New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-19
THE LADIES' ATHLETIC CLUE.

During the last week an interesting enter
prise has been successfully launched. Inc
new building of the Berkeley Ladies Athletic
| Club has been finished furnished and opened
to the admring gaze of society and the use OF
| the members. This institution is said to be
without a duplicate in any part OF inc "oriu'
and though there is always some risk In assert
ing that anything is unique, nobody has yet
vontured to alIege that this particular thing Is
an imitation. Its career began last "Wednesday
with \ retention which was designed to con
vince all who were fortunate enough to be III
attendance that it has an inalienaDle flSht 10
exist. delightful mission to pursue ana
certain guarantee of prosperity. mat thiS lnrce-
fold purpose was triumphantly accomplished
those who were present and their sisters anu
their cousins and their aunts who have peeh
hearing about it ever since are ready to TESTIFY
on all suitable occasions.
The clubhouse is admirably equipped in every
way. but the gymnasium is the department
which expresses the real significance oil the
orraniza,ion. An extraordinary amount OF IN
tellicence and ingenuity has been expended IN
ADAPTING the familiar appliances of physical
culture to the requirements OF women and IN
inventing ncN combinations 10 meet new
cxiccncies. The spirit of the members Is
cuaronteo thag these facilities will be zcaouSly
EMPLOYED. and the supervision Of a competent
instructor will supply the requisite stimulus or
restraint. Since the building was opened the
practical management of the club has been
placed in the hands of women whose names are
a sufficient pledge that its affairs will be skill
fully. prudcntly and unobtruNlycy directed.
Finally. the clubhouse i not designed 10 be
retreat for idlcncS> or fryo'y or dissipation
of the mildcSI type nor even primarily means
of diversion but rather a genuine school OF
phvsical development. The only cNhlantlon
will be that which follows exercise.
The prosperity of this organization illustrates
very striking change Of opinion among women
as TO what j., plca,urabo and becoming in their
sex. and also an absolute revolution of popular
sentiment rs to their rights and privileges.
II is not 50 very many yen, Sac" -" best PEG
pie in any community would have fcif lmpcllcd
10 question if not to condemn. >ich an enter
prise rs this. and the time wa, when ccclcSi-
asical if not social. o,tracSm would have been
the price OF membership And Yet it j.. In one
sense absurd to imagine what might have
happened in such case. for the existence oi
ladic, athletic club, established I'D Spacious
and claLo ate home of is own. would have
been inconccvablc in old times for various
reasons, and principally because women used
to feel no inclination to cXpcnd their energies
in such ways. The love OF physical exercise
and tho longing for bodily perfection are
new development in modern lifc-No new. in
fact that much doubt has been felt whether
they have come 20 stay. and II j. still custom
AIRY 70 speak of the " craze" for athletics. ina
word Wa think no longer describe, 'hc case.
An intelligent comprehension of what mon and
women owe 70 their own bodies. anl Of the
pleasure and comfort which they mav derive
from payment of the debit j, the zeal basis Of
that physical activity which ha, already be-
come feature Of the time, aud which Is con
,tanty giving some new proof oi prInahence.