The day of the second of the big games broke clear and warm. The same excitement was to be noticed around the old college town as on the day of the first game at Jefferson. Lowell, however, was not located in so large a city, and therefore the people who had come to the game were more noticeable. Special trains from Boston, New York, and other points began pouring their loads of Lowell and Jefferson rooters into the old station before nine o’clock in the morning, and the steady stream of arrivals continued until game time, which was again two o’clock. For the early arrivals time might have hung heavy on their hands had they not found a chance to let off some of their steam, by parading the streets, and singing the old college songs.

A procession of Lowell “rooters” would march up one street singing “Fair Lowell,” while down another street would come the Jefferson crowd, though smaller, singing their “Alma Mater.” Whenever they met there would be a great mingling of college yells, which didn’t sound nearly as well as when they were separated and which, to anyone without the college spirit probably sounded as though a lunatic asylum had been turned loose upon the town. But nobody without this college enthusiasm could be found that day at Lowell, so the boys and girls paraded up and down the streets to their hearts’ content, and finally took up the march in the direction of Lowell field, where the same scenes took place which had been seen at Jefferson on the day of the first big game. The band played for the entertainment of the crowd. Noise clubs led the yells and the songs, the crowd joined in, and thus they entertained themselves until game time.

Around the public square, and more particularly in front of Lowell Arms, the most popular hotel in the town, was assembled a great crowd, and only a championship ball game itself could have kept the guests of this inn from being the center of the universe on this day, for the President was to arrive during the morning and the hotel was already filled with Senators, Representatives, Ambassadors and big politicians, who are likely to hover around the President on such occasions, to let some of the reflected glory shine upon them.

Many of them came for the sole purpose of seeing the ball game, but others, who are playing the political game all the time, hoped to catch the President’s ear during his visit.

When the President did arrive and was welcomed by such enthusiasm as the townspeople, students, and visitors could spare from the baseball game, he turned a deaf ear to anyone who had anything to say on any subject but baseball and college life. He was bound to be a boy again whenever he came to Lowell and the annual games were his special delight.

Out at Lowell field they had arranged a special box for the President and other distinguished guests, which he occupied for a little while, but when it came time for practice he said, “It don’t seem quite like a ball game sitting here. I’m going over there and sit with the boys.” And he did. They made a place for him in one of the seats in the first row of the regular grand stand, where the sun could shine on him, and when he got warm he took off his hat and coat just like any other fan, and enjoyed himself to the limit.

Lowell field was not as new and substantial a place as the Stadium at Jefferson, but the stands would hold almost as many people, and the grounds, being larger, more standing room was found on the field.

By one o’clock every inch of space was occupied and the gates were locked. Never before had so many come to see a game at Lowell. This time, however, the Lowell folks outnumbered the Jefferson adherents. To-day more than two thirds of the people waved green flags and banners and the balance showed the colors of the rival school. The complexion of the crowd was reversed. Some who had been at the other game wondered if this was a sign that the score would be reversed, too. Jefferson fellows, who were just a little bit superstitious hoped so, while the Lowell crowd said they didn’t believe in superstitions of any kind. Finally the teams marched onto the field, the University Band preceding them, but this time as they reached the plate, it was the maroon which sat on the bench back of third base, and the green went back of first.

“We licked them when they had the advantage of being on their own lot,” said Fred Penny who was sitting in the stand with Johnny King, “and I guess now we have them on our own lot, we will make it two straight.”

The practice before the game gave the crowd a chance to pay their particular respects to the individual members of the team, by special songs and cheers for each of them. The band played “Hail to the Chief” once for the President and two or three times for Hughie. Then each member of the team was introduced to the President, and as each member of the team came up the Noise Club announced:

Here he is—HONUS.

What’s the matter with HONUS?

And then everybody would sing:

And they gave a special yell for each of the particular stars of the first game. It was enough to make any player nervous and anxious and it’s a wonder it didn’t. What it did do, however, was to make every one of the boys take a special vow to play the game of his life that day.

Again the two men in the blue suits and blue caps trotted out on the field. Again the umpire, who was to work behind the bat (this time it was M. S. Lee), consulted with Hughie and Church. The gong sounded. The umpire said, “Play ball.” The Lowell boys trotted out onto the field to their positions. Again the umpire took off his cap, faced the stands and said:

“Ladies and gentlemen: The batteries for to-day’s game are Cam, pitcher; Brest, catcher for Jefferson. Radams, pitcher; Gibbs, catcher for Lowell. Cam and Brest for Jefferson. Radams and Gibbs for Lowell—Batter up.”

This time Laird of the Western school stepped quietly to the plate. He looked at Radams and Radams looked at him. Each was studying the other, though to-day Radams had a little advantage. He had seen Laird at bat and Black had gone over the other game carefully with him so he knew something about each of the batters. At least he was sure he did have a slight advantage, and so he did not hesitate an instant, but began to shoot them over. The second big game was on.