effect its provisions, is unworthy the name of
a freeman. Although these gray hairs must soon descend into
the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather they would descend
thither by the hand of the public executioner, than desert
at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.

The speaker ceased. Confidence and determination returned to that
assembly, and forthwith the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It
was signed that day by John Hancock, President of the Congress. On August
2d, the engrossed copy was signed by the fifty-three members then present,
and subsequently three others affixed their names.

The man whose words brought the Continental Congress to action was John
Witherspoon, of New Jersey, the President of Princeton College. He was
born in Gifford, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, February 5, 1722, and died
near Princeton, N.J., September 15, 1794. A graduate of Edinburgh
University, he became a prominent Calvinistic pastor, essayist, and
educator. He declined the presidency of Princeton in 1766, but accepted a
second invitation, and was inaugurated in 1768.

Dr. Witherspoon was a most devoted patriot. Throughout the War of
Independence his energies were given freely to the service of the
Colonies.

The Story of Baseball.

BY GEORGE V. TUOHEY.[A]

How the National Game of the United States Was Evolved From
English "Rounders," Which, in Turn, Had Its Genesis in Games
Played in Ancient Greece and Rome--United States Senator
Arthur Pue Gorman Was President of the National Association
in 1866--M.H. Bulkeley, Since Governor of Connecticut, Was
National League's First Chief.

_An original article written for_ THE SCRAP BOOK.

Whether baseball, our great national game, is a development of "rounders"
or of "town ball" will ever be a question. Its genesis, however, is to be
found in a pastime that dates beyond the Christian era, for the Greeks
practised playing with a ball as tending to give grace and elasticity to
the figure, and they erected a statue to Aristonicus for his proficiency
in it.

"Rounders," from which modern baseball is generally believed to have
derived its origin, was a very simple game--so simple, in fact, that girls
could play it. It was played with a ball and bats and was practised in
this country as early as 1825. An English work on outdoor sports describes
"rounders" as follows:

"Rounders" Described.

"A hole is first made about a foo