The morning times., 1896-04-23
CRICKET FqR GIRLS.
The Great Spring Game Between
Two Teams q Petticoats.

A year or two ago-a year ago, indeed
cricket was one OF the games that women
In this country could book OH at, but not
indulge in.
We have changed all that now, and
ladies cricket matches' are taking their
place among pastimesoror the maidens of
this end of the century.
Although it is only few months ago
that woman's eleven was formed-and
this at Livingston, Staten Island--so brave
have the damsels become and SO skillful as
fielders, batters. and bowlers, that they
have challenged another ladies' eleven of
Germantown. Pa, and a match game be-
tween the two teams is now being ar
ranged, and VIII come off in a few weeks.
All the young women OF Staten Island
with athletic procliyites belong to the
Ladies' Club, the Oldest and largest asso-
ciation OF its kind for women i'll this coun-
try. They play tennis, croquet. golf and
badminton, and not long since one enter
prising damsel propounded a conundrum-
''Why don't we play cricket"
Why not, indeed2 There seemed only
one way to solve tie problem, and that was
by investing in bats and balls and lea rning
all about 'popping crease and ''byeS'
and .wldes" and "maiden-oye rs'' and
..long field on and 'long field off,
Just at first, the Staten Island eleven
the feminine elcven-preferred to play
was noticed that the time they chose for
batting and bowling was when their broth
ers. and their cousins had gone over to the
other side OF the island to play golf.
But the next thing these same brothers
and cousins knew they were playing
match game OF cricket with their eleven,
captained by girl, and, behold, the mas
culine cricketers were beaten-possibiy De-
cause they played left-handed and hatted
with baseball bats instead OF cricket bats,
ito make IL more eyen,' as someone ex-
planned.
Th. history of cricket as played by the
voung women of Philadelphia is similar.
Upon occasions young girls have PLAYED
cricket " lust for the fun Of 1t. but or late
they have gone into the game In DEAD
earnest, with Miss A gnes Morgan captain
of the eleven.
Al Staten Island there are two teams
the Livingsions, captained by Miss Marion
Bruce Heineken, and the Rlchmonds, cap
tained by Miss McNamee.
OF the 300 members of the ladies' club,
twenty-four play cricket.
AS 10 their instructor, they have been
coached by Lohmann, a professional. He
is a brother OF Lohnann OF Surrey, Eng
land, who is noted as being one OF the best
all-round cr!cketers in the world.
The usual two-pound four-ounce bat Is
used and the regulation five and three
quarter ounce ball. In connection with
fielding, the girls have attained a remark
able degree of efficiency in throwing the
bali. which is really new accomplishment
for wonan's lack of skill In this direction
dates from time imrnemoria!; but at Staten
Island the unwary, batswoman who ven
lures far from her Wicket IS apt to be
caught mapping by Il weli-directed ana accu-
rate throw-fn of the ball by fair fielder.
And the pretty gowns these fair cricketers
wearl And pretty gpwn ought 10 cover
multitude OF errors in play. Skirts and
Jackets of white duck an inch or so shorter
than an ordinary walking skirt; white
shirt waists, sailor hats OF white straw
with scarlet bands, bets and cravats-this
is the uniform Of tbe Richmond eleven. The
Liyingstons substitute light blue for red.
otherwise the dress il identical Tennis
shoes, with spikes on the bottom, are worn