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sp °Ess&s, A “-1 The Atlanta Georg PERCY H. WHITING SPORTING EDITOR ' | yjg ws 1 By PERCY H. WHITINO. Apropos of your advocacy of the “three-ball” rule, on the ground that It will help hitting and enliven the game, why not suggest also the following changes, which, It seems to me, would more directly contribute to this end and more feasibly? Why not take the pitcher out of the batting order? - Why not. Instead of totally abandoning the foul-strike rule, make the foul strike a half-strike until there are two strikes on the batter? Why not have the umpires enforce the rules against, delaying the game, such as Is done by the losing team before the fifth in ning when a train Is to be caught or rain la Impending and after the fifth Inning by the winning team? Why not Inculcate in the professional baseball player the pride In hls profession that will make him always play the beat he knows bow, regardless of the score or the time or the weather or the attendance? Why not give the man who make first on a successful sac rifice hit a stolen base instead of a hit? THE HUMAN QUESTION MARK. I You have my permission to take the pitcher out of the bat ting order. Probably it would make the game better. It’s a sickening sight to see a pitcher bat. It iR usually worse to see him run bases. The exceptions are hardly numerous enough to make the rule good. The question of why pitchers are poor hatters has frequently been discussed. They don’t care, for one thing. They don’t get to bat often enough to be in practice for another. For a third, they are generally so exhausted by the effort of pitching that they are in no condition to pull off the trying task of swatting ’em out With the pitcher out of the batting order there would be a few more hits to a game, a few more runs as a rule, and we would not have a feeble exhibition every time the tail of the bat ting order was reached. The foul strike rule as it stands is not so bad. It would be a shade too complicated to talk about half strikes; would be kind of jarring to have a strike and a half on a batter, wouldn’t it! There is no doubt but that the average umpire is remiss to the limit about forcing teams to keep moving when they are de laying the game. The rules say: “A forfeited game shall be declared when a team usea tactics palpably designed to delay the game.” But umpires don’t like to forfeit games and the crowds don’t like to see them forfeited. There might be a rule which would provide that the manager of a team should be fined $25 and the players delaying the game $5 each for EACH INNING of delayed play. ] Guess that would make ’em hurry a bit. Umpires are a trifle prone to excuse themselves by saying that the delay was not palpable. But this is absurd. The raw est of fans can tell in a second when a dilatory policy is de cided upon. There are few things more soporiferous if your team is ahead and more irritating if it is behind than the slow baseball that prevents a legal game being played in the time nllowed. The inculcation of pride into a professional ball player is a little too large a contract for us. But as a general proposition ball players DO have a lot of pride about their playing and most of them do their best most of the time. It just doesn’t happen to be human to do your best always; and this aide of the millennium there isn’t going to be any way to make the average player on a down-and-out team do nnything but loaf through the games. This fault of doing your worst when you are losing is not confined to hall players. It is a fault of the human race as far as we have observed it. It wonld seem absurd to give the man who tries to sacrifice and then beats out the bunt a stolen base. lie has accomplished what he tried to do and is entitled to the greatest reward that the scorer can give to a ball player, to wit: a hit. Y. M. C. A. SECOND TEAM WINS FROM STONE MOUNTAIN BOYS Ths Yoons Men's Christian Asso ciation second team waltsod Into ths assTssatlon representing Stone Moun tain Thursday nlfht, at the Youns Men'e Christian Association gymna- slum. and when the final ecore wae counted It stood » to 9, with the Young Men'e Christian Association team flying the it. The game was hard fought from start to finish. The boys from Stone Mountain put up a good, clean, scrap py article of basket boll, end at all times showed the never-glve-up spir it. The Young Men'e Christian Associa tion team gave a fancy exhibition of how ths gome should be played, passing the ball with a precision that showed herd practice end plenty of It. For the Young Men'e Christian Association every man deserves special mention. The work of Forgason at forward and Jones at guard was especially good. For Stone Mountain. Dosler and Hal ley each played firat-class basketball. The line-up follows: Young Men's ChrlsUan Association. Forwards, Captain Fargoson, Cheatham and Wright. Center, Phillips. Guards. Jones and Avary. Stone Mountain. Forwards. Captain Dosler and Cay. Center, Woodruff. Guards, Bailey and Evans. Referee Hudson, of the Athletic Club team. Timekeeper, Harvey. SHAUGHNESSEY TO COACH AGAIN; CLEMSON ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE Special to The Georgian. Clemion College, S. C., Dec. 20.—The executive committee of the Clemson College Athletic Association has se cured the services of Coach Shaugh- neescy for another baseball and foot ball season. Coach Shaughnesssy was vary suc cessful with both teams during the post season, especially In consideration of the fact that this was hls first year with the Clemson athletes. The winning of the Thanksgiving game from Tech sent Bhaughnessey stock considerably to the bull elds of the market. Tech had bettor sit up and take notice, for Bhaughnessey will have a better team next year than he put out this year. Quarterback Lee Is the only senior who has been regularly on tho team this year. He will likely graduate In June, but there Is a possibility of hls returning for post-graduate work. If he does, he will be on the team In all probability. Caughinan, who played fullback most of the year, will also graduate In June, but Robbs has been playing fullback and can drop right Into Caughman's place. Warren, an other senior, played substitute end. but as both McFadden and Colea will re turn next year, those places are ns well filled as the yhave ever been at Clem son. Clark, at center: D. C. Britt, right guard: F. Fleming, left guard; It. T. Gaston, left tackle: R. H. McFadden. right end: S. Coles, left end; C. M. Robbs, fullback; T. S. Allen, right half, and E. Wyndham. left half, are all pret ty sure of returning next year. There are several good men who have been playing for a year or two as sub stitutes who will make good ‘varsity material. Odom baa played at guard very successfully; W. H. Hanckle has also played on ‘varsity at halfback, as has Turner and others. Then there are scrubs galore from which to draw. T. S. Allen has been chosen to cap tain the 1908 football team. Allen Is very popular with the men of the team, as well as with the student body In general, and will make a splendid lead er for the 'varsity. A. C. Lee has been chosen captain of the baseball team for 1908. He Is the best batter on the Clemson nine, and la also a fine fielder. No better se lection could have been mode for tho captaincy of the team. W. W. Kirk. 1908. has been elected manager of tho baseball team, with B. E. Wolff, 1901, as assistant. Jack Spratt has been chosen captain of the track team; D. M. Tracer, man- -ger, and W. A. Robinson, assistant manager. There was much Interest taken In track athletics last spring, and there Is Indication that there will be even greatei 1 Interest this coming spring. Manager Kirk has arranged the fob lowing schedule for the baseball team. March 28—Clinton, at Clemson. April 8-4—Tech. In Atlanta. April 9—S. C. University, at Clemson. BILL BERNHARD MAY MANAGE NASHVILLE Bill Bsrhard of the Cleveland club Is being mentioned os a Nashville men ager. Grant Rice, of the Nashville Tennessean, says of "Big Bill:" Bernhard Is probably the most popu. lur ball player now In captivity. If a vote were taken It's better than an even bet that he haa more cloae friends In either of the two big leagues than any other member. No one that evei knew Bill could help from liking him. He doesn't flirt with the suds himself, and he Isn't the kind of man who would stand for any one on hls club ming ling with tho booze. Every season when the Cleveland slab corps Is sent South, Bernhard Is given active charge of the squad, and the esteem In which he Is held can be seen from a remark made to the writer by Charley Somers, the Nap owner, a year ago this winter: "Bill Bernhard,” said he, "can stay with the Cleveland club as long as he wants to—even It he Isn’t able lo pitch two gnmes a sea son. He’s a good man to have on the club on account of the good Influence he has on the rest of the team, even If unable to work.” The big slabman was r.abbed by Cleveland when Lajole came with the club In 1902, and while not the hurler he was two years ago, Is still good enough to go the distance In Dixie, where the cllmntt would soon bring hlnv around. That certainly Is a fine collection of exhibition games that Billy Smith has corralled for next spring. Provided he gets those three with Macon that he wants he will have his week days packed full from March 12 to April 7, Inclusive. That will give him twenty-one games In which to try out hls men and a week for final practice before the opening of the Southern League season and the big flag raising In Ponce DeLeon park. Smith has received the papers In the Becker transfer and Jess Is now the property of the Atlanta club, with no strings tied to him at all. ' Jimmy >Ryan has first call on Char ley Murphy's discards from the Chi cago Nationals and ought to gather In some good players from the cham pions. He has also been promised a player or two by Dovey of the Boston Nationals. Ryan Is going to discard Phil Nadeau pnd Noah Henltnr. Good chance for somebody to pick up a couple of fairly goifil fielders. Nadeau Is to be sold this winter and Henline In the spring un ite proves unexpectedly good. BIG “BROTHER BATTERY” SIGNED FOR NASHVILLE April 11—Furman, at Clemson. April 16—Ersklne, at Clemson. April 18—Wofford <?). at Clemson. April 23—Newberry, at Newberry. April 24—Furman, at Greenwood. April 25—Ersklne, at Due West. April 30—Wofford, at Spartanburg. May 1—Trinity. In Charlotte. May 2—Trinity. In Charlotte. May 8-9—University of Georgia, 3 games, in Athens. ■May 14—Open, at Clemson. f May 14—Newberry, at Newberry. Clemson has fair prospects for a good baseball season. Captain T. H. Bis- sell will be missed behind the bat and at the bat, but "Pat" Wylie caught many of the games last year, and proved himself a good player. He will likely.fill the catcher's place. Tommy Robertson has played out hls time In college, having played at Clinton be fore coming to Clemson. He ts one of the best all round players Clemson has had. He will do valuable service this year os assistant coach. Farmer, who was a freshman last year, but who nevertheless made good os pitcher, will be found at hls old post In much better condition. Strlck Coles will likely be on first base again, and "Doc" McFadden will be In the field. D. Lf Blssell will not likely get to hls old place at third base on account of a bad shoulder that does not yield to treatment. There are many new men who are taking much Interest In the baseball prospects and who will make efforts to land on the 'varsity nine. Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 20.—Nashville may have a "brother battery" for next season—that Is, If two youngsters Just signed make good with the locals. They are George and Harry Her and they have been playing fact ball In southeaet Missouri. George le the backstopper and Harry the boxman. Each one Is highly recommended. They live at Festus, Mo., and have defented teams all around that section of the aountry. George Is described as a giant, standing well over six feet, a heavy hitter, possessing a great whip, and It Is claimed that rarely Is a base purloined on him. Harry Ker, the twlrler, Is said to have wonderful curves, terrific speed and a puzzling under-hand ball. But these two are not all. President Kuhn nas just signed another outfield er. This man also played ball In south east Missouri with the Ker brothers. Ware Evans Is hls name and he Is said to be more than a six-footer. Hr. weighs 196 pounds, Is a left-handed hitter and Is described as being “swift as a deer." President Kuhn has, therefore, some eleven pitchers coralled. Including those reserved. Signing the new ones, how ever, who have no: yet shown what they can do In fast company. Is, of course, a matter of experiment, as Nashvlllo and nthor clubs have had to license youngsters time nnd again who created sensations In minor company. In a few days the work of preparing plans and specifications for the con templated Improvements at Athletic park, wilt be put under way. It la proposed to double the capacity of the grandstand, put In better seats and likewise greatly Increase the seating capacity of the bleachers. Another !m. prnvement contemplated Is that of raising all the seats above the level ot the street, giving spectators a bet ter view ot the diamond and outfield. This plan will also give more room, for under the grand stand and bleachers It Is proposed to put seats and give lounging and smoking accommodations for the men. Jack Owsley, Yale's head coach In 1905, Is officiating at most of the big games on the coast Foster Rockwell has gone to Cali fornia, where he and Sam Morse will engage In raising oranges. Northwestern Is counting on having an eleven next fall. Columbia, too, will probably swing In line. One of the great New York pa pers devoted eighteen columns to the Yale-Harvard game. Wonder If that will make Mr. Eliot' friendlier to the great sport? Joshua Crane keeps claiming that one of Yale's touchdowns was due to an error on the part of the officials, who gave the Ells one more down than was coming to them. Harvard's pet cry at the Yale game was, "Are we downhearted? No!" That's some of Comedian Frank Dan iel's stuff. A Yale cheer leader an- swrede It with, “Ought they to be?" And a thousand voices answered. Yes!" Marc Catlln Is to stick as Iowa's coach. Kirk will probably be the.new captain. They have It down East that Michi gan may be on Princeton's schedule next year. * Rprlngflchl. Ohio, the town which present- (I to baseball Illlly Smith anil some others, Donohue, brothers of Jins, were purchased last fall by the Huston Americans. Danny Bhay Is still a member of the New York —‘ ; player* sre: laiuls Rapp, wiia uniiiuiuir, Billy Smith, manacer ot Atlanta; Joe Collins, outfielder of the eeme teem; Joe Rlekert, with New Orlenne; Joe Dunn end Wllllnm Donohue, with Evens* Title; King Kelly and Roy Clark, with Fort Wayne; John Malnrkey. manager of the Macon (Ga.) cluh: ntcher Henry Harley, of Augusta; l'ltcher Isirry llcckel and Catcher Stuhhe. with Macon: Mnrtla Nye, with Montgomery: Ray Wolfe, with Tecum- a»h. Mich. Pilcher Jack Dolan haa several offers, but hns not signed. Ite may appear In the role of a manager next year. HEAVYWEIGHT FLEET GOING AROUND THE HORN. New York, Dee. 20.—The great heavyweight fleet of side-steppers Is going around the horn. Right around. The Battleship Burns, Gunboat O'Brien. Cruiser Molr, Torpedo Boat Kaufman and Battleship Squires. No •tops, strange tft say. One or two of the big ships stopped at Port Johnson for coal, but It Is such a dangerous harbor that they were sunk and never heard of again. The Cruiser Fitzsimmons and Battleship Flynn both went under. The new fleet will not atop there, but win go right around It. THE SEASON'S END Or "THE RUN HE NEVER MADE. ■ By Grantlsnd Rice. (A drama of college life In one act that will appeal most to the favorefi r Ill-favored few—who have been through the same.) The lost cheer dlea—the white chalked fields lie dim. But memories now of one more campaign done— The moleskin aults are packed—mementoes grim Of many a fall and many a brilliant run— The curtain’s down; the crowds have filed away, The scene has charged unto another play. Up In hls dormitory room a solitary and lonely figure with rumpled wi. and listless eye—the great halfback sits a dejected and disconsolate figure. For two festive, fleeting months he had been the Ido! of hls collen mates, and everywhere hls footsteps led his shadow cast a heroic milling along the purling sward of hls pathway. - ' i Ha had but little time for study—save a few Jabs here and there to deliver a sufficient quantity of goods to keep afloat—and now at last h« finds hlmseir.faclng the first term exams. . He wrestles a few seconds with hls Calculus, and is hammer-locker in a Jiffy. He spars with Horace, and Is kuocked out In legs than two brief rounds. He lines up against Psycholog)- and Is, scored upon In the first teg seconds of play. And then as a last resort he lights hls pipe, and with feet upon ths table, sits back to think and map out hie line ot work. As the smoks wreaths curl up through the room, the anxious look leaves hls face—fig the scene has changed again. And this Is the line of work he then proceeds to map out; A wild cheer rings across tile field—a tumult rends the air— And answering shout comes rolling back—tfn thousand streamers Hate— An Interval of parley, then—the whistle shrieks aloud- The kick-off booms, und then a hush descends upon the crowd. Hie girl Is sitting In the stands—the halfback's heart beats high. He secs her wave a well-loved flag against a sombre sky— The fight Is for the championship—and he who wins this game Will always hold the highest niche within the hall of fame. The hush la broken-—shout bn shout resounds on every hand— The rival cheering- mingles with the music of the band— The fight Is on. The combat grows. The battle moves along While every play Is greeted with a cheer or college song. And then. Just at the battle's close—there comes the same old dream— The same that all have dreamt who e'er were on a college team; For ninety yards he darts and ducks and dodges, till at last He falls aerbss the line, and then—he knows the dream has passed. The picture fades; hls pipe Is out. He rubs hls half-closed eye And turns again to Calculus and Logic with a sigh—s But even as he turns the leaves, he finds the dream has stayed— The picture of hls longest run—the run he never made. . ■ —Nashville Tennessean. BRITT A FROST. James E. Britt, the Columbus of the ulna bone. Has a horrible frost In Honolulu, where he went for. a rest with the California ball players. James gave a show-; the other night there at one of the play houses, during which he told storlss and gave a boxing exhibi tion. After the expenses were taken out the house amounted to 31.69. COOLEY WINS FIGHT. Oakland, Cal., Dec. 20.—Freil Cooley won from Tat Bearden last night la the fourth round of what was sched uled to be a six-round bout. Cooley will get credit for a knockout, hut It li charged that Bearden "quit.” KID SCHALER WINS. Sacratnento, Cal.. Dec. 20.—Kid Scha- ler knocked out Billy Snallham lost night in the ninth round with a right t» tho Jaw. Open Tonight TILL 8 Tomorrow Night TILL 11 Thousands of Useful Furniture Christmas Things Pay as You Please Walter J. Wood Co. 103-5-7-9-11 WHITEHALL. Quality! The Most Important in Gift-Buying for Men By reputation-—By acts—By ' accomplishments the store of Emmons takes its place as the foremost Store of Quality, SMOKING JACKETS $5.00 to $15.00 LOUNGING ROBES $5.00 to $15.00 BATH ROBES $5.00 to $10.00 SILK MUFFLERS $1.00 to $5.00 STYLISH HATS $2.00 to $5.00 SUITS, OVERCOATS $10.00 to $40.00 SILK UMBRELLAS $2.50 to $10.00 FANCY PAJAMAS $1.50 to $3.00 NIGHT SHIRTS 50c to $1.50 PRETTY NECKWEAR 50c to $1.50 KID GLOVES $1.00 to $2.50 WATCH FOBS $1.00 to $4.00 SCARF PINS 75c to $2.50 CUFF BUTTONS 50c to $4.00 FANCY VESTS $2.00 to $6.00 INITIAL HANDKERCHIEFS 75c and $1.50 Box SILK SUSPENDERS 75c to $3.00 WALKING- CANES 75c to $2.00 An Emmons Suit or Over- 39 and 41 Our Neckwear and Bus- coat would make the nicest gift of all to “him.” Whitehall St. 32 and 34 South Broad St. Too) penders put up in beauti ful individual boxes.