Still ignorant of the fact that I was to be dropped from the club's rolls, and that without warning after my long and faithful service, at Mr. Spalding's solicitation that spring I accompanied him on a trip to England, and while we were there he advised me not to worry about the club matters or the rumors that I had heard, as the thing would doubtless be all fixed up before our return. I then made a proposition to him that he and I together should buy the Chicago League Ball Club, a proposition that he partially acceded to, though in view of subsequent events I am now certain that such a plan was not in reality entertained by him for a moment. Matters had indeed been "fixed up" on my return, and Tom Burns, my old third-baseman, had been brought on from Springfield, Mass., to manage the team, or, rather, to serve as a figure-head for the Club's President. It was then that I was advised by Mr. Spalding to resign, which I refused to do, preferring to take my medicine like a man, bitter as the dose might be. Mr. Burns that spring took up the reins that had been taken out of my hands, and how well he succeeded with the able (?) assistance of President Hart was now a matter of history. The following table gives my batting and fielding record for the past twenty-three years, and I feel that it is one that I may well be proud of: Years Games %Base hits %Fielding 1875 69 .318 .820 1876 66 .342 .826 1877 67 .335 .868 1878 59 .336 .818 1879 49 .407 .974 1880 84 .338 .977 1881 84 .399 .975 1882 82 .367 .948 1883 98 .307 .964 1884 111 .337 .954 1885 112 .322 .971 1886 125 .371 .949 1887 122 .421 .947 1888 134 .343 .985 1889 134 .341 .982 1890 139 .311 .978 1891 136 .294 .981 1892 147 .274 .971 1893 101 .322 .981 1894 83 .394 .988 1895 122 .338 .990 1896 106 .335 .982 1897 112 .302 .987 CHAPTER XXXIV. IF THIS BE TREASON, MAKE THE MOST OF IT. Experience is a mighty dear teacher. This is a fact that has been generally admitted by the world at large, but one that I have never fully realized until within the last few years, though just how much it has cost me in the matter of dollars-and-cents it is hard to say.