ball-proof, they never skipped out of the way, but
stood still and took the result; when a Bessemer was
at the bat and a ball hit him, it would bound a
hundred and fifty yards sometimes. And when a
man was running, and threw himself on his stomach
to slide to his base, it was like an ironclad coming
into port. At first I appointed men of no rank to
act as umpires, but I had to discontinue that.
These people were no easier to please than other
nines. The umpire's first decision was usually his
last; they broke him in two with a bat, and his
friends toted him home on a shutter. When it
was noticed that no umpire ever survived a game,
umpiring got to be unpopular. So I was obliged to
appoint somebody whose rank and lofty position
under the government would protect him.

Here are the names of the nines:

The first public game would certainly draw fifty
thousand people; and for solid fun would be worth
going around the world to see. Everything would be
favorable; it was balmy and beautiful spring weather
now, and Nature was all tailored out in her new clothes.

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