Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-03-08
WORLDS CHAMPION PHIL CASEY

WORLDS CHAMPION PHIL CASEY.
world, and years of play will add years OF
life Ia any devotee of the sport. l have
been playing handball for 40 years, and l
never had doctor. At 30 / am in the very
best physical condition, and I attribute my
excellent health TO the benefcent effect OF
handball.
One Of the latest evidences of the advance
of the game in popular favor is the fact
that the girls and boys OF the Adelphi
academy In Brooklyn play twice week
In the gymnasium Of the school and not
only heartily enjoy the sport, but are enthu-
siastic In praise Of il as health giving pas
time. The Adelphi girls are about the first
of their sex to play the game, but they take
to 1t as naturally as the proverbial duck
takes to water, and many Of them are al
ready very proficient players. The girls
who participate in the game range in age
from the young miss Of 10 to the young
lady of 10. They are modestly and becom-
ingly attired In gymnasium suits OF blue
flannel, with full Turkish trousers, blouse
waists and tennis shoes, and every game
brings the roses into their cheeks and adds
to their store of health and strength.
There is hardly a muscle in the human
body that Is not brought into play again
and again during the progress ~ game OF
handball. The lively moving about the
court TO intercept the ball calls into use all
the muscles of the legs. Serving the ball
or returning IL keeps both hands and arms
busy, and as the body Is constantly assum-
ing different positions, according TO the
varying height of the ball when it is struck,
all the muscles of the arms, hands, back,
chest and neck are used every minute dur
ing the game.
The value of handball as part of boxers
training is acknowledged by the greatest
exponents Of the manly art in the world.
James j. Corbett is an enthusiastic cham
pion of the game and doubtless owes much
| Of his phenomenal quickness on his feet TO
his faithful practice in a handbali court
| John l.. Sullivan has also testified to the
merit Of handball as an adjunct of box
| er's training. In fact, any man who wishes
| to reduce his avoirdupois and incr>lse his
muscle and endurance could choose no bet
ter pastime for the purpose than handball.
The origin of the sport is lost in the mists
| Of antiquity, but IL is said that IL was played
| In Rome 20 years before the time Of Christ.
The game has been played in Ireland for
| over century, but the Spaniards claim to
| have introduced the sport to the sons OF
| Erin Tennis and rackets both resemble
| handball somewhat and were undoubtedly
taken from it, One great point in favor OF
handball is its simplicity. Any child may
be taught it ia five minutes, and no compli-
Gated apparatus is required. The hands, a
small rubber ball and the side of barn are
| all that are needed for the game in its prim-
tive state. Two or four men usually play,
and the idea Of the game is for one party to
knock the ball with the hand against the
side of a barn or the end of a court In such a
manner that the opposing party may be un.
able to return the ball against the wall
again by either striking 1t on the fly or on
the first bound. Twenty-one aces consti
tute game. and an ace is made when a
man serving or returning the ball does 1t in
such a manner that his opponent cannot
drive the ball against the wall again.
The approved court is naturally much
more elaborate place than the side of a barn
The Brooklyn Handball clubs court, which
built for my worlds championship match