New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-06
OUTDOOR GAMES FOR WOMEN.
CRICKET NOW WINS THEIR FAVOR.
PROGRESS OF THE IDEA IN ENGLAND-wHAT
"sToOL-BALLp Is LIKE

PROGRESS OF THE IDEA IN ENGLAND-wHAr
"sTooL-BALL" Is LIKE.
1t IS not many years ago since the idea Of women
Joining in out door games regarded with aversion
by most people. Not until the Indian game OF bad
mnton introduced TO English society did people
see that there be great deal Of harmless amuse-
ment and genuine healthy exercise derived by women
from such games. Tennis soon succeeded It's stupid
elder sister and attained the popularity OF a reg
ular craze. But novelty Is the order Of the day,
and cricket IS being introduced among the fair
tennis players in many of the English clubs with
considerable But the sport Is not well
suited to women players and the game, as played
by them, is shorn Of all its power, grace and fine
points. Nevertheless, good deal Of cricket of that
kind is being played.
There IS at present In the West End Of London q
ladies' school which plays almost nothing else, and
its first yearly match IS against the eleven Of
neighboring boys academy, In which It has frequently
proved victorious, thereby arousng Jealousy and
dissatisfaction among the boys, who are not always
chivarous enough to accept their defeat in proper
spirit In the West of England there are many
women's clubs and private matches, each side
captaned by gentleman, are frequently played
Shropshire IS the chief centre Of cricket for women,
and among the worst Of counties In the ordinary
crcketing Of the term The women, however,
make ample amends for their husbands and brothers,
and even under unfavorable circumstances can polish
off the women OF Lancashire or Nottingham in a
single inning
MEN AGAINST WOMEN.
There was a match game played in Shropshire last
year between seventeen women and eleven men, tho
latter bowling underhand and fielding and batting with
their left hands. The women knocked up 100 runs.
What the mems score history does not relate
This It would seem, affords encouragement fol-
the adoption Of the game by the gentler and though
It may lack many points Of interest, the novelty Of
meeting female opponents in a game regarded as
peculiarly mans sport will, doubt lead to pop
ularity greater than It deserves Such team as the
above scattered the field each 1.-the form clad IN
gay club colors, would present charming appearance
and create an amount of interest equal TO II not
greater than match between two rival tennis clubs
Now to give some encouragement 10 the gentler sex
It easy to show that II they do not play as men play
they at least lay claim to possessing IN unDroKen
continuity game which in all probability is tho parent
of cricket Few there are In England, let alone Amer
lea, who have heard Of stool ball." alluded to In
STRUTS Book of British sports yet parts OF Sussex
1t IS local pastime and has apparently been Tor ages
the standard village game OF the young women par
tculary, and Joined IN to some extent by both sexes
old and young. antiquity IS undoubted Its name
Is said to be derived from the fact OF the game having
milkstoOls as wlckets. Cricket has made the game
at present 10 be nothing more ian small cricket
with some minor points OF us own anu Piayo" WIN
instruments peculiar to Itself
THE CHRYSALIS OF CRICKET.
In lieu OF wickes there are round wooden targets,
illustrative Of the OF the milking fastened on
stick about four feet from the ground. These are
placed somewhat less than twenty-five yards apart
The bat is fashioned something like the old hves pat'
made however, Of one piece of wood with narro"
handle and round blade half the size Of the tar
get It has to defend leather tennis ball Is used
and two sides OF eleven each follow one another In ana
out. Instead OF bowler at each end as In creKet,
goes in at a time and he or she stands midway
between the wickets and delivers an over IN cOnse
quence at half distance, first 70 one end theh 70 e
other The basmans position Is standing c9 N,s
much possible Of the wooden TARGET "n H -
about level with his shoulder, While me DO"ie VICE
delivers full pitches underhand o. TINS pecundr anu h
lofty wicket With these differences the rest may DC
described cricket The chief point OF inc sahe -
to keep down the catches which owihs ,tcbe he are
driving power OF the bat are frequent MatOIes arc
played al intervals between parishes under inc
ship Of women who are leaders OF inc iooaI $780,
ana struggle for victory with the genuine excitement
which a century has engendered.