tickled to death to
have some one with whom he could
work off a little Of the enthusiasm for
sport that was his in spite of his age.
He was always ready for game Of
almost any kind, and seldom, II ever.
knew him to let business interfere
And right here, now that have
chance, / want to say that the founder
of Masshalltown was an athlete of no
ordinary ability. He was crack shot.
a mighty handy man with the ball for
those days and billiard player who
was regarded as remarkable by those
who came in contact with him. l had
learned to play billiards when quite
small boy, having free access to the
old-fashioned table in the Arson house
whenever it was not otherwise occue
pied. After while l got so proficient
that not only could l beat the old gen.
tleman nine times out of ten, but could
play better game than any of the
travelling men who stopped at the An
son house. In fact, every form of sport
came to me naturally; seemed to In.
herit 1t. Father was sport If ever
there was one. and as honest as he
was enthusiastic. He was the squarest
sport l ever saw, and anything that
savored Of crookedness met his stern
disapproval.
TO BE CONTINUED.