The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-14

rhe husv season of society ceases each year as the baseball season begins. And whv9 Because when the warm days ap- oear societv is more interested in baseball than it is in society. The number of "fansn is growing all the while, and there ere new scores of women against one or two of a few years back who really un- derstand and really enjoy the game. These are almost as regular in their at tendance as the players ,and only when there is no game do they make other en- agreements for the afternoons. The prime reason of increased attendance among women last season Is, of course, an i'm provement of accommodations Rick wood park is a delightful place to go. Both the chairs in the boxes and the seats on the grandstand may be occupied without either the fatigue the dshev- eled raiment which were the results of other years. The cleanness and comfort of the place make a combination which has brought about an improvement In the dress of the feminine element notice able to those who were faithful even when going to baseball meant a sacrifice of personal ease-the frocks and hats are almost at times suggestive of matinee ''fussiness" rather than the negligee for merly affected. "I have seen,' remarked a feminine devotee of the game the other day, more pretty black hats this sum- mer than I ever saw before in my life. I saw them at baseball Saturday after noon And there were lovely gowns, too pretty. crisp white linens, with em-
 
 are dressing so much more than they used to for baseball. The general effect is lovely, too, to stand off and look at"
 "A big mob of people-classes and masses mixed-stirred as only ball game can stir them, is an interesting sight to me" said man last Tuesday, but per sonally l feel proud of our women and like to see them look pretty. I suspect have had more time to think about that than usual, though, lately, while oui ~ team handed out one game after an other to the visiting teams.
 One gets many funny glimpse of hu- man nature on a baseball grandstand Among the hundreds of people that one never saw before there are old friends who appear in entirely new guise as the effect of baseball mania.
 Sole occupant of a box the other day was young tenor of suave and gracious, but always dignihed mien, transformed for the time into yelling Indian-de- risive. threatening and encouraging by .s terms; nearer. a well-known bachelor who has never been known to miss game, watching with the intent and undivided interest that, his women friends aver makes him utterly hopeless as a base ball companion; a box party filled with young and pretty girls, several matrons and some young men, pink roses pinned on each fair one. and box of bon-bons fin several laps making the group both luxurious and decorative; another box in which were several members of a little coterie who always attend the game to- sether, men and women alike acquainted with game and players, intent. and eager for victory; several stockholders in the organization alert in and anxious for a change of fortune for Birmingham. Sev- eral ministers were noted too men of varying creeds, but broadminded and in- terested alike in good. healthy sport. Surrounding the park and growing high above the reach of board fence, as is the way of the accommodating trees about ball park, one may see any day fmall boys hanging to every branch like apples, and, boylike, endangering life and limb at especially exciting moments The trees wouldn't look just right without tthe boys; just as the medley of sounds on the grandstand wouldn't be quite right without the voice of the vendors of pop corn, peanuts and soda pop, raised above the rest and shouting the respective mer- its of coldness. freshness and general de- eirabilty of these commodities.
 An inveterate fan" is MT Wilson Brown, who is always in the crowds wit messing the games. MT. Henry Gray is another who may be seen any day that he is in town, and Mrs. Gray is leader among feminine fans She was one of the smart looking matrons motoring out the other afternoon bringing small party in her car Mrs. Bradley Saunders was an