New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-03

n E AIRY BANhS! Inc Belle OF w est
MI Point! Through a period of al
~ H. most fifty years Mary Banks has
reigned supreme. She is the CEN
tal figure at all West Point balls She wins
blue ribbons for West Point horses. She
wins baseball games for Army mines. She has
mothered bachelor officers for over two gen
crations. And there is not an army officer
Who has ever visited West Point who has not
called Mary zone of the most lovable old
souls have ever met"
Cullum Memorial Hall at West Point to the
casual visitor is the building where cadets anu
officers hold their hops-a West Point term
for dances. In the lower part Of this build
ing are suites of rooms for bachelor and Wis
ting officers, and it is here that Mary Banks
reigns supreme. A major escorted me to
Mary Bankss quarters
There we found the woman who I had
heard could win athletic events for Army con.
testants. Eighty-two years old. Her hair
turned to becoming shade of gray, short of
stature, wearing a black cotton dress, pair
Of dark, rougish eyes behind gold trimmed
spectacles-there was Mary Banks. The major
introduced us.
"How do / win ball games?" repeated Mary
Banks Well sir-I don't really know. It's
just luck and my tree I'll tell you how we
licked the Navy few weeks back.
"You know the Navy boys were confident
they'd win the annual ball game this year
Hans Lobert, who used to be Giant ball
piyer-he's our coach, you know-he had the
boys in as good trim as was possible. The day
Of the big game arrived. Through this con-
founded daylight savn' and standard time
mix-up got my times mixed and-glory be!
The first thing l knew heard an officer call
down the corridor which leads to my rooms:
Mary Banks-we're losing-get out under
your tree
"Golly, sir, I runs for the side door-up
the steps goes. People must-a thought was
crazy, as old as | am, and runnin' like young
crtter. Just across the street is the ball field,
and in deep left center field is my tree-a
fine elm
Il saw the little skimps from the navy was
IN the field. A fine, big-chested army lad was
on first base and another was on second. With
the score to 4 in favor of the Navy, fine,
husky cadet Games to bat. Strike one! calls
the thevin' umpire. Strike twon he bellows
minute later. But / knew my old luck
would prove true. Bang! Way up into the
heavens went the next ball pitched. [ pulled
hard, sir. pulled with all my might En- do
you know that ball dropped at my feet-rlght
OUT under my tree in deep left center field 1t
was what the boys call home run hit. West
font won and didn't the officers and array
ioiks holler! 1t was a grand victory. l hur-
red back to my rooms. All our folks were
dancin' for JOY"
Mary Banks's cheeks flushed as she recount
GU Inc story of the Army-Navy baseball game.
Are you sure it was just luck?" / asked.
oure, I'm the luckiest crtter in the world.
was just my luck"
AS 1t had been arranged that / was to stay
a. eulum Hall over night I did not tell Mary
banks that | wrote for newspaper. 1t was
ny Idea to put her ability to win sporting
s'eFEs to test. I brought out catalogue of
me West Point horse show, which was going
VI that day. Mary stated that she did not
aaow who was entered in the different events,
read a list of the entries
Inc name of Major }. K. Brown attracted
ssf ear After l had found an event in which
w NoiipetS against OUTSIDE td1eHt
@s meg Mary Banks if she could make him win
rs, major Brown is fine officer. I'll try sir
do my darnedest."
"aen arrived at the horse show the hall
- ~as crowded. The cadets occupied the tiers
seats at the south end. People socially
ss as throughout the entire world sat in
ssNes erected on the west and east sides of the
u. peoutantes and the younger set sat in
ny saiierles and the West Point Band was
Msslng snappy tune
ne event in which Ms3ss J. X Brown was