The Washington herald., 1913-02-20
ABOU CLARK GRIFFITH.
AFTER LEIGH HrNTO

Abnu Clark Griffith (may his Team still climb
Awoke one night while dreaming Of the time
In which he'd played the Game in days of yore,
And in the dmness standing there before
His sleepy behcld Form. its head
DOwncast, with book in hand from which il read.
Clark Griffith. whom irate umpires to scare
Had tried and failed. a moment feareds each hail
Erect here a play he had ne'er seen
tAnd in the Game Of Games he was not greeul
Twas not explained within the Book of Rules
Whirh Umps interpret now and then like fools
He had not heard Of it from Old Doc Hope
Nor rad of it within the Grandolddope;
But Grif. Veteran Of Baseball Wars
Soon struck his stride and with but little pause
Addressed the Figure (which had failed to stir1;
Art thou an Umpircs shost!" quoth Grif No
The Spirit cried: On Garth was a scribe
Who wrote the truth and would ACCEPT no bibe
Of dividends Of block Of stock:
On Baseball days they kep; under lock
And never let me know their inside" plans
For fear I'D get in bad with all the fans:
And So Sbsreft Of all Life's dearest joys
And yelling. stamping and the glorious noise
An carly death died and now by Fate
I am compelled rboth early and both lste)
To write within my book the scores Of all
The contests. great and small. of old Baseball;
write Of every extra inning bout
And all the finds Of each trustworthy scout:
also write of players gocd and bad.
From veteran cen TO sandlot lad
Record their vondruus deeds land misdeedS. tool
And show how each unto his greatness grew;
write Of Magnates Managers and all
The million bugs that from each spring TO fall
Throng to the games and play them. for although
They sit in grand stands and give up their dough
They are the ones that make the Grand Old Game
And round the world carrying its fame:
They play the game. each ore. with times at bat
And runs and outs and errors and all that
Just think how sadly each would be missed
Were he not at the park with his assist -
Clark Griffith unused: al length he cried II do
Desire q Scribe. TO knnw-h thou wilt say
Where thou hast written me-for in my day
I've served the Game in all capacities.
Baseball has been for years my only biz
Ard somewhere thy list ought to be
Not So" rcplied the Spirit form: IT see
The name Of Griffith not upon my list;
I write the names Of Truly Creative missed
Not One-thine is not here" Said Grit. ' 'Tis
strange:
] thought had some fame and through the range
OF this great land was known TO all; but II
i am Not great and thou the name Of Grit
Find not within thy book. pray thee write
Me thus I'll take my chances In the light
OF Judgment true,: Write me as one who put
His all into the Game with hand and foot
As,ir from morn till night to elevate
The Sport and keep it clean and always Great;
Write one who scorns the Umpire's wrath
While coaching day by day on first base path;
As one who accepts chances every game
And when ones lost most always gets the blame;
Write me as one who freely stakes his all
On players new and each and every fall
Drafts out from all the other minor teams
New talent that should it fulfIl my dreams
Would the Climbers still to ciimb--their peers
Impossible to find through coming years;
So write me thus o Scribe and will be
Assured that Justice has been done me-"
The Spirit wrote and vanished. Once sRain
Il came. when many moons had waned. and then
II woke Clark Grinhth from his peaceful dreams
Of championships and joyful psnnant sieams
And read to him the nsmss Of Managers
Who'd met Success and Fame and won their sparYs-
Those to whom the poprlsoe had voted Best
And Lo! Clsrk Grifnths name led all the rest,
&C. Z. CURRTER,