The sun., 1919-04-14

ACTORS GANG BEATS
UP 9 SONG WRITERS
Benny Leonard, Willie Richie
and a Dog Step In and
Stop Slaughter.
A SAD FRACAS IN SPOTS
Witnessed by 10000 on Polo
Grounds-Thespians' Fund
Swelled by $4,000.
A SAD FRACAS IN SPOTS

Benny Leonard may be the very best
In view as q lightweisht--and there APP
pears to bs a great deal Of evidence In
his favor-but as baseball umpire he
is total loss without insurance. He
proved that conclusiveiy at the field day
OF the Actors Fund Of America at the
Polo Grounds yesterday afternoon. ieav-
ing no doubt in tho mind OF at least one
spectator, who has no fear oof Benny's
knocking his head of for saying so. be-
cause Benny would probably be the FIRST
TO agree.
Not only by giving two decisions on
red did Benny reveal that IL he had to
earn his spats as an Jump he would prob
ably draw curses instead Of purses.
Worse than that. during the game be-
tween the actors and the song writers
Benny was so busy autosraphing base
halls for his friends that he never
thought to keep of the diamond Bel
Gian police dog who insisted on appoint
ing himself mascot and imagine that a
mascots duty was to run the bases for
every one. This shaggy black canine. the
property OF one of the wounded soldiers
who thronged the grandstand. was said
TO have been gassed three times. but that
didn't deter him from venturing among
the lcQuacious thespians.
OF course Benny should have ordered
him TO the bench. But he didn't, and
the police dog. assisted by the throngs
that focked on the field as soon as the
animal opened the way for them TO
shake Benny's hand and do reverence
right on top OF his shoes. succeeded In
breaking the game UP in the eighth In
ming and running the worlds series be-
tween the actors and the sonsslingers.
The score at the end stood to q in
favor OF the actors. and now II looxs US
though for another year the question
would remain unsettled as to which has
the worse ball team. the actors or the
song writer's.
Mike Donlin Makes a Threat.
There was some talk by the music de-
signers of protesting the championship
on a technicality, but Mike Donlin. who
played first base for the actors and once
worked on n team that has heard of
technicalities before in connection with
championships. declared that X the mat
ter were pressed in this way he would
resign from the profession and leave the
stage in the mud. So that settled 1t.
Altogether It was hullabaloo OF a
finish to day that started auspiciously.
even though 1t was accompanied by
showers that not even the voice of Peter
Prunty. the worlds champion announc-
ing elocutionist, could drown. The rain
kept the multitudes away at first, but as
the day cleared up and those present be-
gan to be present to the number of
10000. the face OF Daniel Frohman.
president OF the fund. cleared up also.
especially when Dick Jess, director-gen-
eral OF the field day. released the news
for all Monday morning papers that the
sale Of private boxes. the returns from
the programmes and tho indemnities
paid at the turnstile had brought In
$4,000 with which the fund could sup
port It's home for aged players and grub
stake actors whenever art loses Its pull.
The streaky weather kept a number
Of the billed stars of in the distance
for fear Of getting their makeup spoiled.
But nero atmospheric disturbances
couldn't keep the Police Glee Club
away. and the bluecoated songsters. be-
ing under the eye OF Commissioner Rich
ard Enright himself. gave n fine per-
Torrance in disturbing the atmosphere.
In fact Commissioner Enright was there
more in the capacity OF musical critic
than Of police official.
Then the Hebrew Orphan Asylum
band, the War Camp Community Choir
us, the q. F. Keith boys band and the
L. s. s. Recruit band TOOK Turns IN
distending themselves IN the cause OF
harmony.
Two Pianos Led On to the Field.
Following this two pianos were led
out on the field to home plate and FIRST
base, and a remarkable conclusion was
heard
What's that?" depanded Eugene
Jess. who is generally credited with
having conceived the programme.
why, don't you know what that is?'
demanded his brother, Director Dick
less. who all the authorities agree
originated the idea for the field day.
Those are the high class yodelers from
all the music publishing houses pushing
their spring line of goods"
Sure enough, he was right Songsters
could be seen opening and shutting their
mouths at home plate and first base. But
even their efforts at filing the Polo
Grounds with an uproar similar TO that
which will food II later in the season
we're put to shame by a droning that
came from higher in the air than any
note the song rustlers were hitting.
See there :" Director Dick Jess in