The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
Sign Painter at Ball Game

+ ever a man was placed in a POSI-
tlon where he was tempted to shirk
his work and devote his time to
watching other men amusing a large
audience. that man was a painter who
was engaged to paint large advertise
ment sign at the Brooklyn Baseball
Clubs grounds in Flatbush a few days
ago.
The painter. who is a rabld baseball
enthusiast, experienced no trouble in
keeping his mind on his work in the
morning when there was nothing in the
field or in the stands to attract his at
tention. He stuck to his work faith
fully artisticaly touching up places
here and there and in short time COM
pleted figures on the sign could be dis
cerned from the grand stand. The first
clear figure To appear was large bottle.
The painter kept diligently at work
until the first spectators began to arrive
and the early birds Of the two teams
made their appearance on the field. The
players began to bat and throw the ball
around the diamond and particularly
well executed plays brought forth
cheers and applause from the spectators
At such times the sign painter found
il difficult to control his curiosity. He
was in an extremely ticklish position.
He realized that he was being paid to
paint that sign and his conscience told
him to go ahead and forget all about
~, Ia. hall ala Dnt
was hard to make his curiosity obey his
conscience. and now and then he found
It impossible to prevent himself from
taking just a peep at the ball players
who were performing at his feet
As time passed and more spectators
arrived and more players appeared on
the field the painters curiosity rose.
He found it difficult to direct his hand
In painting the delicate petals Of red
rose which was intended to repose along
side Of the green bottle 1t was an ardu-
Gus task to paint with one eye on the
sign and the other on the ball field, but
try as he might the painter could not
overcome the tendency to glance at the
players now and then.
At last the gong for the beginning OF
the game resounded and the sorely
tempted painter laid down his brush,
| turned about, faced the stands and
waited for the umpire to announce the
batteries. He made no secret about his
desire to know at least who were going
to be the pitchers and catchers in the
| fra fAr
| fought behind his back.
There wasn't man in the great
stands who would not have done the
same thing under similar circumstances.
As one man expressed IL: 81 would
have knocked off work altogether and
watched the game. II the boss didn't
| like il he had himself only to blame, for
what right had he to place a human be-
| ing in such an awkward position and
expect him to remain faithful to MS
| work."
After the announcement OF the latter
| les the painter, suddenly re.-liZing that
his curiosity was getting the better OF
! him. decided that he had better turn
around and complete the rose he had
| started. He worked asslduously on the
| flower until one OF the batters knocked
cut three Dagger and brought the
spectators TO their feet, Such excite
| rncnt In the rear of him was entirely TOO
much for the painter so he threw down
his brush. turned around and yelled for
the runner to slide into third base.
Another petal began to blossom on the
fence when suddenly a batter knocked
the ball against the fence few yards
away from the painter. Hearing the
warning shouts, naturally he du'ked ms
head. After that he gave up paint
ing.