The morning times., 1895-10-06
Smeet Girl
Gymnasts
SMELLS OF THE FOUR HUNDRED
IN THE ANGEL SWING.
How German Turn Vereins for
Women Are Initiated by !
Select Sets.

In these brisk October days, when tn,
blood bounds through the veins with a snaI
and energy that makes the strong bodice
young woman feel as If she were treadinl
upon air, says New York correspondent
the gymnasiums frequented by Fashionable
femininity present scenes of wonderful &C
tivity and grace.
The visitor to the city from wayback
when he walks up Broadway during the pa.
rade hour, marvels at the Juno-like form
of the city's womanhood. Brilliantly hued
| in their autumn finery, he sees on all sides
| wonderful professions of magnificent crea
! lures, with 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 bewiIder-
ing vision is inclined TO wonder at the rea-
son of it.
Could he take peep into one of the gym
nasums used exclusively by women-the
Berkeley Lyceum, for instance-he would
understand the why aud wherefor of 1t all
in short order.
IN THE SMART SET.
For the past few years the women of the
smart set have gone in for athletics, but the
less fortunate ones in worldly goods have
been debarred from the health giving ex-
ercises simply because of the lack of suitable
places. The Ladies' Athletic Club OF the
Berkeley Lyceum is securely surrounded by
the iron hand of the 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 German me-
tropolis, famous for its turnvereins for men,
is now famous for its turnvereins for women.
Each OF the public schools of that city has ITS
gymnasium, which is used day and evening.
Some of them are used by men and others by
women. In the daytime scholars are drilled
in them, and alright they are at the disposal
of older folks.
Those given over to the use of women are
largely attended by girls over eighteen years
and by matrons OF all ages. There is a regu-
lar uniform worn by all of the feminine
gymnasts, consisting of a white blouse, a
short skirt of blue black serge and easy-fit-
ting shoes. Corsets are tabooed. The women
dress themselves in the uniform at their
homes, and, donning an ovcrgarment, pro-
coed to the turn halls. On arriving there
they are ready for the evenings work almost
in an instant without undergoing the con
fusion and delay OF changing their costumes
at the nall.
At the last national funniest at Breslau
the best of the Berlin W omen gymnasts COM
pettd WIN tue fneu- lHeTc tuty met tuc
finest athletes of the German empire, and,
while they did not win any of the prizes,
they displayed remarkable agility and mus
cular strength in arm, hand and limb. The
showing made was SO favorable 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.
ITS RESULT IN GERMANY.
The experiment of broadcast gymnastic
training of women in Germany is of such
recent date that the beneficial effect is not
yet apparent in the nation, but this can
only be a question of few years.
Among the weather. Germans of this
city the athletic education of the women
of the family is beirg developed with Pc
culiar zest. In some of the houses large
rooms have been set apart and in Others
whole floors have been turned into gymna-
Sums. Efficient instructors make regu-
lar visits to these homes, and he has become
as much a part of the family life as the
music teacher. Little girls of and 8.
their grown-up sisters and In many cases
the mother-the latter often suffering from
a superfluity of avoirdupois-go through
the exercises mapped out by the Instructor.
The sinuous flexibility of the muscles
arms and limbs of the younger girls and
children are a great aid in the work OF
teaching them, and a well-known instruc-
tor says that they have finer grace OF
movement in athletic work than men or
boys. Great difficulty is experienced at
first because of their tirnidity, but as soon
as they have confidence in their. strength
they learn quickly and easily.
GETTING OFF THE CARS.
It has been said that woman Will never
learn how to get off street car safely
and easily. just watch any girl who is
member of a'gymnastic class and the fallacy