The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-05-01

~Os~~O.s0 81
A Motley Crew Shovels, Rakes, Digs,
and Perspires Throughout
the LivelOng Day.
The first ball game of the season
was pulled off at the fair grounds last
Sunday when the board of directors,
prospective players, and interested
fans gathered there and fought it out
to finish with the forces of Dame
Nature. The grounds hadn't been
touched for two seasons with the re-
suit that sand had drifted in large
dunes and a rank growth of weeds
had sprung up over most Of the old
playing field. Instead Of looking like
an American baseball field it looked
like a Russian bolshevist farm at
harvest time. Refusing to be dis.
couraged by the size Of the task, the
! men threw off their coats, spat on
their hands and went after it like an
American working party under fire.
When the head push blew the recall
at about $3.50 the diamond was back
in fair shape and the gang had moved
more dirt than one of the big Panama
dredges. The bulk of the rough work
had been done and now few finishing
touches, aided by several rains, will
put the playing field back in good
condition and ready for the coming
battles that the fans look forward to
so eagerly.
Joe Mossman was unanimously
elected star shoveler of the bunch.
The execution he did with his No. 2
should get him a life job with the
Great Northern as a demonstration of
the fine art of how to handle shovel.
Mayor Vandevanter ran Joe close
second but lost out by his late ap-
pearance. on the field. His honor ex-
planned his late arrival by saying that
the official duties of his office had de-
layed his coming and that he had been
with the boys all the time in the spirit,
if not in person.
Director Manke made a mistake in
the time and got up to the grounds at
daybreak. He was somewhat peeved
after waiting so long for the rest of
the crew to arrive, but was finally
:pacified with the explanation that his
early morning fishing trips would soon
begin and that, being trifle, over
weight, little preliminary practice
wouldn't do him any harm.
You probably have often wondered
why the German navy didn't come out
and give battle to the allied fleet, but
had you been at the grounds and seen
the returned jackies of the U. s.
navy wade into the work you would
have wondered no longer. Such husky
Sgobs" as H. Galley, Bob Berg, Bill
Roos and others demonstrated to the
bunch how they turn things over in
the American navy and, after watch
ing them for while, we don't blame
the Huns for not coming out to fight.
Several of Uncle Sans returned
soldiers were also in the party, but
the boss had hard time to keep these
veterans from digging trenches in
stead Of smoothing off the field for
baseball.
Considering the number of bosses
on the job we will have to admit the
work was we'll done. Everybody was
sort Of self constituted boss, or.
straw boss of some kind, and the or
ders and conflicting orders that were
flying around over the job would have
rivaled a stormy peace conference.
Friday, May 16, at the armory, the
baseball team will put on dance for
the benefit of the club. The boys will
get the same Minneapolis orchestra
that took so well with the dancers at
the recent firemen's ball. A lunch, or
regular supper, will be served and the
management promises to make this
one of the real events of the year.
The Princeton baseball team has the
reputation of never doing a thing by
halves, and we know from past ex-
perience that the members are right
royal entertainers. Better plan on
being there that evening.
Roosevelt on 'Memorials."
Following is reproduction Of
letter written by Theodore Roosevelt