The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-05-07

tuting women forethe more Anticipated
word, We
Uncle John-Youtca can rely upon me,
my love, never to call you ladies
again. And were you much damaged
at the match, Phillippa?
Philippa with an irrepre ssible note
of alarm in her voice)-killed, uncle! !
What in the world should make you
suppose that?
Uncle John (casually)-Oh, one of
the players generally is, you know,
Danger ndds to the excitement-don't t
you think?
Philippa (rather faintly) - Yes.
But of course football is the only way
of developing ourselves, uncle. l
practise that, certainly,a good deal by
myself in our back garden, but-what
are you laughing at?
Uncle John-Laughing, my love?
Not at all. It's this cough I caught on
board.
Philippa (reassured)-And there's
bicycling, too.
Uncle John-Capital sport that
capital. Very glad you go in for that.
Saw young fellow-by-the-by, I am
not sure it wasn't young woman--on
Reigate hill last summer slipping
down at beautiful pace-come off,
head over heels. Picked up--life ex-
tinct. Sad, of course-not unusual.
Wear trousers, Phillippa.
Phillippa (outraged)-Uncle !
Uncle John-I beg your paroon, my
love, I am sure. Er-how are you
clothed for these sports, I mean to
say.
Phlllippa-We wear what delicate-
minded people call rational dress.
Then there's hockey. We play that
against men, you know. And if they
did not cheat most horribly, I know
we should win sometimes.
Uncle John-Of course, my love,
of course. Fine game, too. Ever
seen Robert Matthews? No? Well,
I'm glad of it. Front teeth, nose,
upper lip broken in one match-in
another, jaw, collar bone and a
finger. Still, It's fine game, hockey !;
fine game.
Philippe (rather tremulously)-All
games seem dangerous according to
You. l don't believe it. What about
cricket? We go in for that.
Uncle John-Not much danger
there. Dsfguring only. Know a
young fellow who had his nose fiat
tened-young woman wouldn't marry
him. Black eyes with beefsteaks on
them for weeks. Nothing more than
| that.
Phillippa with some slight exertion)
However dangerous these games
are no one can deny that they are
splendid for physical development.
Uncle John-He would be a fool
who did. Why, my dear, you'll be
pleased to know I notice quite a
change in you already. Hands larger
aud redder. Feet getting quite-ra-
tional. A month or two's training on
raw beefsteaks and that kind of thing
and we shall have you as tough and
hard as a prize fighter.
Phillippa (dissolving into tears J.
You needn't make it sound so hideous
as that.
Uncle john Hideous! Not at all.
Seen with the physically developed eye
it is beauty. As for muscle-ever sect
those pictures of Samson's arms, Phil.
lipa? | assure you you needn't despair
of getting yours like that in time
with your football and cycling, anG
cricket and hockey. And though they
won't perhaps have the soft, plump,
little out of date prettlness that only
does for the ball room-considereC
physically developed, if I may use the
term, they will be splendid.
Pnilippa (still somewhat moved)-
And what horrid things the undevel
oped girls will say about them.
Uncle John-Oh, that wouldn't mat
ter. Not more than the horrid thing
the Great Unwashed shouted at th'
football match, and the underbre'
journalists wrote afterwards. Ant
rs for really disgraceful things
Charles remarks - you remembe
your cousin CharIes-about the foot
ball women (of course he did not kno7
that you played) were quite unfit TO
publication.
PhilliDDa. (rather eagerly wit