Evening star., 1922-04-13

ness an exhibition of the favored
pastime of the nation.
When the parade had been dis
missed, another president assumed the
center of the stage. This time it was
Clark c. Griffith, directing genius of
the Washington base ball club. He
stepped to the home plate 10 accept a
huge floral Offering from Harmony
Lodge, No. II. F. A. A. NJ. This tere-
mony over and the HarlingMcg-
play. concluded. everybody-presi.
dents, secretaries. legislators and all
settled in their chairs to observe
Washington's first championship con-
fict of the year
And they saw much. at leasf Presi-
dent Harding must have. for he seam
ed unusually busy with pencil and
score card. Incidentally, the Prcsi-
dent keeps a real score-not one OF
those that shows mareiy runs and
the game, but frequently had to con-
fer with her distinguished husband
before marking her card. She was SO
interested in the acSion that often
she neglected to reeori plays at Inc
time they were accomplished During
the heat of the game me President
took the edge off several regular per-
fectos. while Mrs. Harding Just aoout
wrecked Il rair of white gloves by
vigorously applaudinS.
Ruth Merely a Spectator.
In the third row back of the Yankee
dugout sat trio that attracted much
attention during the fray. Big Ban
his right and Col. Til Huston, part
owner OF the visiting Yankees, at his
left. With face immobile and shaded
by hat brim turned down, Ban sat
stolidly throughout the engagement.
Not so the Bsmbino. Every time a
Yank got or Ruth lurched forward in
his chair. his face alight. But when
fate turned against his team the Babe
fell back. nervously mouthing hisbiac
stogie. Huston was more passive than
his battering lieutenant, but. at that,
the colonel flashed a broad smile In the
second inning when the Yanks turned
the base paths into a merry go-round.
OF course, most of the crowd was
roofing valiantly for the home clan, but
it was fair crowd and applauded gen.
erously whenever good play was exc
cuted by the visitors. 1t arrived early
and was comforta bly, settled long before
the contest started. There was no SEM
blance of disorder until the latter part
Of the ninth inning. Then some mis-
guided persons started a cushion battle.
This ragged for few minutes and forced
the umpires to halt the game until order
could be restored. All told, however, it
was a crowd OF regular people, gen.
erous tribute to a pair of fine teams
and a great sport.
The attendance was the largest ever
recorded at a sporting event in the
capital. the turnstiles recording total
of 24,679 persons. This exceeds by just
561 the previous high mark Of 24.11S,
which turned out for the game on Sum
day, April "a, of last year, when the
Yankees also were the attraction. This
game. too was won by the Nationals.
3-1. Zachary being opposed on the slab
to Piercy. q.
Fail to stand in Seventh.
The colonel and the babe failed to
arise when the Yankees seventh turn
at bat came around. Probably both
of them would have liked to stand
even if only to get q good stretch
cramped for their ample figures-but
the jibes Of the joshipg crowd in
their vicinity kept the New Workers
sitting tight.
There was one youngster who
should long remember the occasion.
Johnson. jr., clad in a base ball uni
form. was playing in front of the
Nationals dugout. President Hard
ing noticed the little fellow and in
vited him to Join the presidential
party. Young Walter climbed to the
for the first inning of the contest
"This is a mighty fine boy you have
here" the President told the great
walter himself when the latter
emerged from the dugout to speak to
the chief executive.
wallie Schang, beliSving he had
been hit by a pitched ball, was ready
to amble to first base in the third
inning, but was checked by Umpire
owen. The Yank catcher was hit by
q ball, but it was one retrieved after
a foul smack and the sphere reached
the plate at the same time as Mog-
ridges pitch :
There was fan in deep left field
who discovered that Hank Shanks