Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24
TENNIS FOR GIRLS.
Growing Popularity Of the Game Among
Washington Maidens.

washington Mafdens.
PICTURESQUE AND STRIKING oosruMEs-coIoas
DO NOT HELP THE PLAYER-YoUNo MEN .N COR
oEoUs ARRAY-cAN GIRLS BECOME GOOD Play
ERs-PHYsIcAL ADVANTAGES OF THE GAME.
group of girls dressed in light easy cos
| tunes of gaily-striped flannel and wearing the
coquettish Tam OShanter hats, may frequently
be met with these summer afternoons pass
ing along the shaded streets of the residence
portion OF the city. They swing tennis rae
quets in their hands as they go along chatting
and laughing. Later in the day as one rides or
walks about the streets he will see similar
groups on the tennis courts which are now SO
numerous In all parts of the city. It is evident
that the tennis fever has not escaped the girls
and, judging from what can be SEEM tennis
Is Played quite as generally by the girls
as py the opposite sex. The maidens certainly
present more attractive appearance in their
tennis dress than the average Young man
player. Ihey look so cool and fresh, and of
course they always look sweet, so that girl all
| got up for tennis is, as a rule something that
the eye loves to rest upon. They wear blazers
too-the cuiest little jackets imaginable. with
pockets IN the sides, where the girls can thrust
.Ieir hands and thereby add to the striking
1 erect lhe blazers are not supposed to be
worn while the owner is playing, but some
times they look so fascinating that il is difficult
10 throw them aside, even for a short time
Inc millinery feature of tennis, which adds to
.ne picturesqueness of one of the most pic
turesque OF outdoor sports is not confined to
the dress of the female tennis PLAYERS
| YOUNG MEN IN GORGEOUS ARRAY
| The young-man species has the facilities for
getting himself up in a very stunning style.
He, too, has a blazer, and if he wants he can
have cap made of the same material. 40 that
Ii ne knows what colors suit his peculiar style
OF beauty he can select a combination of colors
In the blazer, cap and necktie that will be very
touching, to use the expression of a WELL
KNOWN local amateur artist In order that a
man might not be obliged to confine all the
gorgeous effect of his costume to the vicinity
OF MS neck as the turkey gobbler is Obliged to
90, the sash has been invented and its silken
iolds In variety of colors gives just the finish
ing touches to a costume which creates much
havoc III the sensihilities of the spectators even
ii IL does not contribute very much to the
| score.
REAL LOVE FOR THE GAME.
But after all 1t is of little consequence what
man wears. He has, however a chance to
| show whathe can do with a rather more ex-
tended wardrobe for the tennis field than is
available on other occasions 1t ought not to
De imagined that tennis is attractive to girls
because OF the pretty and bewitching costumes
lhere are some girls who wear out several ten
MS suits before even they have christened their
racluets. But then some girls are not all girls
ana never were. Some girls have a genuine
| love for the game and a large number of the
cIups III this city have both male and female
members. The larger clubs such as the Bach
eior and the Capital. are composed exclusively
| OF men, but these are exceptions as the great
proportion of the clubs in this city admit both
sexes to membership.
| PLAYING TENNIS WITH GIRLS
Some players say that they don't like to play
with girls. They have the same reason as the
small boy had when he refused to go out and
| play with some little girls Girls don't know
now to play hard. he said with great disdain
girl who Is afraid that her cheeks will become
red or her hair mussed may succeed in playing
tennis, but she can't expect that any man who
knows the game will take any pleasure PLAYING
with her. He no doubts assures her that he
would rather play with her than anybody in the
world, and that one game with her is preferable
to two or three sets with the bows on the Climb
| grounds But at the same time everybody knows
that he Is shameless hardened liar, and no
doubt the girls know it very well too How
ever, some girls never learn how to play. and
never, In fact, try to learn. They look pretty
while on the tennis court, and that is about ali
they care for the game. But the girl who puts
on an old skirt and a blouse waist and most any
kind OF hat and a good substantial pair of
tennis SHOES. and is not afraid to reach out for
al
expert tennis player.
GOOD PLAYERS.
There are several of this kind in this CITY
although STAR man in talking with a tennis
player asked him to name some good lady
players in this city. Il don't know any, and
he replied: Il never saw q woman who even
tried to play tennis"
He evidently don't move around much in
tennis circles. II he went up on X street some
evening. where the grounds of the Taviaque
club are located, his eyes would be greeted with
the unfamiliar spectacle, to him at least. of
| ladies playing tennis, and good tennis too. A
good many ladies belong to this club and they
are considered to be valuable members.
Miss Bayard, who is still claimed as a WASH
lngton player, displays great deal of skill in
the tennis court. Her regular game is su-
perlor to that of the average male player The
Misses Bartlett are also excellent tennis PLAYERS
and there are others whose names might be
mentioned 1t is said that the ladies are TAX
ing more interest in tennis than ever before
| and there is no doubt that in the District tour
naments held In the future prizes for ladies
Will be offered and will be strongly contested.
SKIRTS NO INTERFERENCE.
81 have heard it said, observed prominent
| tennis player, that ladies were unable to make
| certain strokes.because their skirts were i'm the
way. When was in England 1 saw some of
the best lady players in match games saw
them make such strokes as the Lansdowne
stroke with as much ease as a man could have
made it, and certainly with more precision and
effect than the majority of players There
was no stroke that men use that / did not see
the English women use in playing. 1 think
that idea about skirts interfering with a woman
| in making plays is all nonsense.
TENNIS AS AN EXERCISE FOR WOMEN.
There is another thing that usually comes
up when the subject of women and tennis
playing is being discussed. It is claimed that
the exercise is too violent and is injurious.
The STAR man asked physician the other dav
what he thought about it and whether he was
of the opinion that tennis playing injured the
health of ladies.
tennis playing" he said, sis like all other
forms of outdoor physical exercise, you can do
too much of it. man can injure his health
by excessive or improper exercise as well as
ladies. Independent of this, however, don't
know of any more healthful outdoor amuse-
ment. 1t exercises the entire body especially
the muscles of the chest. Did you ever notice
singers what large busts they generally have?
Well, that is the result of muscular develop
ment largely. 1t is not natural as a rule Ten
| mis- playing brings into use the muscles of the
chest and broadens and develops it. 1t gives
| the general exercise which contributes to the
well being of the entire body. I would have
no hesitation in recommending tennis to NV
patients, especially my female patients, If they
| should ask for my advice"