When we started off on our trip in 1888 it was found necessary to get someone to check the receipts of the various exhibitions, see that we obtained our share, pay hotel bills, etc., etc., and generally look after the small financial details, and for some reason which I have never been able to understand A.G.Spalding made arrangements with James A.Hart to accompany us as far as San Francisco for that purpose, though the latter had no special qualifications for the work in hand.

In fact, up to that time Mr.Hart, who had been connected as manager with Louisville, Boston and Milwaukee Clubs, had been an accredited failure, just as he has been since in Chicago, where the club under his management has steadily gone from bad to worse, such a thing as a dividend never having been heard of since he took the reins.
For his services on the trip he was paid a salary and his expenses, but this was seemingly not enough, for prior to our departure for Australia Mr.Spalding came to me with a subscription paper, stating that he was securing subscriptions from the members of our party for the purpose of presenting Mr.Hart with a pair of valuable diamond cuff-buttons.

Just why Mr.Hart should be made the recipient of a valuable gift under such circumstances was more than I could fathom, and I not unnaturally entered protests.
My protest went unheeded, however, and from this little acorn grew the oak of disagreement between James A.Hart and myself, an oak that has now grown to mammoth proportions.
It was while on the same trip around the world that my long term contract made with Mr.Hurlbut expired, and that I signed a new one under somewhat peculiar circumstances.

Returning home and while in mid-ocean I was requested by Mr.Spalding, who was President of the Chicago Ball Club, to sign a contract, which was made for ten years at my request, with the club, as manager and captain, and by the terms of this contract it was stipulated that I should receive a certain salary and a contingent fee, amounting to 10 per cent.

of the net profits of the club, as shown by the books of that organization, which, in 1890, amounted to little or nothing, owing to the troubles engendered by the Brotherhood revolt and the war between the National League and the American Association, though during a portion of the time I was paid something in excess of my salary, presumably on the supposition that the laborer was worthy of his hire.
In 1891, greatly to my astonishment, Mr.Spalding retired from the presidency and James A.Hart was elected to the vacant position.