The Washington times., 1917-07-16

In the old days, to have invited
Boston's youngsters to a ball game
free Of charge would have meant
close to 1900 In attendance. In the
old days every boy in Boston play
ed baseball on the open lots, in the
street wherever he could get q
chance. But the old days have gone.
It Is q matter Of baseball history
that Boston and Chicago have ever
been the most rabid Of baseball cities
in the United States. Their fans are
said to be the most impartial, always
giving the visitor just as much ap-
plause as the home player receives.
Both cities are said to possess the
greatest number OF independent base
ball clubs, training fans and players
for the big leagues
Youngsters Make Fans.
It Is the youngster of today that
makes the fan Of tomorrow. When
the boys OF q generation zoe" interest
in professional baseball, 1t is time
for the promoters of the national
game TO take notice. When Boston
youngsters, above all, fail to accept
Invitations to see q big league con
test for nothing, something Is wrong
with the Danes.
For several years now baseball
folks have cudgled their few brains
to discover what allied their pastime.
OF course, some addle pates blamed
the newspapers for printing SO much
alleged scandal, forgetting that they
were furnishing the ammunition
It has been remarked in these col
umns more than once that one reason
for the death OF interest in profess
sional baseball everywhere has been
the rise OF outdoor sports in which
all might take part, such as golf'
tennis and motor car driving.
Boyu Point the Way.
But the boys Of a generation always
point the way for the future. II his
father prefers to drive the fiivver
four, that should not necessarily
mean that little Jack does, too. JACK
may want TO see the big leaguers In
action. II the old man wants to play
golf, his son may much prefer TO sit
IN the ball park, eat peanuts, drink
POP. and yell for his heroes.
But, judging by Percy Haughton's
experiment, Boston boys have recov'
cred from the insanity that once held
their sires. The new generation pre-
fers to go 70 the movies, play ball
themselves, or hang around the street
corner.
New Parks Are Bad.
For one thing, the modern ball park
has a bad influence on the public.
Not so long ago one might sit on a
hard bench for q quarter and see
what his hero looked like. It's true
that the sun beat upon him and the
rain soaked him, but the true fan
cared little for that
Today q two-bit seat leaves the fan
q mile away from the actors in the
daily contest Prices have gone up
with the players salaries until now
the humble fan with the quarter can
do much better by going to a movie
and reading his newspaper for the
result OF the game.
Went Wrong Way.
Baseball has gone the wrong way
The magnates forgot that the tounos
ton of the game was the two-bit fan
not the man who could buy a oox IN
the Rrandstand. Worlds series games
with their thousands Of easy money
brought more boxes and fewer
bleacher seats. This is now known
TO be the wrong direction Tor the
game to have taken.
No baseball game is worth a nicke
more than so cents. This should d
the admission price in every majol
league ball park. II some prefer eH'
ira favors, another quarter should
cover that.
They can't pay their present salar
les at these prices? That's pretty