Evening star., 1914-04-05

knockers that pan man because he
tries to better himself.
The second kick would have been sue
cessful but for the fact that the first
man forestaled it by kicking first Their
a policeman appeared and the crowd dis.
persed and the two men fed. one dowr
street and the other into the shop OF
the man with the apron.
During the spicy dialogue, accompanied
by action. the Observer had stood with
open mouth and bulging eyes.
And these" he murmured to himself
are of the same stripe and caliber as the
men who sat alphabetically through that
thrilling game between the Phillies anG
the Nationals.
Who can fathon the mental processes
Of the American fan?''
And from the echoes of the soft spring
wind came the answer:
Who indeed?"
None of them had gone to see their
beloved Nationals trim the Philles
twice-aye, three times. Yet they were
murder, to protect the reputation of a
player-and probably a player whom
they didn't even know.
Onward, then, onward, seeking more
information
The Observer took drink and a car
and went to see sporting editor who
happens to be friend of his. A
thoroughgoing. two-f1sted man is he
and sometimes brutally frank in convey
ing his impressions.
Say" said the Observer why in
blazes don't the boys get out to the pre-
liminary games?"
Search me-. replied he. despondently
Il suppose they like to save up for a
splurge on opening day.
The Observer saw that psychology
was going to get knocked out if it fooled
around him much longer, SO he tried an
| other tack.
How about the sporting writers?" he
| asked.
Thank Jupiter" replied he, piousy
1.-THE season is about to OPEN"
You see,'' he continued. Il went dow
| to Charlottesville with the team. Tall
about writing hay. Why there wasn't {
| day when We weren't praying that some
rookie would run amuck and murder tn,
| cook. | can quote everything We wrot.
by heart:
| : Jim Jones, the new pitcher on Clarl
\ Grifiith's staff, showed up well in prac
tice today. Clark Griffith expects him t.
come through
Brown, Smith and Robinson, ar
the champion eaters Of the squad
| John BaZook 8 sore arm Is comint
| into shape.
| That was what we wrote
The Sporting Editor moaned feebly.
/ The Observer also moaned.
| Think of it,, said the Observer "tha
1 is what the fans had to read"
The Ed" showed symptoms of de
sire to reach for the shears.
I'VE couldn't help it, he said, resent
| fully. we were there day after da
| without an opportunity of real story.
| And so it develops that the sporting
| writer's. far from fearing the humdrun
| Of opening season. are as enthusiastic a
| the kid who sWipes quarter from hi
| tin bank and beats 1t to the bleachers 70
one day of unalloyed JOY To them it j
the end Of arttice. of the subtle fake, tn
| sorrouful speculation, the imagination o
| Munchausen and Hans Christian Ander
| sen and the dupiicity of Talleyrand. 1t j
| a matter of straight box scores and bat
l ting averages with a feature in ever.
1 game, a drama of important play that i
| more thrilling because it Is unstaged-an,
I, it Is the survival of the fttest of teams
4 the destruction Of the weak and tn
| achievement of the strong.
| 1t might not hurt to tip off fans wha
| these sporting writer's are up against dur