The morning times., 1896-06-21
% Less Than Thousand of the Silent Steeds We're
Owned in This City,

season at one of the Epgiish wateringplaces,
among q lot OF women who thoughtit would
serve as a substitute for polo, and now 1t
has got over to this side. Two or three
persons have laid out special cpurts for it
up in Westchester county inNAw 7 ork, and
the learned women wieelers Of Boston are
rather enthusiastically adopfinss II at their
summer resorts. OF course you can real
ize that no ordinary tennis fofrts are large
enough for one to pedal about In with COM
fort II remember rightiytthef dimensions
are trebled and In England 1t is considered
no drawback IL the ground slopes little,
but OF course the surface must De perfectly
smooth. Turf courts are quite out OF the
question and the best OF them areasphalted-
That is expensive, however, unless there is
a club to meet the costs and in private
grounds Just the plain foundation for the
good American dirt court serves perfectly.
..Naturally the net is extendedaDd broad
cped. but as well it is stretched at least
three feet above the ground. In the right
position II should reach Us high as the
shoulders of the ordinary woman when SIT
ting in her saddle The reason fthisis that
there Is a variation on the usual rules OF
tennis by which drives can be made under
as well as over the net and balls can be by
a dcxtcrous wrist movement served that
way IL one is able to do IT."
"What do the p.a yers wear? Oh, just what
they do ordinarily on the wheel with the
exception that every woman carries at her
left hip q bag. This Is usually one end OF
a soft china silk sash she binds around her
waist and by sewing one end. In the form
of an open-mouthed bag, she keeps her rub.
bcr balls there haDdy for serving-with her
right she wieids her racquet. which is made
very light and with u handle double as long
as one uses for tennis IfoOt. Some women
use a featherweight racquet, made good
deal like that for lacrosse, and, by a hole
in the end OF the handle and stout satin
ribbon. this fine long bat iS tied to her
wrist.
THE WAY TO PLAY.
'.Now as to the game: Two, four or six
persons can play on one set OF courts,
Where there are six women two off,
ciate in the courts on either side, while
pair OF partners can ask the assistance
OF a third party. The third player Off
ciates like the others on her wheel, but
her sole business Is TO recover balls that
fly beyond the limits OF the course and
il she can recover and drive back such
balls, before they touch the ground, the
point Is not lost as In other games OF
tennis. She must send it back into heE
partners courts and let them manipu-
late 1t on, but IL she can direct II straight
on over the net into the opponents courts
she wins a point for her side. When not
actively looking out for these flying balls
her duty is to regain those hOpelessly
lost and restore them to their partners
bags and to take precious care she
doesn't intrude one inch inside the boun-
daries OF the courts. For infringing this
law she can be ruled out OF the game i.y
her. partners opponents.
Meanwhile her partners begin, as they
circle round the courts. by serving six
balls, ccording to the usuafrnles OF tennis.
They wheel around as they serve, in order
to preserve their balance and IL en-, dex-
terously maintaining their Course by the
left hand on the bicycles Ina ndlc bars,
dart, circle, turn double, bali and run
in tIieir efforts to keep the ball going.
All of the six balls are played upon. That
is. IL one player can place every ore, or
five. or four Of her balls correctly on
serving an entire game is played out on
every ball and Il, Gatltis couDtest for every
ball that falls falsely in the service. With
the privileges OF serving and driving either
over or under the net sou can see larger
opportunities are given and, then in this
game OF tennis every point gained is a
point earned toward the sum t0tal Oh the
final score. They tried to intrsluce that
ruling very often in the palmy days of
regular tennis, but the autEoritifs always
frowned II down. Now the bicyclers have
made laws OF their own and lthe good
pastime OF tennis Is like to- return to a
larger and more vigorous popularity than
ever before.
women who have tried 1t pronounce
bicycle teGnis the most all-fuyind amusing
and exhilarating sport possfbie. There is
Just enough danger Of trouble. collisions
and exercise both for lungs and muscles,
With skill and wit, agility andidiscretion
required to inspire enthusiasm and energy.
It's impossible TO play bicycle tennis unless
you know all about your wheel. and Il is
Just as Impossible to play it without shout
Ing orders to your outside player confusion
to your opponents and triumph over your
good strokes: Just as It is difficult to get
through without some lively tumbles. rapid
onslaughts into the net and high pitched
denunciations OF the umpire's rulings.
But bruised defeated, breathless, and ex-
hausted you will cling TO your decision that
as an outdoor game II is almost without
parallel and. CONCLUDED the narrator, mount
ing her fresh-pumped wheel, "I do honestly
think it is cure for the only danger
know in bicycling" ss--
MLIcENT ARRowPoINT.
MARY