The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-13
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

] It's mighty big topic I'll limit myself to just two-solf and baseball
 
 | l know of no two games which sbov in 1 dividual as well as national tempera nent so well as they do, for the atmosphere in which thsy are enveloped is as unlike as cloudy and alsunshiny day. I believe [ twill be safe in holding that baseball is the theerier game, for somehow there ia bit of Scotch gloom which cllngs above golf
 both are open air games, and golf, SO Tar as natural environment goes has baseball at disadvantage, for one of the chieftiest charms of the former is to follow the little white ball amid beauti- ful scenery. and nowhere in the country is there more scenic course than is the one at the Country Club, while Roebuck, which is less picturesque, yet has a love- Illness all it's own on account of rolling plains and undulating hills
 
 Usually a ball park is hedged in and the outlook is not inviting, and yet t,ick- wood park is an exception, for frequently when tired of the game I rest myself by letting my eyes feast on the panorama which unfolds itself in which valley, mountains and city vie with one another in making picture which is we'll worth while to gaze upon. It's great relief from some of the diamonds in the great cities. where the outlook is unirvtinr.
 
 Baseball is a game for the crowd, while, golf is more for the individual. for uniess there is match on, rarely do any on- lockers follow the players i It's a fine thing for two cronies to play the eighteen holes. and bit more sociable when there is foursome Gf this be the correct term for quartet of players?). And every gedly making the rounds by himself with only caddis to bring and fetch for him. But baseball calls for nine players, and two ''umps," and a crowd, for a ball game without "rooters" is a sad affair The bigger the crowd the better not only for the box office, but for the spectators and players. On opening days nere the attendance runs up into the thousands, while gallery" of several hundred even when men like vardon. Ray, Hall and Edgar are playing is most noticeable. 1 see that some of the games in the east are drawing from 25,ooo to 3500o, and the world series go even beyond these high marks.
 The dress for the two games are quite different, for while the golfist is allowed wide latitude, the average ball players clothes are cut to the same pattern. though there is some latitude as to color >can remember when costumed bali club was novelty, and if one of the players had appeared in a catcher's mask there would have been near-size riot and to have worn a glove would have pus one in the sissy" class. But now a catcher arrayed in all his paraphernalia is strange looking animal.
 If you heard Dan Dimmick recite his tale of woe to the Rotary Club about his experience as a catcher in the second game played between the "Rotes" and the Indians" you will know just how far the game has advanced so far as the man behind the bat is concerned. Dan almost with tears related how he had caught good ball in his college days, but had never worn a mask. and so when one was put on him everything looked strange and the ball took on all kinds of queer sha pes. and | .ere fore he had hard time to connect with r. II must have been confusing, and tc aca tr bis discon- fort the shield and chin guards were added No wonder he felt ill at ease.
 
 It felt as unnatural for him to catch in the new-fangled baseball outfit as 1t would have been had CT arlie Hall and J. Douglas Edgar been compelled to wear the coats of vardon and Ray during the play. There was too much harness for plain old Dan. who never yet has been known to putx on style, but who also never yet has been called upon to do anything for the community without pulling his full load have merely hinted at what in hs,routh was pathetic and at the same time laughter-provoking recital.
  But the biggest difference in the game of golf and baseball is to be found in the way the spectators act while the play is going on. In golf it is the unspeak- able sin to talk when one of the golfists is making drive or putt. I whispered to a friend who was standing way behind the green and got such frown from one of the gallery that I was inclined to go and drown myself in the lake. It was just like fellow had laughed aloud in church. and I was most uncomfortable the rest of the afternoon.
  The boys out my way have been much taken up with diving of late, and not only do they have breath holding con tests under the water, but when gathered on the hill between times practice the art of not breathing. One holds record of ninety seconds. Well, when the gal lery' closed in to see the Englishmen putt, there was such a stiffness that felt as if the whole crowd were entered into breath holding match. And oh, the relief when the last man shot. and we could all come up to breathe.
 But ch, the difference at baseball, when every man. woman and child Is bent on expanding their lungs and shout until they are hoarse. They have no fear of upsetting a Glayer by talking, but go to the extreme of doing everything in their