Orotund Sentences from Historical Recaps: New York, 1897

Recently, in these pages, the author reproduced for the reader’s consideration a small collection of excerpts from a game recap that appeared originally in the July 1, 1897, edition of the New York Evening World — which recap, one will have noted, features sentences that are both alien and also “like magic” to the modern ear.

This post features three more examples of that engaging prose — in this case, from the July 15, 1897, edition of the Evening World and all concerning a game from the previous day between the New York Giants and Louisville Colonels which took place at the latter club’s Base Ball Grounds.

Regarding the aforementioned contest, one learns that, in the first inning, “Cunny couldn’t find the coal hole cover” — a sentence which almost certainly appeared in more than Victorian-era erotic novel, as well.

On the theme of eroticism, the editoriat of the Evening World now turn the attentions of this recap away from the action on the field and towards “Joyce’s bump.” That Johnson adequately performed “the needful” to/with it produces a collective sigh of relief for all involved, certainly.

Finally, and mid-way through the game now, there is some discussion of “Dad” — a father-figure, one assumes, if not the biological paterfamilias — discussion of “‘Dad’ clipping at visions.” The product of absinthe, that, one can only assume.