The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-30

the newspaper neaOllneS, ana ~ IOC
those immortal poets and generals 9
II 1t goes over. I'll be indebted to
little school girl in New Jersey who
signs herself Elizabeth Daley" and
writes that while her daddy is golf
nut" and little Bill wants to be q
prize fighter. she, 'the only daughter
of the family" considers baseball the
great American art and Babe Ruth
the super-artist."
We had just returned this week
from our trip through the West. when
her note was handed to me. Neat
and arsfully prepared. IT was an in
teresting sample of grammar school
penmanship. After asking me how II
following list of ten candidates for
the Hall Of Fame.
Here's Her List.
1. william Shakespeare-Becaus
he gave us Romeo and Juliet.
2. Nine. Currie-Whose science has
helped 50 many sufferers.
8. President Monroe-who made
the world respect America. 49,
4, Marshal Foch-Who vanquished
the mighty war lords.
5. Henry Longfellow--Arn erica's be-
loved poet.
6. Christopher Columbus-who dis.
covered our wonderful land.
z. Napoleon-Most dramatic figure
In history.
8. Florence observation-disclosures
of the Red Cross.
9. Woodrow wilson--Because his
home is in New Jersey.
10. Babe Ruth-Who makes mil
lions forget their troubles.
Elizabeth explains that she was not
the only one, but the first one. in
her class to nominate me for this
honor. Every dAye~her teacher calls
on the pupils to tell Of the outstand-
ing news events OF the day, and from
time to time. my name has crept into
the scholastic atmosphere of the little
Jersey school house.
He Is UnI<nswn.
But the cruel blow comes in the
concluding paragraph. wherein Eliza
beth apologies for some Of her. class
mates who have ignored me. In fact.
she reveals that by far tho greater
part of the youthful students are
utterly unmindful Of my existence.
Even my chum," she writes, RE-
fuses to include your name because.
she says, 4 have been displeased
with Babe Ruth ever since he defeat
ed my handsome Carpenter at Jersey
City" Another proper little miss
refused to consider my name. owing
to the fact that the Hall Of Fame
was no place for sensational girls
like Bebe Daniels and Babe Ruth,
who 60 to jail for reckless auto driv-
ing" -.
So there you have q pretty good
measure of the depth of passing fame;
a striking answer to how does II feel
to be famous?" I hear that query re-
peatedly. and I never found q more
satisfying explanation than the one
offered by Elizabeth and her, class
mates. One ready to elevate me to
the heights Of the gods because 1 re-
ceive some glaring notorfety; while
l am prize fighter or a movie queen.
Riding For . Fall.
I'll tell YOU. Elizabeth the ball
player who lets popularity flatter him
is riding for a fall. We all have OH,
big seasons and for one do not feel
bit different, or eat different. or live
any different today than when I got
my first chance with the Boston Red
Sox, years ago.
Look at the miracle performers. Of
bygone days. Did you ever read of the
wonderful Amos Rusie. who struck
out $40 men in a season, thirty -one
years ago? Ask your daddy about Pou
Arson of the old Chicago White Sox.
who batted 800 or better for twenty
years. or Bob Lowe. of Boston, who
hit four home runs in one game, two
in the same inning, against Cincinnati.
in 1894.
These men were all idols in their
day. Players like myself are succeed
ing them for the present, but soma
day we will have to step aside. When
| am In uniform / feel l could knock
any pitcher in the world out of the
box, but when i am out of uniform
l just feel like any other citizen. And
1 realize some day will be out of uni.
form for keeps. So, Elizabeth, you
tell your schoolmates that's how IL
feels to be famous
Copyright 1921 nv tbe Chri.tv w.i.h