The herald., 1895-10-13

on all sides wonderful professions of
magnificent creatures WI tn a carriage as
valiant as the Amazons of old. Now is
the time to see the New York girl in all
of her radiant glory, and the visitor who
gazes at the bewildering vision is in
clined to wonder at the reason of it.
Could he take peep into one of the
gymnasiums used exclusively by women
the Berkeley Lyceum, for instance-he
would understand the why and wherefore
of it all in short order.
For the past few years the women oi
the smart set have gone in for athletics.
but the less fortunate ones in worldly
goods have been debarred from the
health giving exercise simply because of
the lack of suitable places The ladies'
athletic club of the Berkeley Lyceum is
securely surrounded by the iron band of
ths Four Hundred. and those who do
not belong to the one cannot penetrate
the other.
Berlin has set fine example for the
other large cities of the world. The Ger
man metropolis, famed for its tlrnverens
for men, is now famous for its turnve-
reins for women. Each of the public
schools of the city has its gymnasium.
which is used day and evening. Some
of them are used by men and others by
women. In the daytime the scholars are
drilled in them, and at night they are. at
the disposal of older folk.
Those given over to the use of women
are largely attended by girls over
eighteen years and by matrons OF all
ages. There is regular uniform worn
by all of the feminine gymnasts, consist
~ xxhs n n
blue black serge and e asy fitting shoes.
Corsets are tapooed. The women dress
themselves in the Uniform at their
homes, and donning an over-garment
proceed to the turn halls. On arriving
they are ready for the evenings work
almost IN an instant without undergoi ng
the confusion and delay OF changing their
costumes at the hall.
At the last national funniest at Bieslau
the best of the Berlin women gymnasts
competed with the men. There they met
the finest athletes of the German empire,
and while they did not win any of the
prizes they displayed remarkable agility
and muscular strength in arm, hand
and limo. The showing maue was so ia
W rable that many of the expert Judges
present voiced the opinion that in few
years the women would be dangerous
competitors of the men in all branches OF
athletics.
The experiment OF broadcast gymnastic
training of women in Germany is OF such
recent date that tn beneficial effect is not
vet apparent in the nation, but this can
only be question of a few years.
Among the Weather Germans of New
York city the athletic education OF the
women OF the family is being developed
with peculiar zest. In some OF the houses
large rooms have been set apart and in
Others whole floors have been turned into
gymnasiums. Efficient instructors make
regular visits to these homes. and he has
become as much part of the family life
as the music teacher. Little girls OF six
and eight, their grown-up sisters, and in
many cases the mother-the latter often
suffering from superfiuity of avoirdu-
pois-go through the exercises mapped
out by the instructor. Tho sinuous tiex-
ibility of the muscles, arms and limbs OF
the Young girls and children are a great
aid In the work OF teaching them, and "a
we'll known instructor says that they
have finer grace OF movement IN ath-
letic work than men or boys. Great diff
Guilty is experienced at first because of
their timidity, but as soon as they have
confidence in their strength they learn
quickly and easily.
II has been said that woman will never
learn how to get off of a street Car safely
and easily: Just watch any girl who is a
member Of q gymnastic class and the fall
lacy of this belief will be shown. She
will step off in the right direction. with
a graceful swing that shows a confidence
ana self-conscious ease delightful to OBJ
serve.
This season at the, Berkeley Lyceum
promises to be the busiest in the brief
history of the ladies' athletic club, for
the muscular demands of golf and the ca
pacity to stand continuous fat,guing work
REQUIRES q deal of preliminary training.
As all girls who have any fashionable
pretensions must play golf and play is
well, the need of q sturdy constitution
is absolute.
On any Of fthe afternoons when the
class is in session some gay sights can be