The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-13
RACQUET.

RAPID GROWTH OF FAvoRITE ENGLISH GAME
IN THIS coUNTRY-DEscnIprIos or THE
NEW YORK RACQUET COURT CLUBS NEW
QUARTERS.
The English game OF racquet, or racket as il is
commonly spelled is fast becoming one or
the most popular indoor sports in this country
Until within the last ten twelve months the game
comparatively unknown in Now York, but to-day
IL is very generally played considering the as yet
limited opportunities presented aud has created quite
a rpore among that class OF young who are de-
voted to manly athletic exercises There has existed
in Brooklyn for several years past indifferent
handball court that has been from tmo
to time more or less used for playing racquet
but of course II falls far short of
tho requirements OF the game. In Madison street. in
this city there first class haddbaIl court, where
the game OF racquet has almost entirely superseded tho
game for which tho structure was originally reared
At this place racquet Is played day and night by
hundreds of nthusiasts who find 1t an excellent way
OF obtaining neediul exercise Scores OF boating
and base ball players frequent this court they
are convinced that playing the game Of racquet does
more to put their cords and muscles in proper cond
ton for their favorte summer pastime than anything
else, not excepting the gymnasium Some years ago
there racquet Thirteenth street. but the
game was then SO little known and appreciated among
US tnat proprietor found II paying business
and was ere long compelled 10 close his doors
THE NEW RACQUET COURT cLUR.
Some six eight months ago number of gcntemeno of
this city who had played racquet extensively in Europe
organized tho New York Racquet Club and at
sc about having suitable club house erected Mr. A.
S. Thorp, who in former years proprietor of the
Thirteenth street racquet court undertook the task.
His efforts have been every way successful II may
judge from tho magnificent building now rapidly ap
preaching completion the northeast of Sixth
and Twenty sixth street This building though
somewhat odd In its exterior appearance is probably
the most complete club house In its of In thrs
country II has frontage of seventyfvo feet Sixth
avenue depth OF 100 feet Twenty street and
height of ninety feet above the curb Tho ground floor
will be occupied as stores The main entrance is on
Twenty SIKH street. The frst oor-that is tho floor
next above the siorcs-is being done of into model
bachelor apartments Of which there ten Each
apartment will consist OF a suit OF rooms with ample
closets, bathroom and anteroom, tho latter opening
into the corridor. Tho Sixth avenue front OF tho
second floor will be counterpart of the floor beneath
while the Twentysxth street front will DO occupied
billiard ROOM reading ROOM reception room, dressing
room and bathrooms These will be used by the club
The bar and office VIII also be ON this floor we'll
number Of alcoyes for loungng purposes and ockera
FOR racket suits. From this floor broad staircase
leads directly into the gymnasium above. This
will be model OF its kind. Along the north sde AMI
twelve feet from the hoor, will be gallery on which
20 be built two bowling alleys The gallery will ex-
tend along tho northeast end Of the apartment, and will
be furnished with chairs, tables and lounges where
members of the club sit and have commanding
of the bowling tho sparring and fencing which,
IL is reasonable TO suppose will frequently be INDUCED
In on the main floor below. Tho entrance TO
THE RACQUET COURTS,
two In number, will be through tho gymnasium to
passage way running along the Twenty-sxth street
front and thence into the courts. These courts 1t is
claimed by the architect will the very OF per-
fecton The dimensions of each 81 feet inches
by 60 feet The distance from the flooring TO the sky
light forty feet The spring OF the trsscs however
is ten feet below the skylghts and beginning al tho
base of these trusses and extending over both courts
will be wire netting 10 protect the glass from the as
saults OF the racquet ball The lighting and ventiatng
OF those courts to DO perfect there being two
of windows on the Twenty sixth street 'front.'
on the Sixth avenue 'front.' and ono on tho north
SIDE above the adjoining buildings while the skylights
Are most ample in their dimensions The root projects
six feet around the entire building the projection
being supported by iron brackets. and be-
the structure, acts at the time q
screen to protect tho upper windows opening thu
racket courts from the glare OF the sun, and in this
way, a1ording steady and uniform light within Tho
walls OF these courts will be finished in Portland
smooth and solid surface Hitherto racquet courts have
uniformly presented dreary, varltliko appearance
walls and flooring OF these courts pearl gray color
On the Twenty sixth front there will be two gaE
eries from which the game can be viewed by from 250
70 800 spectators From these galleries staircase
leads TO novel running track which Is hung from tho
rafters. and from which an excellent Wow eau DO had
OF the games going below This track Is three feet
and half wdc and when one has gone around 1t
twenty times he will have accomplished mile 1t Is
hung Just above the wire screening above mentioned
SO that pedestrians while walking running on II will
incur danger OF being struck with the racquet ball
The outside walls Of this building are so constructed
TO present not only odd appearance but rather
unprepossessing ono well. They are built on iron
columns and arehed and butrcsscd from the 1rst
floor to the top In this way the architect claims to
have secured not only the strongest possible kind Of
wall but also tho cheapest Being limited In funds,
his chief aim has been TO conform strictly TO all the in
side requirements and In doing this, he has sacrificed
something Of the appearance but probably nothing OF
the substanlably Of the exterior portion OF the
structure The unpleasant appearance which these
butrcssed walls present will be greatly amelio
rated by the unique balcony which extends along both
fronts OF the building at height of sixty feet from
the sidewalk, and which Is supported by massive but
neatly constructed iron brackets the projecting roof
with its ornamental arrangcmonts and the novel
method which Is TO DO adopted OF inserting in the up
per half Of every window above tho ground door
stained glass OF variegated coors In each OF thu
brackets supporting the projecting roof Is circle Of
perhaps eighteen inches in diameter in which II Is pro-
posed put glass globes for the purpose of llumna
ton at night Ia Froncaisc This, II Is thought will
produce pleasing and attractive appearance.
The cost of this building, including its fittings
will be 500 900 and the architect Mr. Alfred L. Thorp
that 1t Will be ready for occupation some time next
month.