Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-21
PLAYING WATER POLO
A New Sport, in Which the Referee
Only is on Dry Land.
THE CONTESTANTS IN A TANK
a Pleasant Pastime For Summer Ath.
Ietes-A Game From the Other Side
Submerged During the Lively strug.
gls-How the Game IL Played.
Written for The EVENING Stan.

Written for The EVENING stan copyrighted
~ NEW sport, combining genuine recre-
ME alton with . picturesque athletic dis
Eplay. is thing to be hailed with
GAl yielight II, in addition to these ad-
lvantages, it il one peculiarly suited
to the season and with few limitations
that it can be played almost anywhere
its popularity is a foregone conclusion. Such
q sport is water polo. which was played for the
fist time in this country only few weeks
ago, and the honor of its introduction to the
list Of American pastimes belongs to Rhode
Island
Like many other sports popular with Ameri-
cans. it is adapted from the English game; but
even there it has been introduced only very
lately Polo on horseback and polo on skates
have been followed by polo in the water, and
the aquatic method proves to be not only the
safest but the most interesting Of the three.
1t will not be surprising If 1t should become In
some modified form a feature OF the gay and
fashionable summer existence at Newport, Mar
ragansett. Cape May. Atlantic City and other
resorts, where the tedium of piazza Irritation
and surf bathing needs occasional enlivenment
and where the young men frequently find life
rather monotonous, despite the presence OF a
preponderance of the fair sex.
TO PLAY POLO IN THE WATER
should all be capable swimmers, entirely at
ease in water of a depth varying from three to
eight feet, and able to dive and stay under for
a moment. if need be. This is not condition
calculated to act as barrier to the popularity
of the game, for very large proportion of the
young men and women of the present genera
tion are excellent swimmers. 1t is true that
this useful accomplishment is not taught in the
schools here. as it Is IN England, where every
institution has its swimming class. At many
Ill
to pass test in swimming before they are al
lowed TO 60 out in boats.
This rule has been in vogue at Elton since
1870 where a yearly average of one hundred
and fifty boys learn to swim. Even In the Ma
val Academy at Annapolis, where one would
naturally suppose that swimming would be
part of the education Of a cadet, the art is not
taught. Within few years. however. the null
tiphcation of swimming classes and natatori-
TINS all over the country has been so marked
that young Americans are no longer seriously
behindhand in this respect, and any observer
OF tine merry crowds that enter the surf at the
summer resorts can discover that the training
of our youth has undergone a change and that
the proportion of non-swimmers who hug the
shore instead of striking boldly out is growing
smaller every year.
THE FIRST MATCH.
The first essay at water polo in America was
made By the Sydenham Swimming Club OF
Providence. r. l.. in natatorium 60 feet
long. % feet wide and to feet in depth. In
the club are some of the finest swimmers in
the country and 1t has defeated the Boston
Athletic Association twice in three contests at
water polo, the latest having taken place on
Nav 10 last. The Sydenhams won in three
straight goals. emitting them to the champion
ship of the United States. The natatorium at
Providence was designed by the three gentle
men who were the original introducers of the
new game-Messrs. J. Gill. ST., president of
the club: Arnold Heilborn captain of the first
class. and Philip Z. Morgan, the treasurer. As
played by the champions and their rivals from
the Hub 1t is worth more than passing de-
scription.