Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1914 — Surprise Made “Lefty" Blush; Proved a Complete Success. [ARTICLE]

Surprise Made “Lefty" Blush; Proved a Complete Success.

If “Lefty” dark, who is to be on the. pitching staff of the Adrian, Mich.,- baseball team this season, gets up against as hard a proposition as he met with Thursday night when he makes his appearance in organized baseball, his mettle wiilil be given a severe test. dark was 20 years of age Thursday and WhettJ he went to Fate’s restaurant to fulfill an engagement he had no thought of being the victim of a surprise party, but Buch was the case and a home run hit over the center garden fence With the bases crowded could not have taken the nerve out of him more completely. The guests at the “spread” were Miss Edith Eastham, Miss Naomi Gregg, Misd Ethel Dyer, Prof. Ira Coe and Mr. Delos Dean. A small ball bat, a "-cent ball, a “goat” watch charm, a story book and a miniature deck of cards were the present offerings and then a waiter made an appearance with t a birthday cake on which there were 20 lighted candle, “Lefty” felt himself slipping and had the appearance of a pitcher Jn the world’s series just as the manager has issued a proclamation sending him back to the bench. Aside from the embarrassment, which “Lefty’s” modesty intensified, the occasion was a most delightful one and Howard enters the last mile lap toward his majority with a splendid'sendoff. It is expected that he will make good with Adrian and his friends are hoping that he never feels So unnerved when he con-' fronts the three hundred batters n the South Michigan league as he felt when confronted by the five friends who gave him the birthday surprise.