Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-20
IPIRE "BILLY" EVANS is SURELY GOING BACK
BILL EVANS SIGHT GOES BAD
WHEN READING AT 100 YARDS;
HE FALLS DOWN ON EYE TEST
American League Umpire Fails to Equal Charley
Rigler's Record in Optical Work. But
/ He Should Worry
Rr ROBERT W. MAXWELL

grabbed him by the arm, stopped him and
pointed to a white blur In a window at the
other end of the place. Remember. 1t was
100 yards away.
They Meet the Sign
"see that slgn7" he asked. Get that
white sign in that Window It's an eve
testing card. Can you read the letters
on III"
Jaw, cut out the comedy" said Bill. ''You
put one over on me when you pulled that
stun about the suit, but don't kid me along
with this stun. 1 don't know what the
sign is and you don't either. If there are
any letters on II, you couldn't see them
without a telescope. what's the idea?"
Rigler turned and looked at his COM
panion and was picture of despair. Tears
came to his eyes when he said:
"Bill. do YOU mean to tell me that YOU
Can't you read it7 Your eyes cannot be
as bad as that Look at IL closely. Can't
you see anythng7"
NIX, now" shouted Evans. Don't try
to get my goat. OF course can't sec it.
l suppose you are wise guy and can read
every one of them. Don't try to fool me-
I'll bet you S25 to s5 that you can't even
read the first line 70
II don't lii g., to take your money" sighed
Charley, but 1t seems tho only way to
show you how bad your eyes are. Are you
ready? Get a pencil and paper and take
down the letters as call them on"
Reads the Letters
Charles started in at tho top and ratified
Off the a, G, Q, r, p, X, l. on the top and
continued until he finished with the small
type ut the bottom, which was about one
sixteenth of an inch hgh-at 100 yards.
Evans smiled as they walked to the win.
dow to compare the notes, but his smile
faded when he saw that every letter was
perfect He looked queerly at his COM
apfn roH thn latt In md
shook his head. Bill really thought he was
going blind and was wondering what kind
of work he would have to do when Ban
johnson learned that he couldn't see. Rig
Ter sympathlzed with him, told him that
a couple of months in a dark room would
cure him, but Evans refused to be
cheered up.
They walked back to the spot where
Charley stood when he read off the let
ters, when the National League umpire
again stopped him.
I'D Just like to show you how good my
eyes are" he said, as he turned his back
to the card and took a small mirror out Of
his pocket. "I'll read the letters with my
back turned and use this looking glass.
Take out your paper and see II get them
right"
Bill wasn't interested at this stage, as he
had troubles Of his own, but he took out the
paper and checked him up. Again Rigler
was right.
'I'll read them backwards" said the Keen
eyed expert. How about it?"
Uses Reverse English
He read them backwards, and Evans
looked like man about to jump off the
dock. He put his hand in his pocket and
slowly counted out $25.
You wln," he said sadly. MY eyes are
in terrible shape. guess it's me for two
months in the dark room. Things certainly
are breaking tough for me. Gee, you're a
lucky guy!"
wait minute, before you pay me-" an
swered Rgler. II want to show you some
thing else Get out your paper again"
Then he turned his back, shut his eyes
and ratified off the letters without hitch
Evans looked at him, spellbound. His
eyes were almost popping out of his head
and his mouth opened in amazement. Then
he laughed, slapped Rlgler on the back and
shouted:
Its joke! It's joke You had me
worried, though. Take the 25 bucks, You
deserve to win"
Put away your money" carelessly re-
torted Charles. 'T learned that stun when
l was in college. Charley Murphy has
nothing on me, Buy me some lunch and
we'll call II square. Examine the umpires'
eyes? Say, amt that an awful joker"