New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
GTWNASTTM UORK FOR UONEN
SUCCESS or THE BERKELEY LADIES' ATHLETIC
CLUB-BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS.

SUCCESS OF THE BERKELEY LADIES' ATHLETIC
CLUB-BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS.
The doors Of the Berkeley Ladies' Athletic Club
in Forty fourth-s were opened for the fourth sea
son on Monday last. and later in the week the reg
uar class work began The interest In physicai
culture for women in all forms Is constantly IN
/ creasing and the Berkeley opened this year under
unusually pleasant auspices The club is limited
| 70 400 members and there are now 375 names on
the books.
This is the only woman's athletic club in the
world and it is fitted with al the modern ana
most approved appliances for calisthencs ana
gymnastics. There also plunge swimming ana
needle baths. private dressing rooms. lockers
ba throoms and as perfect appointments in every
way as can he found in the best athletic clubs Tor
| men, The larger of the two gymnasums was ar
ranged for the use Of the mems club. which was
at first a part of the Berkeley. and there are sun
relics Of the original occupants in great dumb
/ bes-75. 50 and 100 pounds-to be found with the
other implements of physical developments The
gymnasium work is in charge of two instructors
under the care of a medical director and man
ager One of the new features which VIII meet a
popular demand this winter is class for mature
women who desire slight exercises for health or
the reduction of adipose.
Private lessons are given in swimming and fenc-
ing and one of the latest concessions to the times
is the introduction Of a bicycle. Or. Mary Bissell,
the medical director. advocates cycling as a
healthful exercise and several members have
learned to ride at the rooms. The club has pleas
ant parlors bowling alleys and is open 10 the mem
bers from to o'clock. The latter are frequently
engaged by private clubs for evening use Miss
Helen Gould is to have one Of the bowling alleys
on Monday evenings this winter. from December
10 April. for party of her friends.
The Berkeley solves to some extent the problem
of physical culture in small private schools and
colleges. There has been much talk at Barnard
and
obtain needed exercise under competent direction
Last year the money was given by some one in
terested and arrangements were made for spe-
cal class at the Berkeley. 1t was an experiment
to find out If the young women desired to avail
themselves Of such instruction. Fifteen OF them
attended a class on Friday afternoons with good
degree Of regularity and with beneficial results
This was considered satisfactory considering the
fact that the college studies occupy 50 much time
and that the majority Of the students live al a
distance in Brooklyn the suburbs. II the class
is to continue this year nothing will be done about
ii before November
club composed Of women only which has for
its object athletic outdoor sports Is seldom sat
isfactory or long-lved The success Of TIE perke-
ley is. without doubt, largely due to the Tact mat
it organized on strictly business prlncidcs.
1t is controlled by a regular stock COMPANY. me
associate members Of the club-of whom there are
some sixty-seven-are stockholders VINO 30 not
make use OF i5S gymnasic piIUtses H Gn"Idf ss
Anna Gould, Miss Ruth Hoe Ianc9 sier. Miss Anna
Qualifications and social standirt 81 canlidalr s
for membership of the Berkeley are looh.d mo
carefully and al election il made only by the
unanimous vote OF the committee after the name
Of the applicant has been posted in the hallway
of the club one week for Inducements or ohlec-
tions. Some of the most prominent people IN the
city are members. Among these are Mrs j. ).
Aston Miss Mary Montague Billings. Mrs Charles
LOOMS Dana Mrs William Curtis Demorest. Miss
Mary L. Dowd. Mrs Theodore Kane Gibbs Ms
Louise de Forest Haynes Miss Caroline Ogden
Jones Miss Caroline r. Lawrence, Miss l.ouise
Potter. Mrs J. Blair Scribner. Miss May, Tifany'
Miss Caroline g. Ward Miss Violet NJ +. O.
Mckay Ward and Miss Maud Wetmore The pres
ident is Mrs. Janvier lie Due: vice presidents; Mrs
Joseph H. ChoSte and Mrs. Francis IA. Weeks.