One of the chief duties of the fan is to engage in arguments with the man behind him. This department of the game has been allowed to run down fearfully. A great many men go to a ball game today and never speak a word to anyone other than the members of their own party or an occasional word of cheer to a player. This is nothing short of craven.

      An ardent supporter of the home-team should go to a game prepared to take offense, no matter what happens. He should be equipped with a stock of ready sallies which can be used regardless of what the argument is about or what has gone before in the exchange of words. Among the more popular nuggets of repartee, effective on all occasions, are the following:

       [pg 038]

      "Oh, is that so?"

      "Eah?"

      "How do you get that way?"

      "Oh, is that so?"

      "So are you."

      "Aw, go have your hair bobbed."

      "Oh, is that so?"

      "Well, what are you going to do about it?"

      "Who says so?"

      "Eah? Well, I'll Cincinnati you."

      "Oh, is that so?"

      Any one of these, if hurled with sufficient venom, is good for ten points. And it should always be borne in mind that there is no danger of physical harm resulting from even the most ferocious-sounding argument. Statistics gathered by the War Department show that the percentage of actual blows struck in grandstand arguments is one in every 43,000,000.

      For those fans who are occasionally obliged to take 

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