Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1886 — GHASTLY BASE-BALL. [ARTICLE]

GHASTLY BASE-BALL.

As a rule, says the New York Herald, the young doctors attached to the city hospitals are ambitious and devoted to the study of their profession. They are also human, and when they have an hour to spare they like to spend it in healthy exercise. In their college days most of them were admirers of the national game, and when luck and talent have given them a hospital practice they seek further practice in the popular sport. Nearly all our city hospitals have more or less ground attached where the staff can play “fungo” or “catchings.”

Gouverneur Hospital cannot lay claim to any play-ground at all. Its situation precludes the possibility of the enjoyment of such a luxury. The absence of the practice grounds does not, however, dampen the ardor of the house staff for the game. A visitor to that institution lately came to this conclusion. It was 5 p. m., and the hard and patience-trying work of the house and dispensary were over for the day. The doctors adjourned to their room in the top floor, away from the wards. A game of base-ball began. There were . only three •doctors; therefore there wore only pitcher, striker, aud catcher. But they played a ■ game all the same. On, ye of the National League, what a game was there! The bast was a femur or thigh bone of some adult and defunct member .of the human race, and the pitcher said the ball was made from an epithelioma taken from the ginglymus joint or hinge of his mother-in-law’s jaw, tightly rolled up in a surgical bandage. Each took the bat in turn and “strikes,” “balls,” and “fouls” were called as in a regular game. When he who was related to the ball by marriage took the bat a Satanic smile stole over his face, and from the way he pounded that ball one would think he bore no goodwill toward the original owner. In this manner almost noiselessly this novel game of base-ball went on till a shrill whistle like that of a boatswain reverberated through the halls, followed by a voice, “Ambulance !” That settled the game. Quick as a flash the striker picked up his cap, slid down the elevator cable, and away rolled the ambulance en a “hurry call.”