Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-03
THE PHILIPPINES.
XX.-Sp0rts.
By Frederic j. Haskin.

One of the most civilizing agencies in
the Philippines is the great American
game Of base ball. 1t goes hand in hand
with education and is strong runner
UP of good government. The Filipino
may be wild-eyed for immediate indie
pendence: he may see in his race all the
virtues which no alien American GOULD
improve upon; he may wish with all his
heart that the Americans leave the
islands tomorrow, but just the same he
will get out in a hundred-candlepower
sun and swat the ball and root on the
side lines to a fare-you-well. Foot ball,
base ball, volley ball, tennis, bowling,
track, field events and bicycle racing
also enlist the lusty young Filipino and
key to a high pitch the interest of his
elders.
All American sports are red meat to
the Filipino. and the prime favorite with
him is our own great national game of
base ball The intermediate school
which does not support a nine today is
no school at all to the rising generation
and a high school or normal school
which should fail to train some kind OF
nine or track team for the season s
sports would be an object of ridicule
from one end of q province to the other.
The natives have learned base ball so
rapidly that they frequently defeat pick
ed American teams. and they carry off
more than their share of the honors
against crack Japanese or Chinese ag-
gregations: \ superior All-Filipino nine
is on the Pacific coast now, playing some
Of the beat college and club teams there,
having been sent to conquer America by
enthusiastic American and Filipino fans
A few years ago the cockpit was the
great center of attraction in every town.
loud, persistent
Cockpit vanishes in droning sound. like
Popular Favor. ha e sund.vl an =,
holidays. meant that cocks were ripping
each others hearts out for the enjoyment
of everybody in the town that could get
there. Today the cockpit is passing into
eternal limbo. Its brutality still has
charms for the elder generation, but the
young Filipinos, the youths in whose
hands the government of their country
will some day be placed, prefer good.
clean, lively American sport.
A base ball game in the Philippines is
a great sight. The field is crowded with
hundreds Of white suits against the green
grass Of deep sea hue make a pretty
color display. The teams arrive with
retinue of schoolmates who are proud to
act as an escort of honor to the defend
ers of their school banner. Cheers and
jeers go up from the assembled partisans
as the gadiators step forth
The umpire may be an American, but is
just as likely to be Filipino. If he is
Filipino he may be very shy on English
and everything else, but you may be sure
that he can say Three strikes. yer out,
and Ball four, take tina base" The
roofing is also done in English, and as
the game goes on the tropical weikin Is
split by such loud endearments as Slide.
you gink. slide; Don't mind him.
Pedro, he's got a glass arm, "Oh, you
mutt, you couldn't catch a caraDao
Where did you get the bamboo bat
Throw the bonehead on the bench
ippine diamond is also enriched by such
ensa," "balasobas,' cabeZa MADEIRA and
loco" All this is a gentle way Of in
forming delinquent players that they are
shameless idiots.
Every play starts the crowd grooming
or cheering If the play is particularly
rotten on e the
GrOanS or Cheers fans stamp on the
Mark the Contests. their knuckles to.
gether and switch from base ball English
to their own dialect. When Pablo fans
three men in succession and retres his
opponents In the ninth inning with the
score one to nothing in his favor. AA&s