Prospects of the Baseball Season, Judging From the Exhibi tion Games Flayed, FEATDEBS OF OLD GALYIK'S CASE. An Estimate of the Battle Between George Dixon and Cal McCarthy and the Former's Career. SMITH'S TALK TO FI1ZSIMMOXS. Tint!! tri Dy The Load Fwttull Btuoa tud ItB IiKSOEI. With a slight exception in pngiliiai, the (porting afiairs of the -week have been un usually dull, and when this is the case there is often considerable difficulty to find some thinc interesting enough to talfc about. From now on I suppose the national game will take precedence of eTerything else, although during the week those of us who think most about it hare read little con cerning it because of the Tital and graTc questions of a general nature that have ab sorbed everybody's attention and almost all the newspaper space. But the season o' 1631 has begun; I don't mean the champion ship season of course, but the playing sea son, for there bavobeen lots of games during the week. Some of the games played have reminded us of the controversy of last year. In tins I reier to the Boston games on Fast Day From the reports of these contests we learn th.it the attendance at the two games plaved was very large. Some re ports have the attendance at the two games, that is, the Association and League games, as low as between 13,000 and 14,000. Other reports hae the figures higher. Some re ports also have the attendance at the Asso ciation game much higher than the attend ance at the League game. 2ov, I don't heMtate to say that there is considerable Etretching of imagination in these reports. I am prompted to this opinion because of the lalsitr ot figures from Boston last year. But while I make this statement I am quite free to admit that the public enthusiasm throughout the country in the national game is gradually getting back to its old stand ard. Already there is consider ably more interest in the game than there was long before the season closed last year. I don't think tht anybody will oenj this, because the fact is so apparent. Exhibition games before the champlonshiD season opens are, as a rule, very tame affairs, and there is, generally speaking, little or no enthusiasm connected with them. But daring the last few days we have seen that very much interest indeed has been manifested in tbo ex hibitions soing on, particularly in the contests In which League clubs have been Interested. It ma be true that nothing very definite can be deduced from these games in the way of proving the playing strength of the teams, bat they can give us an idea of the public interest in the game. None of us will conclude that Boston is considerably superior to Brooklyn elmply because m one game Boston, to use the common phrase, "wiped up the diamond" with Brooklyn; and none of us will conclude that the games in Florida give us any correct idea as to the respective merits of the Pitts burg and Cleveland Clubs. But still, I repeat, there has been considerable interest thown in thee games, in mentioning orrefernng to the general situation, I may also remark that there is still some "war talk abroad. I don't know the reason of this, because in my it ay of think ing it is very difficult to find any mora indica tion of a warm baseball than it is to find a war between Italy And the United States. Indeed, It would be difficult to 2nd how the Association could make what maybe correctly termed war on the National League. Theie may be a little kicking still gmng en among the malcontents, but "a war" exists only in the imagination of LT ReliableGoods Has established an enyiable reputation for FAIR DEALING ! WRITTEN GUARANTEE! i j- THIS BEDROOM 53 & & & Ii7WM .1 il- j L-- --.U. J. Folding Beds, every variety, style and price. Old English Oak, 16th Century, Mahogany, Antique, etc. Wardrobes Many new and hand some patterns. We'll save you money in this as well as other depart ments. Parlor Suites Tapestry, with solid Walnut or Oak Frames, from 28 up. Seven-piece Hair Cloth Suites, hard wood, $35 up. Guaranteed first-class in every particular. JUST RECEIVED FINE LINE OF SPRING CLOTHING, LADIES' WRAPS, Etc. IT PAYS those who desire to give undue Importance to A Very Quiet Week. If baseball alfalrs in goneral have been quiet, affairs of the local club hare not been lively. The public has heard very httle indeed regard ing the local players who went South a few days ago. 1 don't know, at least lam net pre pared to say, whose fault it is, that so little has been told to the public concerning the club during the week, but I do know quietude at this stage is very bad policy for the club's in terest. Before wo barely have time to turn our selves round the opening day will bo here, and in the meantime no chance whatever is given the public to familiarize itself with the team. I have known periods in t ho club's history when news and gossip concerning it would certainly have been daily before the public The offi cials of the club would hae taken precious good care of this. But in the present instanco wo have our rhaniDions taken away and tem porarily buried dow n at Jacksonville and few it any of us know correctl) How things are going. Well, as I have just said, this is verv bail busi ness for the club. Thn monotonv of the week has been broken a Utile by the appearance on the scene of Maul, Laroque and "Phenomenal" bniilh. I use the word "phenomenal" in no disrespect to Mr. Smith; I use it merely as a term to distinguish him from the very many other Smiths. Now that these three men have been sent to Florida it would seem that thoy are to stay with the club. But on this point I am very, very skep tical, indeed. If we are to have Baldwin.Strat ton, Staley and Galvin as pitchers. I tail to see why Smith will remain; and if Air. Smith's lot is to be cast with the Pittsburg club it is reasonable to expect that one of the other.ouri will be dispensed with. Ot course, I am still of opinion that the law will not force Bald win from us, but I cannot help thinking that if there is a desire among club officials to retain Smith there must nc a concurrent desire to re lease some other pitcher, and I cannot avoid the conviction that th it some other pitcher is Gahin. Of course, these are only supposi tions, but they are built on what socms to me a fact: the fact that the club will not keep five pitchers. The appearance of Laroque also prompts speculation, because it is not likely that both he and Maul will be retained. Pres ident U'Neil has a very high opinion of La roque's abilities as a player, and doubtless there is much reason for this opinion. Laroque. I believe, is a very good man, and the tact that he has gone to Florida means that there is nothing definitely settled jet as to whether or not he will ue kept on the team. When the team returns home, the matter will be dealt with definitely, and then, I expect, efforts will be made to tecure purchase money for there leased players. This will only be tair. A Few Words About Gaivin's Case. There is every reason to believe that the baseball public of Pittsburg was highly satisfied when Jimmy Galvin was signed to play with the new club. And if he had not been signed there would have been considerable dissatis faction. Now, there are many things suggested by these features to which I have just referred and the most prominent is the question: How far has the public a right to interfere with the management of a ball club? I deal with this question beoause it is a fact that Galvin was signed to play with the club simply because the public desired it. Well, now I am going to contend that the public .-buuld, indeed, be very careful in what I may call "sticking" up for an old player, be he a favorite or anything else, and while I am contending this I want it under stood that I am in no way opposed to the re tention of Galvin. To deal with the matter clearly let us cite a supposed case. A player has been a member of a club for a long time and there comes a stage when the officials of the club tnink the player's usefulness has al most exhausted itself. It is determined to re lease the plajer. The public then steps in and in a very emphatic manner demonstrates in favor ot the retention ot the plaer. The public clamor is bowed to by the club officials, and I contend that from that point on the officials of the club aro not responsible lor the entire work of the club. The public is responsi ble, but when reverses come the public will have none of the responsibilities; they must then be shouldered by the officials of the club. 1 argue that this is not fair. Those who aro to be ro suonsiblo for the work of the club should by all means hao the absolute selection of the plajcrs; beside as a general thing, those who have the management o! a club know a great deal more about ball playera than the public does. But it is difficult to convince a large por tion of the public on this point. We all know that not a day goes paat without the public putting together on piper a very much better team than the one actually in harness. I mean the public thinks its team better, and these "bettei'' teams are changed every day, just ac cording to the fancy of the public. Amid all this, then, it would be n ise for sf.e management of a club to just stick to Its work, and go ahead with its programme, regardless of the public whims, which, as a rule, are only sentiment. But I am very glad that Galvin has been signed. ON HONO ITUR SUITE $18.00. 1 1 ' 1 f. 111 K" - 1 If I . -p3IJJ-' I V3 jj I I jB Li r--51 : TO DEAL WITH MAMMOTH HOUSEFURNISHING STORES, CA.SEC OB CI-EEJZDIT. If Jlmmvis still the hero he used to be, well and good; if his day has gone, then none of us can complain if he is released when that tact is demonstrated. I also wish to point ont that Galvin is a fine example for other players to follow. It has only been his long career of hon esty and willingness to work for the interests of his club that has secured for him such a hold on public sentiment. Tho Duty of Minor Leaguos. Since the American Association broke away from the national agreement I bavo noticed that several writers and others have been claim, ing and are still claiming that minor leagues and amateur leagues should "not take sides" and should pay "no attention to the fight," and "play with either the Association clubs or with the clubs of the League." The parties who ar gue in this strain forget one very important I feature: indeed, the vital factor of the matter. The question is not that of taking sides with either the League or Association. It is the question of taking sides with either the na tional agreement or its would-be destroyers. This is a very important question in baseball. If an amateur ball ciub should have just as much respect for the violators of the national aciertnent as for the faithful adherents of that agreement then I should contend that the latter should look upon that amateur club as a very dangerous enemy. The case is a very simple one. The American Association breaks from the national agreement and tramples it under foot. Other baseball organizations uphold and defend the agreement as the salvation of the game. Now let an amateur club go and identify Itself with the rebels and what con clusion can we come tof Why. no other than this: That the amateur club in question is aid Inc in the perpetuation of opposition to the national agreement, and a conflict of this kind is not merely against the National League, but against everv club in the country that upholds the national agreement. Amateur clubs shonld, therefore, think well over the matter before lenaing their aid toward demolishing the national agreement. The Counly League. While talking about amateur clubs, I am re minded of the County League. In some parts of the county there is undoubtedly a very strong deslie to have the League soundly formed; but I am inclined to think that there is not all the enthusiasm regarding the pro posed Leagne that there ought t be. I am well aware that it is difficult to organize and carry out successfully a semi-amateur league, and this fact shows that enthusiasm is all the more necessary. I am not inclined to say wbetbtr or not financial success awaits a County League here, but 1 am prepared to say that a County League will be a great benefit to baseball generally. There are plenty of good players to form the League, and it would be considerably better Tor these young men to be regularly engaged in the game than only to be engaged at long intervals, lhat a County League is needed there is no doubt, and I feel just as certain that if the promoters would get to work and arouse a general enthusiasm re garding it, it will be a success in every sense of the word. Dixon and McCarthy. Well, the long-expected battle between George Dixon and Cal McCarthy is now a thing of the past. It is now a matter of history that McCarthy was easily defeated and never had any show of victory. Had the men fought, as arranged, at Hoboken some time ago, I think that McCarthy would havo made a hotter stand; but while I think this, 1 do not for a moment think that he would have won. I wish to be verr frank on this point, because when they met at Hoboken I thonght McCarthy would be the winner. But they met and did not fight. This statement, I trust, will show that there is no desire ou my part to conceal the fact that bad they fought two or thrse weeks ago I ex pected "McCarthy to win. Since that time I have had nothing to say on the matter. But I repeat that Dixon would have defeated Mc Carthy had they fought at Hoboken, so that my opinion on the fight, even, was not a correct one. There needs little to be said regarding the battle of Tuesday night. McCarthy was outfought from the start, aud at no stage of the contest did McCarthy have the best of it. In reading carefully tbo various accounts ot the battle, it seems to me that McCarthy was not so much outfought by superior generalship on thepartot Dixon as he was over-matched by strength and vigor on the part of the colored uiaa.Lixon soondiscovered that ho had sufficient Sower to rush McCarthy all round the ring; he id this and allowed him no rest, and very soon McCarthy's science was of no avail. In almost everv round McCarthy was sent to the floor, but lam not disposed to believo that he was knocked down in every instance. McCarthy Is quite tricky, and doubtless ho often found it convenient to slip down with very little provo cation. Of course this can be done despite Queensberry rule3. Well, to make a lon story short, Dixon simply thumped and chased McCarthy about until the latter had no more wind left in him. And now comes the question te 1 Rl CARPETS As usual, we lead iu this department. We have the room to keep and display goods. That's an advantage. The carpet rooms are well lighted, stock large and varied and prices below competition. You can get what you want from the finest Velvet to the unassum ing but serviceable Rag Carpet. AXMINSTERS, VELVETS, MOQUETTES, BODY BRUSSELS, TAPESTRIES, INGRAINS. LARGE STOCK OP Mattings, Oil and AT 'WAY DOWN PRICES. Is Dixon an extraordinary man at his weight? 1 have failed to find any proof of this in his record, oven taking in his last success, Dixon's Career. Mark, I am not contending that Dixon is not a good man for his ounces, but I have yet to learn that he is extraordinary. His career does not show that be is a wonder, because be has had some remarkably tame encounters. His first contest with McCarthy was one be ought to have won, because McCarthy fought a very long time with only one hand and then managed to secure a draw. No matter bow we look at this battle we don't find any glory In it lor Dixon. His con test with Wallace In England was a burlesque, and there was nothing above the extraordinary in his late fight with Murphy. I will no doubt be asked why did he defeat McCarthy so easily. In answering thin, there are two facts to bear in wind. One is that since Dixon fought Mc Carthy the first time he has been Improving, and the other is that McCarthy has been de teriorating. There is no doubt in my mind on this point. McCarthy is vastly inferior to-day compared with what he was when he first met Dixon, and had he not met with an accident on that occasion, he would have won. Well, I have never held McCarthy up as a wonder, and I fail to see any more reason for termingDixon one than in the case of McCarthy. The former is a useful and plucky little glove fighter. What he would be in a 24-foot ring with nature's weapons only I don't know. The Middle-Weight Championship. It Is not unlikely that during the next few days we will have lots to talk about regarding the middle-weight championship. Sometime ago I pointed out in this column that as soon as Fitzsiinmons arrived in this city he would be definitely challenged to fight for the middle weight championship of the world, either un der prize ring rules or under Queensberry rules. The man who will challenge him is Ed Smith, of Denver, now in this city, and the challenge. I am told, will be so liberal that it will be difficult for the Australian to aecline it. Smith's challenge Is to be to the following ef fect: He will fight Fitzsimmons to a finish with gloves or bare lists, under any rules, for 11,000 a side and any purse that maybe offered by any club. A challenge of this kind has the ring of business and fair play about it; in it can bejseen the desire to fight for glory as much as can be seen the desire to light for money. Time and time again I have argued that as soon as a latter-day pugilist gains a victory and lays hold of something called a championship title, that man carefully avoids all known good fighters. This has been the custom for years, and whether it Is the custom in other countries or not I don't know, but it is a fact that as soon as pugilists come here from other countries they fall in line here. I say it as a fact, not through any disrespect, that while our champions, real or alleged, have all kinds of excuses to offer against meeting first-class men, or men thought to be good, they without hesitation undertake to meet any recognized and bona fide "duffer." I am not at all insinuating Jliat Fitzsimmons will decline to make a match with Smith, but I am pointing out what has heretofore been the custom. Ed Smith's Claims. Bo far it has been the objections of Fitzsim mons and others that the man who challenged them bad no record and was withoufreputa tion. Of course later pugilism has come to a stage where there is more or less force in this reputation idea. Pugilism, or our alleged pugilism, is now almost entirely a business, chiefly ashow business, and we all know what that means In the way of getting attractions. Bnt EJ Smith has bad a much busier career as a pugilist and a much more pugilistic one than Fitzsimmons. Smith has fought his way up under raanv difficulties, and despite the fact of his recont defeat by Godfrey, I am inclined to think that be will win his next battle, i.o mat ter whom he fights. Smith's record is one about which Fitzsimmons, I think, will not grumble very much. And Smith will pledge himself to fight at 154 pounds or at 153 pounds, just as Fitzsimmons requires. Smith is only a niiddle-weignt, and has never, as far as I know, in this country been within 25 pounds of his weight when in a contest. Why, he was heavier when he fought Godfrey than he is now. Well, I trust that if Smith's challenge is issued in proper form that Fitzsimmons or Hall will respond to it like men who wish to do business. I am not one who believes that Fitzsimmons will abso lutely decline to meet any middle-weight, but It may be that he will try to defer the meet ing of a good man as long as possible. He may urge his expectation of meeting Pritchard as a pica for delay lit the Smith matter, but Pritchard will not meet Jem Smith until next August, and surely Fitzsimmons will not be disposed to wait that long. But if Fitzsim mons will fight Ed Smith and the latter wins ho will fight Pritchard for all the money de sired. Iu a word, then, Fitzsimmons cannot reasonably decline to make a match with Ed Smith for the middle-weight championship without forfeiting his claim to tho title. If A REPUTATION LOW PRICES and HONEST GOODS ! Every statement made in the advertisements of this firm is a A CONTRACT THAT WILL BE FAITHFULLY FULFILLED! o CARPETS. CASH -OB- CREDIT. Cloths eums. LnoS Fitzsimmons sj declines 1 fully expect that Smith will by all means claim the title of champion and then another argument will come up. To-Morroiv Night's Event To-morrow night's contest between Pat Farrell and Jim Daly at Philadelphia, is one in which much Pittsburg interest is centered. Pittsburg has never been famous for great boxers and many people are wondering whether or not Farrell will land our city to the front in that respect. lam not in a position to express a definite opinion on the matter at present be cause I don't know what Farrell Is. He may be a wonder and he may be an ordinary per former. AH I can say is to repeat what I said last week. If he is a good fighter ho will de feat Daly. He will be well looked after in the contest as Ed Smith and Jack Fogartyare to second him. During the week I have been looking care fully round to see if any indication of activity among the scullers could be observed. I bave noticed little to encourage, and it seems to roe that outside of a few gentlemen who have more or less professionally been in tho business for years, nobody cares about it. This is a great pity because there is no branch of sport more entertaining and generally sneaking better than rowing. A few weeks ago I thought that one. or two good races would be arranged, but the prospects now are less flattering than then. McLean bas stated that under no circumstances will he coma to the United States to row. If ho should again defeat Stansburr and still In sist in carrying ont this intention it will be a pity in many ways. It is really about time we had a race in this country between Americans and Anstralians. So far all the sacrifices have been made by the rowers of this country as far as making matches with Australians have been concerned. Wo know what our scullers bave done in Australia against the Australians, but we don't know what the Australians will do in America against the Americans. McLean or Stansbury may be quite different men when in the United btates. At any rate it is only fair that they should give Americans a chance on their, the American's, own waters. If they come to this country they can rely on two things, viz., fair play and a race. I tori confi dent that they would have no reason to com plain of their treatment if they would only pay us a visit. The Football Players. The local football season is fast drawing to a close, and a few remarks regarding it may notbe out of place. While none of us can truly say the season has been a successful one, we can certainly argue that it has not been a failure by any means. There have been many difficulties to cope with and they have been overcome. But football in Pittsburg has been somewhat different from the football In other cities. We have had a very long season, and we also have had two parties, that is, an Association and a Rugby party. And the season just ending is the first real football season we have had in this city. So that, altogether, football has been much more a success than many people antici pated. The Rugby players opened the season here, and the manner in which they did bad much to do with making the game as popular here as it was. A more energetic lot of fellows I havo never seen than those who composed the Rugby football team here. What they did in their first season is sufficient to prompt us with a hope of a great season next fall. The Association players bavo done very well, indeed, considering the fact that they organ ized aleague late iu the season and have had to contend against very bad weather. The League has demonstrated the fact that associ ation football can be a "go" in this section, and that there are a large number of good players in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, homo of the clubs have fallen by the wayside, but there is nothing extremely discouraging in this, bearing in mind that this is the first sea son. There are several other clubs quite ready to fill up the breaches, so that there need he no thought of a general collapse. Those who have the League's interest at heart should see that as speedily as possible plans are laid for the re organization of the Leaguo at an early date next season. If this is done the clubs can be on the field early, and this will be a great thing. The experience of this season will certainly af ford a good Icssou for future guidance. Hall and Fitzsimmons. Just a few words relative to a contest between Hall and Fitzsimmons. Judging from the an nouncement which appeared in yesterday's Dispatch regarding these two men, it seems as it thoy will come together. The backer of Fitzsimmons evidently means business when be requests the selection of a responsible stake holder, and It may, therefore, be safe to antici pate that something definite will be done. Of course, if a match is made between Hall and Fitzsiinmons, there will be no prospect of a contest between the latter and Ed Smith for some time lo come. But Smith can challenge the winnor. Pbisole. g$$ ! fc $ CURTAINS Every style and pattern conceivable in this department All of the very newest patterns selected for our trade and bought in such quan tities as to insure a great saving to our customers. We handle only the reliable makes. It don't pay to run out shoddy goods in this or any other department. You can THEY ARE ALWAYS RELIABLE, WE HAVE GUIPURE, TAMBOUR, COLBERT, CLUNY, IRISH POINT. NOTTINGHAM, FULL LINE OF QUEENSWARE. 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