Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29

when he walks up Broadway during the
parade-hour marvels At the Juno-lhe
form OF the city's womanhood. Bril-
liantly hued In their autumn hnery, ne
secs on all sides wonderful professions
OF MAGNIFICENT creatures with carriage
as valiant as the Amazons OF old. NOW IS
the time 10 see the New York girl
In all her radiant glory, ana the
visitor who gazes at the beNliderlhg
vision Is inclined TO wonder at the rea-
son OF it.
Could he take a peep into one or the
gymnaslums 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 OF
the smart set have gone In for athletics,
but the less fortunate ones In worldly
goods have been debarred from the
health-giying 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
the Four Hundred, and those who do not
belong to the one cannot penetrate the
other.
BERLIN'S FINE EXAMPLE.
Berlin has set a fine example for the
other large cities OF the world. The Ger
man metropolis, famed for It's turn
yereins for men, Is now famous for It's
turnVereins for woman. Each OF the
public schools Of that city has Its gym
nasium, 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 10 the use Of women
are largely attended by girls over ~
years and by natrons OF all ages. There
Is a regular uniform worn by all OF the
feminine symnasts, consisting OF a white
blouse. a short skirt OF blue-black serys.
and easy fitting shoes. Corsets ara
tabooel. The women dress themselves In
the uniform at their homes. and, donnlns
an oyergarment. proceed 10 the turn
halls. on arriving they are ready for
the Evenings work almost In can instant
without undergoing the confusion and
delay OF changing their costumes at the
hail.
COMPETE WITH MEN ATHLETES.
At the last national turn fest at Bres-
lau the best OF the Berlin women gym
nasts competed with ths men. There
they met tn. finest athletes OF the Ger
man empire and while they did not win
any of the prizes. they displayed remarks
able agility and muscular strength In
arm, hand, and limb. The showing made
was 50 favorable that many OF the expert
Judges present voiced the opinion that In
a few years the women would be dan
gerous competitors or tho men In all
branches Of athletics.
The experiment o. broadcast gymnast.d
training OF women in Germany is OF
data int the beneficial Of.
feet 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 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 gym
nasiums Efficient instructors make rcgu.
lar visits 10 these homes, and he has
become as much n part or the family
life as the music teacher. Little girls OF
8 and 8. their grown-up sisters, and In
many cases the mother-the latter often
suffering from a superiority OF avoirdu-
pois-go through the exercises mapped
out by the Instructor The sinuous flext-
bil!ty OF the muscles, arms. and limbs
of tho YCLNR kIls arc
great AID in the work of teaching them.
and a wel,-known instructor says that
they have a 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.
SIGN OF THE ATHLETIC GIRL.
II has been said that woman Will never
earn how to get OF OF street-car
safely and easily. Just watch any girl
who is a member OF a gymnasuc class.
and the fallacy of this belief vii! be
SHOWN. She will step of In the right di-
lection With a graceful swing that shows
confidence and self-conscious ease de-
lirhtful to observe.
This season at the Berkeley Lycrum
promises to be the busiest In. the brief
history Of the ladies Athletic Club. for
the muscular demands Of golf and the