The Detroit times., 1911-10-24
STAGE LIFE is HARDER
TITAN PLAYING BASEBALL
-MATHEwspN.
Matty Says That Everything
About the Actor Business Is
Very. Very Serious.
BY cHRlsTY MATHEwsoN.
As Related TO John q. Foster, Editor
Of Spaiding's Baseball Guide.


Anybody who says there is any
gaiety OF nation business about act.
ing is wrong II is the most serious
thing ! know OF, except being
church sexton Even the guard az
the stage door is serious. II is part
OF his work He is the shield between
'defenseiess actors and the frequently
impertinent throng
Did they wait for meY They did.
Some wanted to talk baseball and
some were old players who wanted 10
talk something else. You can guess
that, The funniest time that we had
was the first time we put the act over.
The Chief said by golly I've seen
you with the bases filled and Magee
at bat, and YOU were the only man
unconcerned. and here you are with
your collar on wrong side out"
II wasn't true The CHER was
trying TO kid me. but didn't know
whether II was true. and after ! LOOK.
ed couldn't remember why
No use in trying this sketch on
the road" said the boss III it's to,
go It's got to go where everybody
knows you
The Chief" and knew that all
the ball players in New York would
be there. They might have their kid
ding shoes on and might let us alone.
We got around To the theater pretty
early.
Get into a little grease paint and
tone up" said the boss.
Does that go with the show"
said l.
Sure" was the reply. What do
you think you would look like with
out makeup. Your wife wouldn't
know YOU
That's where | get II on you" said
the Chief" I've a little high color
OF my own. It's dyed in the wool and
won't rub out with a piece OF flannel"
Anyhow we walked out know |
walked because there was no wheel
chair TO carry me-the Chief" said
he could see McGraw. Gilbert. Donlin
Devore. Merkle-l don't recall how
many more. They greeted us well
There were no vegetables There
We're flowers. Mrs. Mathewson had
enough TO send TO the neighbors and
hospitals. The ball players didn't put
thistles in theirs know | had some
thing to say because II was written In
the part. The words bobbled around
and began to think fishbone had
stuck In my throat when large
voice from a small boy pealed forth;
Give EN- de fadeaway. Matty."
never shall forget that boy He
saved me. Also is established the
prestige OF our skit.
II dawned upon me that there was
the fan again, spoke what | had
TO speak. don't know how | spoke
It, McGraw said next afternoon that
II | got on the coaching line and
made a similar noise I'd drive the
pitcher 10 the bench. We played
around New York for a greater part
OF the winter. In Brooklyn on a cold
night. when the skit was at It's best
solemn individual informed us IL
was no place for an Indian In the
winter. They are : paternal lot in
Brooklyn Evidently the beneoylent
one thought Meyers was patroling the
streets In a blanket and moccasins.
Come a-scalpin' with me- said the
Chief" on the side, and believe the
fellow thought he meant It, for he dis
appeared.
Somebody laid a train OF dynamite
for us In Philadelphia. We got a
good start Monday night and were
going along pretty we'll. One night
voice arose: Say Matty, show them
how you beat the Athletics In 1905
There were friends OF the Athletics
there They wanted to let bygones
be bygones. One fan emphasizing his
remarks by shaking his hst said;
you jest walt till the next worlds
series"
In the Fifth-ave theater, New York,
the Chief and l. with Miss Tully
were nearly put out OF business. II
we hadn't had some experience IL
luld have broken up the act.
The Chief had talk about scalps
That was his part OF the show He
had to be the Indian Miss Tully ask.
ed him II he we're a regular Indian
Pretty regular the Chief replied
i've got scalps hanging al! around
my room
Chicago scalps?"
mo. Yankee scalps." ~
mere arose yowl from = fan who
shrieked, Well you didn't get Hem
phill's scalp"
AS Hemphill was the only High
lander who hit hard in the games.
and who outguessed the CHER and
me two or three times. we had TO
laugh That was the best thing we
could have done.
| didn't like the glare OF the foot
lights. II hurt my eyes. The first
time that CHIEF ran into IL he took
one look and said high sky" That
convulsed me. and as Miss FULLY did
not know what high sky meant we
had to tell her and she began to gig
gle
We were new in the American
lesgue cities. Generally the first
greeting got was Maybe you can
ike out Hans Wagner, but Ty Cobb
and Lajoie would knock that fade.
away over the fence
BOSTON. Mass. Oct 2l.--The off,