The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-10
TIE RASERALL FAN.

THE BASEBAID FAN.
The student OF human nature finds his most
fruitful field Of observation at the ball park
We doubt whether there is any other place or
time when human nature innocently and so
sincerely reveals itself as there and then. At
feetatiou, eecentrcity and insineerity
absent from grandstand and bleachers from
the nursery. where children are at play. One
watches while and then wonders If are
not all children. after all. overgrown in stature
and affecting the ways of maturity In the mar
ket place and drawing room, but at heart chill
dren still, when we let go the brakes and turn
ourselves loose, and become our natural selves. !
It's a good-natured crowd that awaits impa
tiently the cry. Play BALI; meanwhile watch
ing the practice and specializing upon the pros
poets Of the game They have come for an hour
of sheer enjoyment and have forgotten every
thing else; dismissed all else from their minds
duties, engagements, debts and diseases--and
supremacy happy In the abandon Of the hour
and the promise of pleasure. They sit smoking.
munehing peanuts, drinking such beverages as
are hawked about the grounds, chatting with
their neighbors regardless Of the conventions
that require introductons. hurting iibes and
taunts at the visiting players. speaking praise
and encouragement to local favorites--thus
they sit and while away the moments until the
game begins.
Now tho Jumps stalks upon the field arrayed
in all the armor of the fray and wearing air
Of official dignity that would honor the com.
I mander ln-chief of militant host. AS he
dohs his cap and faces the grandstand to an
nounce the batteries his sense Of Importance
and authority. his bravado in the consciousness
OF inevitable offense to one side or the other,
somehow calls to mind the lines of Henley:
In the fell clutch of circumstance
have not WINGED cried aloud.
Under the bludgenings of fate
My head is bloody, but unbowed"
The batsman assuems his position; the field
ers begin their chatter; the coachers commence
to loose their tongues: the pitcher winds up
the game has begun.
Nav watch the erowd and listen to their talk.
Formally. restraint dignity are thrown to the
four winds as interest awakens ind speedily de-
!, velops into enthusiasm and excitement The
visiting team Is composed Of HOLSTERS" has
other varied and polite designation The home
team numbers only peaches" "dandies.' can
dy kids and budding geniuses." for whom the
big leagues have long been looking. When a
4 man strikes he Is swinging like q. gate. !"
when he fails to get his base he runs like a
! cow. when he muffs ball he should get a
i barrel; when he protests against the decision
! Of the umpire he should be chased from the
grounds" or fined months pay The umpire
/ meanwhile, in the course Of the game claims
considerable attention. If his decisions meet
with the crowds approval he has fine eye"
and Is commended for his impartiality and
knowledge of the game. If the crowd does not
relish the verdict. he is big stic." "a robber."
candidate for the bug house or the pen" He
Is constantly admonished to call them right"
/ the players advised to soak him one" and
the crowd is exhorted to kill him"
The crowd is as tickle as the March wind-as
variable as impulse acting independently of
reason can make them. One moment there Is
Nafening applause. the next subdued murmur
/ OF ~ahs"; one minute a breathless silence set
| ties upon the stands, the next the thunders Of
a tumultuous multitude breaks loose one mo-
ment the player is an hero, perhaps showered
with coins by an admiring constituency, the
\ next he's reprobate and should Immediately
get the can"
! The crowd Is absolutely unconventional. Ar
gument, 1oshing wtticisms of various kinds
are indiscriminately INDUCED among absolute
strangers, friends by juxtaposition, but stran-
gers in acquaintance slap each other on the back
I and Indulge other polite familiarities. The
:, interest Of the moment the pleasure Of the
game has robbed men OF all sense of 6ropriety.
has driven to exile all the shams OF ordinary So
cial intercourse, has broken down every barrier
! and the spectators united in the spirit of
| great brotherhood in the common delight and
| common enthusiasm Of the hour
To observe humanity stripped of all DISCUSSES.