Evening star., 1919-09-28

- OR years wondered why d.
FRANKLIN Baker. tho premier
slurxer 81 the American Base
I BAN League. preferred his
homo in Trappe. Nd. to the glamour
Of the big league bail park. 1t seems
that every spring. since time 10 wnich
the memory Of 'mah runneth not 70
the contrary. tho league moguls have
had to 90 down to Trappe and plead
with j. Franklin to come back and
play ball for them for SIX months at
some such pittance ais $4,000 per sea-
son.
But, now that have been to the
eastern shore, where Trappe is To-
Gated, I understand. In fact; can
understand why. any man who had
gone over there would rather remain
in his own dooryard than to be Prest-
dent Of the country, or do lot Of
other things that bring much in honor
and money. but mean little in the way
Of really enjoying life.
II there Is q place in tho United
States-and 1t has been the Observers
pleasure to live for a time at least
in almost every state--where there is
comfort 1t must be on the eastern
slore-that is. after one gets there.
Getting there is something else. But
arrived. you enjoy life.
1t Is ono Of the few places loft where
land Is cheap. crops plentiful and wor-
ries few-that is, II one does not
worry about failure to hear trains
60 by. 1t Is true that there are few
trains there. but who cares?
Getting started for the eastern shore
is one Of the hardest Jobs I know of.
1t took me six days to organize
party Of Ave to go over there. and. In
tho end. only three persons. including
myself. showed up. Strange, too. that
there should have been q shortage Of
company. for was only Ave and
half hours late In assembling the
party. All Of which shows that it
was my mechanical cootie in which
the ride was being taken. Otherwise.
I should not have been included.
We planned the trip as we would
have planned jaunt to the Pacific
coast. We had elaborate arrange
ments for making quick connections
and. all that sort Of thing. but when
we did we reckoned not with ferry
men and the like. Things don't run
on schedule in the bay. country az
they do in Chicago and New York
city. go,
Arrived at Annapolis. we found tina,
the ferfy would not run until 8 o'clock
the next morning. So we went to the
towns only real hotel and ordered
dinner. It was long wait. but it was
worth while. They danced at the no.
tel that night and 4 large number Of
young women, came along to dance.
They may have had mon with them-I
don't know-but I'll say the sight Of
the academy titYs fair women was
grand. .,... .,..
1t was Saturday night and Annap-
oits' twenty ana forty. foot streets
were choked with pedestrians, espe-
cially down toward the docks, where
the farmers horses and buggies were
parked. Not In many. many years
nave seen so many rigs in town. as
came to Annapolis last Saturday
night Nor in the many years that are
to come do ever hope to see so many
mon in near-beer saloons as were
present on that night. 1t ts quite a
picture. those buggies. the hear.beer
saloons and the pawnshops down
along the water front.
Some Of the party-big- city fellers
did not think there was much ex-
element in the town. though I saw a
Douglas Fairbanks Aim advertised
and about half Of the places of amuse-
menf seemed to be cigar stores and
pool parlors. The person who likes
the big cities expressed wonder that
the main street, leading down to the
river. was not choked with peonle
seeking to leap in ana end all of their
ANNAPOLIS living trouble. A stronpe
conceit. indeed!
somewhere in Annapolis there i. q
mosquito as large as a sweet no+o.a
i 40 not know his name, but am: ON
iht'mate terms with him. He ana T
spent the night together. sunacient
70 say OF his work is that he made mo
imp IN the left foot and sava No
pun on the left ankle as large 80
egg. "' al