The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-17

dow ornaments gave up conversation and
proceeded to make themselves comforta-
bic, looking all the while as though life
were indeed not worth living, while the
girl was imbibing the fresh air and arous-
ing the admiration OF the big policeman as
she swung easily through Central park at a
four mile an hour gait. 1t was not strange
that park policeman should whistle under
his breath as she passed him and remark:
'sBegorra, thin New York girls do be get
tim to be foiner min than the min thin
selves"
In his own peculiar way the policeman ex-
pressed what is unquestionably true.
The New York girl of to-day is much the
superior physically of the average New
York man.
English critics used to say that our
women were sallow, nervous and weak
physically. Perhaps they were. but they are
not now. Fashionable novels used to pict-
ure our young women in society as lying
in bed until noon every day, slipping choco-
late or strong tea and reading insipid nov
els; as being bundles of aches and pains,
except when IN the ball ROOM and as being
weak, Informed and without vigor because
of lack of exercise. This might have been
true. but it is true no longer No handsomer
specimens of womanhood, physically speak
ing, might be wished for than are to be
seen every day on Broadway, Fifth or even
Sixth avenues. The young woman who
awoke the admiration of the club men. as
described above, was but a type of her
class.
The New York young woman of to-day
is, as one of the club men remarked, "going
in for muscle" And what is more she is
gaining it,
Why do young women want to become
athletica
Why, indeedl That may be assumed in
various WAYS But one fact stands out
bold and clearl
They do! And what is more, the number
of girl athletes in all grades of society i'll
Nav York just now would comprise those
who think that croquet or lawn tennis
are the most exciting exercises in which the
modern society young woman INDUCES now
both for pleasure and health. 1t is no I'M
common thing for society bellies to keep
themselves in training" to use an athletic
term, almost as carefully as professional
athletes. In fact, they are more careful.
although less severe, for few professional
athletes are without bad habits.
There are ladies in New York now, NOV
ing even In that select circle that Ward
McAllister has marked out, who can ride,
shoot, swim, swing Indian clubs or dumb
bells easily and scientifically, who are in
trepid pedestrians, and who can box too, in
what Billy Edwards calls ''really touch
ing manner" And they don't think it nm
womsnly either to do any Of these things,
nor does anyone else.
A few years ago the athletic young
woman would be looked upon with horror.
Today she has everything her own way.
The owner of a well known shooting gal
lery up town was somewhat surprised the
other day when two fashionably dressed,
handsome young ladies went into his place
and shot a match at the dancing glass balls
that are used as targets by the more expert
hot antI win
and on-lookers were more than surprised to
see how few misses were made by either of
the fair marlswomen. When the shooting
was over, the pair left laughing over the
match to buy the gloves that had been won
and lost, but seemingly unconscious that
they had done anything out of the common.
1t was not so long ago that such scene
would have created something like sensa-
ton, for both the ladies are well known in
society.
Nor was it but few days ago that well
known business man down town told with
a good deal of glee of a friendly boxing
match with his better half, the stakes being
bonnet against a silk hat, in which honors
were so nearly even that he consented to buy
the bonnet. And he is no mean boxer. But
Of course boxing can scarcely ever become
popular with the ladies, for the rea-
son that while most healthful exercise, its
chief result is an over bullying OF arm and
shoulders, which is not in accordance with
the symmetry of the female form.
Miss Flora McF'limsy goes about her ath-
letic work pretty systematically. Nearly
all the big houses that manufacture athletic
goods have opened branch stores up town
within short distances of fashionable neigh
borhoods, and they bear witness that the
fair sex provides them with their best GUS
toners.
when these cadets go into the athletic
business, they go in in earnest" said one OF
these dealers. "They usually get book on
training or else get instructions, and then
they go in for dumb bells, gloves, walking
shoes, fencing and all that sort OF thing.
It's all the 20 now, sir, and am glad OF 1t.
It's good thing for me and its better for
the ladies' than late dinners, champagne,
confinement, and want of exercise. That's
what it is.n
The improved appearance OF the average
New York woman would seem to bear this
out, and yet it is not an unpleasant thinng
this keeping Of ones body In perfect condi
ton. On these bracing mornings TIE SO
ciety belle who rises at 8 o'clock IN the
morning and, arrayed in an easy walking
costume, with broad comfortable walking
shoes, Is sure to find good deal OF pleasure
and health in a tramp OF i've miles beior'
breakfast. And this is what many OF tneu
40 just at present. After such tramp
bath and good breakfast may be appre-
ciated as they would not be were thu