That Thursday game attracted the biggest audience of any thus far played; not because the Academy team was strong enough to promise a hard-fought battle, but for the reason that it was given out that the Erskine nine was to play just as it would in the game at Collegetown the next day but one. The batting list was as follows:
Perkins, catcher. Gilberth, pitcher. Motter, first base. Bissell, center-field. Stiles, second base. Knox, shortstop. Billings, third base. King, left-field. Northup, right-field.
Allowing for the fact that every man had been worked hard all the week up to the very beginning of the game, and that examinations were in progress, the exhibition of ball-playing made by them was decidedly encouraging. The cheering was a notable part of the contest. Led by the senior class president and five assistants, the stands did heroic work, and cheers and songs thundered forth unceasingly.
Jack, sitting forlornly on the bench, wedged in between other substitutes quite as forlorn, found balm for his disappointed hopes in the fact that the song that went the best of any, and the one which was most often sung, was his. The way in which the throng emphasized the "Poor old Robinson!" was good to hear.
When the game was at an end--it was almost dark by then--the spectators marched back down William Street to the college, cheering and singing all the way. Jack, trotting over to the locker-house in the wake of the other players, heard from down the street the refrain arising splendidly to the summer sky:
"Purple is the color of the stalwart and the brave; Purple are the banners that the conq'ring heroes wave; Purple are the violets above the lonely grave Of poor old Robinson! Glory, glory to the Purple! Glory, glory to the Purple! Glory, glory to the Purple! And down with Robinson!"
The enthusiasm didn't cease until late at night. After dinner the fellows thronged the yard in front of Walton and the cheers and songs were gone through with again and again.
There was little work the following day for the players. Morning practise was omitted, and in the afternoon a little running and throwing to bases constituted the program. In the evening there was a reception to the nine and substitutes in Brown Hall, and again enthusiasm was rampant. The Glee Club sang, the college band played, the fellows cheered, the dean and Professor Nast and the coaches and Captain Joseph Perkins made speeches, and there was a grand hullabaloo until half past nine.