The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-21
DESCRIBING BASEBALL
lst. Louls Republlel

(St Louis Republcl
 How the big fellows do so astray sometimes' Or' perhaps we should say how the lions skin of the m' poster does slip from its place, occasionally reVeans the asst
 One Of the current books is a pretentious volume hearing the impressive title America and Her Prob Iems" It is by M Paul Fl. B. dEetourneles de Con stant member of the Senate of France.
 Harken to what M. de Constant has to say about the American national game;
 "rhe whole of North America is intensely inter ested and with good reason in baseball game should like to introduce in France It is played all over the United States by teams of nine men each with unlimited number of substitutes Che various positions the field being allotted strictly in accord ance with capacity and long experience The players object after the ball play is to get first to the bases at the four angles of diamond marked out m very large enclosure. On each side the prncpm pc stions held by specialists on one the pitcher ana catcher and on the other. the batter From the cen ter of the diamond the pitcher hurls the ball at his comrade the catcher who stands just behind the cor ner of the diamond. home plate padded from head to foot and wears special kind of a glove and strong mask His business is to catch the ball. very much as circus athlete stops cannon ball. Between the pitcher the catcher is the batter who stands firmly waits for the ball and does his best to hit it as far as possible with masterly stroke of the bat If he sue ceeds as he does he takes advantage of the few moments in which the ball is flying through space to run to the first and then to the second and third if he has time; but of his firstdisant opponents catches the ball and throws to of the men at the base who thus toreStaN the batter ana lJ remains to be seen whether the batter will be the first reach the base. A whole city-fur of peope-sometimes as many as 10000 spectators-n great cities like Pitts burgh or Chicago to of these matches cheers the players and gives way to enthusiasm exas peraon The runner. in his effor.s to beat the speed of the ball. generally throws himself at full length on the ground and just touches the base with his fingers or foot or misses it by inch; and then there is terrific outburst of excitement shouting. stamping ges tlcuating among the spectators who always tell whether the runner is successful or not In the big matches when two famous teams playing and when one city is posted against another Brooklyn against St Louis for instance; when two champion clubs two baseball giants or phenomenons' stand face to face in front Of anxious supporters, the crowd cannot con- tain itself But behind the catcher young quite different from the rest stands motionless He long coat breast protector and mask. He watches the game and when disputing over run is at it's height and the crowd threatens Invade the ground, he inervenes sign from him the shouting and restores quiet He decides who has and who has lost.
 Who is this mysterious parsonage and extraordn- ary authority? He is the umpire. He is selected from among the college students great occasions from among the foremost celebrated professionals and best judges of the game He is brought all the way from Boston Chicago. and he is paid like who has a reputation to keep up"
 Ye gods. Were greater number of words employed to say little. and say t inadequatey, on a perfectly simple matter? What thinks Bootes asked Carlyle, "o the lights of London3 What thinks the office boy of Mir de Constant baseball?'