The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-22

Baseball moro than any other sport
produces fanatics. TIL" fishing bug. OF
course is moro violent on the average,
and there is nothing in the insect WORTH
moro pcstiferouS than the golf bug. nc
baseball bug. however. furnishes the
greatest number OF varieties from inc
ha rmleSs to the poisonous. ard al th'S
season Of the year they are swarminG
like skcetcrs in Jersey.
The form OF fanaticism developed in
different men and women varies widely.
and it is interesting to study them anu
watch the development OF, the disease
INTO a fever which can only he cured ny
having his favorite team finish c!Shth.
No other remedy arails anything ana
even that does not always cure.
We have had some interesting lanS
during tho development Of the sport INTO
a great amusement enterprise There
was Gen. Hi HI" Dixwell of Boston IA
wealthy retired capitalist. who for many
wears travelled with the Boston team
and who insulted by young players.
finally quit and spent the remainder OF
his life studying the figures OF baseball
and refusing TO see game.
There was Welt. Well. Well. whose
booming voice was as much a part oil
games at the Polo grounds as the play
ers were.
There was "the Beautiful Maiden
Heiress," who for years was famous in
Boston and others who by their tanatl-
cal loyalty to teams became hgureS IN
the game. even as was poor Charlie
Foust, who lost his money and his mind
because of his admiration for the
Giants.
One Of the most interesting Of all the
"('1SpS, 4
Cincinnati fan. IL, was a railroad en-
gineer, and on his regular run his train
reached Cincinnati just before game
time, so that he could leap from his cab
In the roundhouSe and rush To the park.
He never missed seeing E2!nc. anu II
ia recorded that his train never was late
on any day when the Reds were playing
at home. Each spring he studied the
exhibition dates and took his vacation
so as to accompany the team TO the
south and for fortnight minglc with
the players he adorcd.'
There is a case in New 1ork Whlch
is even more surprising than that In.
fan Is Miss Abby Golden. who for May
years was head cashier AT Macy S. ono
Of the great department stores. being
in charge Of a department. handliLS
scores Of cashiers and all tho money
that comes through huge establish
ment, naturally she had little oppor'
tunity to attend baseball games. ,lrI
fact, she seldom saw a game. and Few
in the store knew she was Interested in
baseball.
When she reached the age OF retire
ment the iirm she had served so 'oyaIy
wanted TO do something to show It's a2-
probation. 1t WAS suggested that she
take a vacation. travel go anywhere
and the firm would pay all expenses
When they asked her where she would
like to 60 she said she wanted to 60 on
q spring training trip with the Giants
not to mingle with them or know them
but just watch them.
The Giants invited her to go as their
guest, but unfortunately she was too IL.
to take the trip.
A gsnins IL . nut who makes 1t
pay; . nut 10 =. genius who spends
his own money.
There was one White SoX fan in Chi.
cago who always interested me. Tie
came every day and took a seat near the
end Of the pavilion. where he could get
out quickly. He would watch interest.
eddy until the situation became excit'
ing. then ne would leave his seat. SO
under the stands and walk up and down
occasionally inquiring what WAS haL
pening on the diamond. When the eA-
citing situation passed he would return