New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-25
SPORT ON THE WEST SIDE.
BOATING. FISHING. SWIMMING. TENNIS
AND WHEELING MUCH INDUCED IN.

BOATING, FISHING. SWIMMING. TENNIS
AND WHEELING MUCH INDUCED IN.
Some days ago The Tribune drew attention 10
the fine facilities for bodily exercise afforded by
the many gymnasiums and bowling alleys Of
the upper West Side but It would not be wise
to argue that people who provided so lib
orally with appliances for indoor development
Of the physique neglect outdoor exercise For
the reverse of this argument is the fact. as
every familiar with the West Side knows
and as the large number OF bicycle repair shops
and other storeo which display athletic goods
in their windows prove. Men and women. boys
and girls who have kept their muscles sup
pie all winter by gymnasium work. are more
eager and better fitted for open-air sport when
summer comes than are those who have done
little nothing in the athletic line in the win
ter.
One Of the natural advantages which the West
Side enjoys lies in the fact that the North River.
from Forty second-st. to One-hundred-and-
twenty-ffth-st. is remarkably free from steam
vessels whose business leads them to cross and
recross the stream. This insures comparative
safety to those who like to row or sail They
have to keep eye a general thing, only
steam vessels moving up down the river.
back and forth, but II Is easily avoided.
lighthouses are scattered along the river bank
which have sail and row boats to hire, and there
are also private lighthouses, belonging 20 in
dividuals clubs. In the latter part Of any
fine summer afternoon the river may be seen
dotted with gay boating parties idly floating
with the current. dancing in the wash OF pass
ing steamers, or bucklng against the stream.
Other advantages that the river gives are
swimming and bathing. numerous public bath
houses standing on the bank SOM Of them are
mere shacks. but others are we'll fitted up. with
neat bathing-su to hire and shower baths OF
Croton water to take the brine out OF the hair
after the dip in the river is over. The best or
these bathing places have wire netting both
above and below. to keep out floating chips.
etc. which drop from the piers. Some OF the
proprietors have gone to considerable expense.
also. in bringing gravel TO their beaches. so that
the feet OF the bathers may not come In con-
tact with river mud
The holder class OF swimmers like TO hire a
rowboat and. putting out into midstream, where
the water is always pure and clear, they row
against the tide until weary, and then jump
overheard allowing the boat TO drift back TO
the starting point with the current, while they
swim beside IL. A long distance can be COW
cred by the swimmer in this way without his
firing himself. and If repeated four or five times
II affords an excellent afternoons sport 1t Is
well not TO allow the boat TO get too far away
from the swimmer. for fear Of cramp or an APP
preaching skeamer. a rope should be hrnly
fastened to the boat and allowed 70 trail behlnd'
so as to afford an easy means OF clambering IN
again. ..,
Fishing Is another OF the aquatic sports OF the
West Side which affords chance for Illumination
to its many devotees II 1t does not anoro fhuch
fnny prey .A
The Outdoor Recreation League has estap-
lished a free open-air gymnasium and play
ground at Fiftythird-st. and EIeventh-aNe,
which was attended by at least five hundreu
children daily last summer. and doubtless VIII
grove Itself TO be just popular funmaker
in the coming hot weather II is called the
Hudson Bank Gymnasium. The same society
maintains another free playground for children
at Ninety-fourth- and Amsterdam-ave.' ana
at these recreation fields instructors are en-
ployed to teach the children interesting games
Many small lawn tennis clubs flourish on the
West side having their courts In vacant lots'
for which the owners are glad 10 find any one
willing TO pay the taxes for their use. THESE
are becoming much less common than formerly
however. as that part OF the city Is building up
RAPIDLY. and vacant lots will soon be as scarce
there as they are on the East Side.