ball players. The Mayor's speech
of welcome was a plain and hearty one, and was followed by addresses of
welcome by the Hon. Mr. Smith, of the Victoria Cricket Association;
Acting United States Consul Smyth and Mr. S. P. Lord, the latter being
introduced as "an old Colonist, who came from America in 1853," and a
"base-bailer." Mr. Spalding followed in a brief speech, expressing our
appreciation of the cordial welcome that had been accorded us and hoping
that the Victorians would take as kindly to the game itself as they had
to its exponents, after which Captain Ward and myself were called upon
to say something, which we did to the best of our ability, though I
somehow have never managed to acquire fame in the speech-making line,
and would rather play ball at any time than make even a few remarks,
that is, unless I could talk to an umpire.

Brief addresses by Mayor Wardell, Town Clerk Fitzgibbon and Mr. David
Scott followed, after which we were driven to the Grand Hotel, where we
found most comfortable quarters and a good dinner awaiting us.

This hotel was in close proximity to the exposition buildings, the
Treasury building, the Parliament building and the Fitzroy Gardens, and
was convenient to a great many of the objects and places of interest
with which Melbourne abounds. One feature of the hotel, and one that
greatly pleased the majority of our tourists, was the fact that a number
of pretty colonial girls were employed in nearly every department,
they waiting on the table and taking the place of the bellboys, in
fact, doing everything except to fill the positions of porter and
baggage-smasher.

That evening, at the invitation of Manager Musgrove, a partner of Mr.
Williamson of the Royal Theater, in Sydney, we occupied a full section
of the dress circle in the Princess Theater, where we witnessed a
splendid production of "The Princess Ida," by an English company. At the
end of the third act we were called out to drink the health of Mr.
Musgrove, who informed us that the door of his theater were open to us
at all times.

It was after midnight when we returned to the hotel, and so tired were
we that we were glad to go at once to our rooms without stopping for the
customary chat in the office or corridors, knowing that we had yet to
make our first appearance as ball players before a Melbourne crowd, and
must rest up if we wished to make even a creditable showing.

CHAPTER XXIV. BASEBALL PLAYING AND SIGHTSEEING