The morning times., 1896-04-26
CRICKETERS In SKIRTS
OLDEST WOMEN's
Athletic Club In America Has Challenged
An Eleven to Contest at
the WicketS.
Chicago Record.

A year or two ago-a year ago, indeed
cricket was one OF the games tnat wql eu
in This country could look on at but not in
dulge in.
We have changed all that now. and
ladies cricket matches are taking their
place among pastimes for the maidens of
this end OF the century.
Although it sonly a few months ago that
womans S eleven was forIned-and this at
Livingston, Staten Island-so brave have
the damsels become ana 50 skillful as field
ers, batters and bowlers that they have
challenged another ladies' eleven OF Ger
mantown, Pa, and match game between
the two teams is now being arranged, and
will come off in a few weeks.
All the young women OF Staten Island
with athletic procliyities belong TO the
ladies' club, the oldest and largest asso-
ciat ion OF its kind for women in this coun-
try. They play tenunis, croquet golf
and badminton, and not long since one
enterprising damsel propounded oonUn-
drum Why don't we play cricket?''
Why not indeed? There seemed only
one way to solve the problem, aud that was
by invest ing IN bats and balls and learn
ing all about popping crease and
Dyes and "wideS'' aud INA lden-overs''
ana ''long field on" and long field off. -
Just at first the Staten Island eieven-the
feminine eeieven-prererred to play without
too many spectators; indeed, it was noticed
that the time they chose for batting and
bowling was when their brothers ana their
cousins had gone over TO the other side of
the island to play golf
Butt the next thing these same brothers and
nj. win tnh
game OF cricket with their eleven, cap
tanned by a girl, and behold, the masculine
crlCketers We're beaten-possibly because
they played left-handed and batted with
baseball bats instead of cricket bats Ito
make II more even, as some one explained.
The history of cricket as played by the
young women of Philadelphia is similar.
Upon occasions young girls have played
cricket Just for the fun of it, but of late
they have gone into the game in dead earn
est, with Miss Agnes Morgan captain of the
eleven.
At Staten Island there are TWO teams-he
Livingstons, captained by Miss Marion Bruce
Heineken and the Richmonds, captained by
Miss McNamee.
OF the 800 members OF the Ladies' Club
"a play cricket.
As to their Instructor, they have been
coached by Lohmann, a professional. He is
a brother of Lohmann of Surrey, England,
who is noted as being one of the best all
round cricketers in the world.
The usual wo-pound-four-Ounce bat is
used and the regulation five-and-three-
quarters-ounce ball. In connection with
fielding. the girls have attained a remark
able degree of efficiency in throwing the
ball-which is really a new accomplish
ment. for a womans lack of skill in this
direction dates from time immemorial;.b but
at Staten Island the unwary batswoTnan
who ventures far from her wicket is apt
to be caught mapping by well-directed and
accurate throw-in of the ball by q fair
fielder.
And the pretty gowns these fair cricket
ers wear-and a pretty gown oughtto cover
a multitude of errors in play. Skirts and
jackets of W hite duck, an nch or so shorter
than an ordinary walking skirt; white
shirt waists. sailor hats of white Stra W,
with arlet bands. belts and cravats-
this s the uniform of the Richmond eleven
the Livingstops substitute light blue foI
red, otherwise the dress is identical. Ten
mis- shoes, with spikes in the bottom, are
Worn.
In the game which the young ladies put
up against the gentlemen. playing left
| handed, the latter were defeated by seven
wickets.
The men went to the wickets first Miss
Scrymser and Miss Bennett opened the at
tack. There was quick fielding and good
bo wiling on the part of the girlsant all the
men were out for seventy runs. Then the
| ladies went to the wickets withevery cha nee
| OF victory. The men ranged. themselves
in the field and two maidens faced tn,
DO owling. In perfect style, they played ths
left-handed attempts of the men bowIers
and presently the fair side was out fol
ninety-three. The men. protesting that
| with time they could secure the victory
| were sent in again. st. George Walker
and his brotherr z. Walker, formed part