Evening star., 1918-04-07
FAIL TO FORETELL
WEATHER CONDITION
Chattanooga Presents Gritt-
men With Rain and Cold
Which Prevents Contest.
PLAYERS GO SIGHTSEEING
By DENMAN THOMPSON.

By UENMAN TdOMfSON.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, April
6-Accustomed as he is to en-
countering unpropitious weather
on his transforming trips in the
spring, Clark Griffith today was
stynied when he ran into a mix
ture of the kind handed out in
seven different states at one time
and as a result the battle slated
between the Washington and
Chattanooga teams here this aft
ernoon went by the board. Resi-
dents of this thriving munich
pality, where, oddly enough, the
goods for the cup that cheers may
be manufactured, but not dis
pensed, are even more unfortu-
nate in that they are completely
at the mercy of the learned gen.
tlemen who represent the gov
ernment in apportioning heat,
moisture, sunshine, etc.
Most meteorological experts have .
tough time of it and have come to
Be regarded by the public at large as
direct descendants of old Ananias him.
self. but 1t is almost impossible to
rhn ho "a q
dozen avenues of escape, as has the
Gated as it is in the eastern portion
OF Tennessee, this town. where. 1T Is
said, Gen. Sherman first conceived his
opinion of what war is, Is so close TO
a whole sextet of other sovereign
states that their influence is felt IN
more ways than one. and especially is
this true in regard to the weather.
Thus is 1t that man may hop into
his fiivver in the morning and get ar
rested for violating the speed laws IN
Virginia, North and South Carolina,
Georgia and Kentucky, as well as Ten
nsssee before going to bed that night,
provided he starts early and travels
fast enough. It Is its close proximity
to q cluster of other commonwealths
that makes the job Of weather man
In Chattanooga such q pipe. II he
predicts sunshine from Georgia he can
mot be blamed if clouds come rolling
breenes from the coasts Of the Caro-
liAas and Virginia are stihed by sultry
blasts from Alabama he Is not ac-
equitable.
weather Man Has Alibi.
No matter what turns up he always
has an explanation. The position OF
BE- the most sought after Job in the
government The incumbent always has
not only one alibi, but seven.
Just what label was on the brand OF
we&ther In evidence today has not been
established. but 1t Is assured the prod
uct was not bottled in bond. After three
weeks Of balmy, bright days there was
q sudden change and by mfdafternoon
the outlook was that it would clear up
cloudy with warm frost
to bear in favor of the patriotic demon
stration designed to boost the third
liberty loan, for the musicians in the
line of march escaped without having
their musical instruments tarntshed by
moisture and there were no reports OF
chflblains among the thin clad ladies
adefning the ornate floats In the parade,
but after the last flag bedecked auto
had passed the reviewing stand things
barometrical began to happen IN the
most astonishing and, to Clark Grif-
nth, annoying manner. Tho only FEAST
bla explanation IL that the weather
man had an appointment for week
end party and left his once in charge
81 the ianitor or some one either woe-
fluffy incompetent or hendishly cruel.
for chilly sephyrs Immediately intruded
accompanied by spAsrhodic rainfall OF
more or less intensity and sway went
ali prospects for q ball game.
Unaware that the man rightful1y In
charge had deserted his post at the
weather. bureau. Grin gave the order
for an advance on the ball park. where
Harper and Yingling. who were to have
pitched, attempted to unlimber their
portside wings under conditions remi-
niscent Of the old spring training days
at Charlottesville. but with only the
chauffeurs who drove them out occu-
pying seats In the stands the battle
was cancelled and the players returned
to their hotel to plan a visit to Look
out mountain tomorrow morning.
Players Visit Military Camp.
A number of the Washington party
this morning visited Camp Greenleaf.
WHARF the nnAdfcal officers are being