The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-04-20
Mans InexOrable
Savagery

ENSH uOW-d lOIlS IlIu6 dlG6G man
professed himself to be civilized the
words still ring loud and true-Man's
memorable Savagery!
Last Tuesday on eight baseball
fronts the familiar cry of "play ball"
was answered by well pitched base
balls; screaming base hits; outstand-
ing performances; and cheering which
is never bettered in this land of ours,
save at some other sporting event.
Yes-king baseball made his 1910
debut at a time when minds can't be
at ease because of the extensive
battlefront abroad. From the dug
outs came the clatter of scurrying
feet epitomizing the anxiousness to
get started on another campaign. AS
the players came over the top of the
dugout, it was easy to interpret the
anticipated joy which comes from a
friendly competition. Their faces cut
only by smiles which expressed their
utter happiness, they went about their
duties of entertaining the many
people who had gathered to watch
them play. There were mistakes, or
errors, call them what you will, made
by many of them at which the fans
laughed, but later in the game the
same player probably justified him
self, in the eyes of those who previ-
ously chided him by some sort of out
standing play and all was forgiven.
Sport is wonderful thing-it seems
to express that side of man which is
so likable, so kind and endearing. Yet,
even in such a likable atmosphere
there is a feeling of something miss
ing-something that turks its ugly
head up too often-something which
has failed to catch the spirit of sport
and is off somewhere else trying to
monopolize the attention of all-for
over there they didn't pay any atten-
ton to this years opener as they are
too busily engaged satisfying their I'M
quenchable thirst for power and hu-
man misery
There's a front over there but it's
not a baseball front-it's a battlefront.
There's crying, too, but it's not the
wonted "play ball"-it's the cry of
broken souls, misery and untold suf-
fering. AS the cry goes up it is ans
Wered with bullets, cannons and more
and more bloodshed. Their dugout is
a trench and when the cry goes up
they hurl themselves forward at some
unseen foe-they must give in to the
war mind. Theirs is a competition,
also, but there is not the willingness
to compete as was expressed by the
ball-player-but rather the players in
this form of game are moved as so
many pawns. AS they make their
charge over the top, there's first the
barrier of barb wire to cross and even
after that there's an enemy to meet
just ahead ways who will kill rather
than laugh at a mistake-there's no
second chance in this game, it's do or
be done. There can be no happiness
gotten from this-it's war and makes
no such promise. Even after some
great battle-win or lose there can
never be any hearts that are light
there can never be that peace of mind,
for some dear friend who stood there
only yesterday is not there today to
take his place-then too the future
hasn't assured any of them-life, as
the recompense in this is death. Yes,
it's death even to those who may be
able to stand after it is over-for
doesn't it develop mans half savage
mind to untold end? And doesn't it
kill all human understanding?
And still the cries go up-but thank
God it means happiness, entertain
ment and sport here in America. May
our fronts always be Gods Green Pas
lures and not some SCARED land which
opens the door to Hell. May our wea-
pons always be the same harmless
balls, bats, gloves and other regalia
used in friendly competition and not
the instruments of death. And may
all our cheering never be wasted on
some victorious army or upon the name
of some man we have learned to fear
rather than love. Yes-it's play ball
within these borders but in other lands
the sun isn't shining very brightly for
death is lowering over the heads of
many. Man is trying to express his
good side, here is America-his con-
structive side-while over there. man
can't seem to get away from his de-
structive side-his unyielding barbar-
ism. It is far cry from baseball to
war and may it always be so. MAY