New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-15

NV friends warned me that John
was nut long before ! married him.
but | think that the anvil chorus only
made me the more eager to hook him.
When my closest girl friend told me
in the strictest confidence that she
had seen John three days in success
sion at the Polo Grounds roofing for
the Yanks, that settled it. would
marry him if it was only to reform
him. Little did l know then that the
confirmed Yankee fan could not be
cured.
When first met John there were
no traces Of his horrible habit OF
watching the Yanks in his rather
finely chiselled features. Outwardly
he was perfectly normal and, thought,
rather attractive. But what does
woman know OF a mans innermost
thoughts? For all knew John might
have been a rooter for the Athletics.
I was but a simple Flatbush girl.
My father knew Squire Ebbets person
ally. In fact he used to watch the
squire play years ago, and he often
spoke of him affectionately as Char
lie" ! am setting this down so that
you, my dear reader, may know how
much the Brooklyn team figured in my
young life. =,
We were married in the spring and
started for Niagara Falls. On the
first morning at the breakfast table
noticed that my husband was rest
less. The New York papers had come
and after looking at one of the sport
ing pages he began. | felt cold all
over, for | realized that he was seized
with that horrible craving to see the
Yanks
Mabel" said John suddenly, "w~
must leave here Immediately. The
Yanks open at the Polo Grounds to-
morrow"
Right there I suppose is where l
should have put my foot down. but |
liked John and trusted him. | felt
that somehow he could gradually be
weaned away from the bum team he
was following. So | yielded. Oh, why
should it always be the woman who
yields?
To make n long story short, the
Yanks blew the game just as | knew
they would. | left the Polo Grounds
angry, bat tried 10 conceal my wrath.
But as VIC got into the crowded az"
train | said to John, rather petulantly,
"Why do you make your wife go out to
see them hicks ?"
They're one swell team" said my
husband angrily. "You knew that |
was Yankee fan before | married
you"
yes sobbed. "But did not think
that you would drag your wife down
with you. / never believed that you
would humiliate me this way before
my Flatbush friends"
"a women's place in the bleachers is
beside her husband" said John peev-
ishly. said nothing for moment
But | could not keep back my in
dignation.
"Not if he is daffy enough to follow
the Yanks," | flashed. At this Johns
face turned livid. | realized then how
far Yankee fans mania will carry
him, for | thought for moment that
he might strike me.
That night he would not talk &c me
at all. In deep perplexity | sat at my
cesk and wrote letter to Beatrice
Puggs. begging her to give me some
advice. A few days later she published
the letter in which | laid bare my
shame and my sorrow with the simple
comment: "Your husband is right.
Your place is with him."
Perhaps an ordinary wife would have
yielded. but, as | said before. l am a
cultured daughter of Flatbush. How
could a woman OF my intellect fall for
a bum team like the Yanks when the
Robins were going so strong. So took
a drastic step. While John was at the
Polo Grounds | stole over TO Ebbets
Field TO watch the Robins.
I had TO leave in the eighth inning
20 get his supper ready. He was
cheerful that night because the Yanks
by some miracle had managed TO win
by getting all of the breaks and be-
cause the umpire gave the visitors
iaw deal. | felt guilty for some time,
tut felt that was doing myself JUS
tee. / simply could not permit myself
IN be DRAGGED out 70 watch those