The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26
CARRIE CAR LESS
Tells All About the Sporting
Y oman.
(ToDuriobfl

remarkable features of this century Of en-
woman. Even down to fifty years ago she
was a rarissima avis. and Diana Vernons
were the exception rather than the rule
To-day, however, there Is scarcely q branch
of sport which we have not invaded and
adopted for our amusement. We play base
ball, we shoot. we play cricket and tennis,
we swim. we scull. we paddle canoes with
far more grace that men and quite as much
skill; we fence; we have become adept
anglers of salmon and trout; we skate, we
play golf. we SAIL we drive four-in-hand and
tendem, and we even ride steeplechases.
Indeed, one of the only forms of sport to
which we have not hitherto directed our
attention is foot ball, the reason being, l
suppose, that we could not possibly enjoy a
good, hearty scrimmage without risking our
beauty.
One Of the most expert anglers Of the
present day is Lady Colin Campbell, daugh-
ter-in-law Of the Duke of Argyll, sister-in-
law of Princess Louise of Great Britain,
and the principal figure IN the sensational
Colin Campbell divorce case. Lady Colin,
who is a very beautiful woman, above the
average stature, starts gayly to her work
dressed in pair Of tweed knickerbockers,
kilt skirt, loose many-pocketed coat, wooden
stockings, and thick hobnailed shoes out Of
which the water can 'squelch" as easily as 1t
enters. She starts at low point down the
stream, casts In the pools, tumbles in up to
her waist kills her fish without any trace
of tenderness, and then sits down 20 a
"thimblefu" Of whisky-without a little
flask of which no wise trout fisher, either
male or female, will SET out on days fish
ing.
The champion lady cricketer is Lady Mil
ner, wife of Sir Frederick Miner of Nun
Appleton, Yorkshire, and many are the
magazine articles and essays which she has
published concerning her favorite sport.
Some Of them constitute very amusing
reading, especially ons in which sho
lsments that "a favorite form of
fielding with some ladies is
stopping the ball with their pstticoats.n
She likewise complains that cricketers be-
longing to our sex do not dare TO stand up
to fast ball when fielding" It seems,
however, that when we are batting at the
wickets the fielder known by the name Of
cover-point becomes unnecessary as owing
to the presence of our skirts we are unable
to "cut." Few of us throw well,n says
Lady Miner sadly. Most of US, it seems, do
not throw but bowl the ball. Stays, according
to Lady Miner, are a great drawback to
feminine cricket and TO base ball as well,
should imagine. For women wearing cor-
sets dislike to s5oop, and stoop we must if
we wish to become good flelders.
In Australia ladies' steeplechases have for
q long time past been one OF the favorite
amusements of the great ladies, and both at
Gmunden Crate, Merap and numerous
other popular resorts, steeplechases take
place over quite difficult courses, where all
the riders are ladies of rank, who
wear with the ordinary riding skirt,
the colored silk jacket and peaked
cap in true jockey style. The champion
steeplechase. rider in Europe is the blonde
Countess Ugarie, one of the ladies in wait
ing of the Empress of Austria, and who is
married to Count Hector BAltazzi, uncle Of
the Baroness Marie Velsera, who played so
distressing a role in the tragedy at Meyer
ling, where Crown Prince Rudolph met
with his death. Last year for the first time
on record ladies' steeplecbase was got up
in England at Melton Mowbray, which
turned out great success, there being no
less than dozen entries and no scratches.
Among the best sporting shots of our sex
are Lady Florence Dixie, who has killed all
kinds OF big game; Countess Octavius
Kinsky, Princess Metternich and the Duchess
d'UzeS. l should also add the name of Lady
Eva Quinn, who has slaughtered with her
rifle several tigers during her stay In India.
Lady Florence Dixie, who is the eccentric
sister of the equally eccentric Marquis of
Queensberry, has likewise a couple Of griz-
ely bears, shot in the Rocky mountains. TO
her credit. No longer content to restrict
ourselves to merely putting in an appear
ance at luncheon on the days when
our husbands, brothers and masculine
relatives are out covert shooting or attend
ing game drives, we nowadays claim our
place among the "guns," endeavor by fair
and even foul means TO secure a particularly
"hot corner" and furnish quite a respect
able proportion of the days slaughter. The
costume which we don on these occasions is
particularly fetching" our object being
not only to divert the attention of the men
from the game, so as to leave US the largest
share thereof, but also TO quench, by means
of the admiration which we inspire, those
feelings of irritation which the men quite
naturally feel at our depriving them OF the
larger share of their sport.
The three best lady four-in-hand drivers
on record are Queen Marie Henrietta of
Belgium, the Countess Spsrre of Austria
and Lady Brooke of England. Whenever
the Prince of Wales comes down to pay his
annual visit to Easton Lodge Lady Brooke
invariably fetches him from me railroad
station in handsomely AZ ointed coach
and four, which she drives or-elf.
AT golf, too, our sex has az iisyed distinc-
ton. Women now gayly ''skelp" their
"divots - over the holy "liDks,n and show
woman In bunker" presents a somewhat
melancholy spectacle, and it requires an
immense amount of practice to hit the ball
fair. 1t is, however, very healthy exer-
else for us, and is especially useful in ac-
customiug us to discipline our temper. For
there are few things more exasperatiug
than to have the "cleek" swung into
ones eyes, or to have for partner mad
duffer.
With regard to lawn tennis, which Sis
such a favorite pastime Of our sex, there
are quite a number of US who seem to
imagine that underskirts should be dis
pensed with when playing as being calcu-
lated Co impede the movements. This, in
my opinion, is altogether wrong. On the
contrary, pretty and dainty underpetticoats
should be worn on these occasions. as they
are displayed more frequently in playing
lawn tennis than most tennis players seem
to imagine.
The sport, however, which is the most
healthful and salutary of all for women is
fencing, an art which requires quickness of
eye, of thought and Of hand. It serves to
develop and to bring into full play the
muscles of our bodies, and OF our brain as
well if indeed there may be such thing as
muscle in the brain. l confess that for my
own part it is my favorite sport, aud to me
there are few things more delightful than
the "riposte du tdc-Gu-tdc;'" that is, the
sudden thrust made instantly after the
parry, without lunging.
CARRIE CARELESS.