The morning call., 1890-11-09
HANDLE ALL.

through the sloughs near Mowrys Station.
HAND-BALL.
Snort which Bias Become Very Pop
uIsr with Olympiaus.
OF the many outdoor sports which have
become popular with amateur athletes
hand-ball is taking decisive lead. Since
the game was introduced into the Olympic
Club by John Purcell, the Irish athlete, it
found q hearty welcome from the young
men who have become fascinated with the
sport, which is unQuestionably splendid
means OF exercise. Although the game has
not made many strides in popular advance
ment in tie East it is rapidly gaining foot
hold in this city, and before another year
championship contests of hand-ball VIII be
one of the outdoor features of sport, which
will attract the attention of men who now
do not know that such a game is being
played with avidity every Sunday forenoon
at the Olympic grounds in the presence OF
large number of spectators.
a match OF hand-ball. when contested by
two or four players who have thoroughly
mastered the game, Is sport which cannot
fail to interest everybody. The Olympic
athletes, who have taken hold of the pas
time have become very much fascinated
with the sport, but with the exception OF two
or three, the boys have yet the awkward
system of hitting at a ball which they should
lay aside before the style grows upon them.
The underband stroke should be practiced
until the striker has become accustomed to
deliver his goods, so 10 speak, with that
grace and ease which make hand-bAll a
pleasure.
Speaking of a change in the present sys-
tenn of hand-ball. a New York exchange
says:
There has probably been no branch of sport
that has been marked by SO little Improvement
in the art Of playing as hand ball other pastlmes
have been materially improved upon, but hand
bail stands where il did 100 years ago. The
progress made at the game in The past Few years,
particularly in America, h IS clearly proved that
there mus, be some radical Changes made IN the
rules, il the sport IS Intended 10 remain popular
and remuueratVe. AS IL Is played now by ma
joriy OF experts, severe service plays con-
spIcuous part in the game. In other words, The
man who hits the ball The hardest and from the
front wall, so that the bail cannot be recovered,
is held to be wonderful player. Game after
game is won IN this fashion, and yet the best au-
Ihoritles claim II Is scientlhc sport
Instances are frequent where Il man is capaDle
of winning tie game on service alone, ana yet
were The same mau called upon TO hold his end
up in general play he would prove a failure.
There Is certainly 10 science IN hard tosSlus,
but there is science In pretty returns, ana 10
know lust exactly when your opponent IS In a
court and TO Keep the bali away from him using
good geueralship as much IS hard hitting- 1t Is
now proposed. so rs 10 do away with greater
part of tile rather objectionable hard tossing, TO
either place line on the front wall, say four or
five feet from the floor, and make every mau III
tossing place The ball above the line, or else COM
pei the player siaGd at the ace line III serving.
ii players would only consider this matter they
could not fail to be convinced that II wOnld not
only Improve lie standing OF the game, Out
would give tie public an opportunity OF witness
ing the sport III all It's brilliancy
The ideas of the writer of the above ar
ticle will not gain much favor from men who
have become expert at the game 1t might
As well be said Of baseball that some radl-
cal changes should be made IN the rules so
as 10 prevent pitchers from winning games
by severe pitching.