The Washington times., 1913-04-17

CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, April 1i.BThi'
Is story Of young man who literally
would rather play baseball than eat
You often have heard people use the
expression that they preferred some
thicg else to taking their meals. but
when 1t comes to a showdown. they prob
ably were not slow in lining up for the
march toward the dining room. There
Is one Tiger. however, who repeatedly
has missed his supper in order that he
might have more time to devote to the
national pastime
Hughie High is the name of this ath-
lete who found more pleasure in play
Ing baseball on an empty stomach than
In doing any thing else after feast:
Not only did he endure the pangs OF
hunger in order to engage In the sport.
for cutting meals besides
He's Perseverer.
Mr.. High is what might be termed a
persevering person. When he makes up
his mind to do anything he just natu-
ally goes and does II. Until this par
ticular object Is accomplished, he Is
deaf. dumb, and blind. except where
hearing, speaking, or seeing VIII help
kim to attain that which he desires. 1t
so happens that he was bitten by the
baseball germ early. in life, and from
that time on his worii has revolved
around the game.
The little fellow was not fortunate
enough to be able TO devote his entire
attention TO baseball, however. His
parents decided that he had to be use
ful and ornamental at the same lime,
SO he went to work learning the plum
ber's trade. Just why he selected TINS
occupation when there are So many
f.FNn O. n.ad nSNf~fF
climbers, is not apparent. Possibly ne
didn't like the idea of working nshts,
and figured that he could get Just as
much money and more regular sleep by
| holding people up in the daytime by
means of the pipe-wrench and the
molten lead
st. Louis is Highs home and also
the scene of his plumbing endeavors.
The Founders and faucet f1xers Of the
Mound City work eight hours a day, as
do most plumbers elsewhere. This gives
them one hour for actual labor ana
seven for going back to the shop after
their tools. Naturally, with eight hours
sliced right out of the daylight, Mr..
High did not have very much Tina left
| for ball playing, but he found that by
passing up his supper he could get in
about an hours work on the lots IN the
| baseball months.
Quit Earl To Play.
Also he managed to quit half an
hour earlier in the evening by taking
only thirty minutes for dinner at noon
instead Of sixty. Then, of course. Sun
days and holidays, he did not have to
work, unless there was some special
job, which meant overtime pay and
more money to be spent for balls. bats.
and gloves. -r.-:e
The young plumber played hard in the
short time allowed him to enjoy the
game. and his proficiency attracted the
attention of some of the Trolley
leaguers. Finally he attained the proud
position of a member of one Of the
Trolley League clubs. and thereafter he
lived just for the Sunday battles in that
fourishing semi-professional circuit.
By this time his people had given
up the idea of weaving him away from
baseball, and instead of bestowing a
licking on him whenever he missed
supper. they began to read the papers
Monday morning to find out what Hugh
had done in the Sabbath battles. They
still predicted that he would come to
no good end. but were glad. since he
insisted on being ball player, that
he was a good one.
After couple of seasons in the
Trolley League, he was signed by the
Hartford club, of the Connecticut
League. where he played in 1911 and
1912. coming TO the Tigers from that
outfit last fall.
He still works at the plumbing busi-
ness in the fall and winter months and
holds a union journeyman's card. They
say that he can melt lead with all the