The San Francisco call., 1899-04-09

Gates football for women. He is the same
man who declared that baseball was not
tabooed as a feminine sport. He Is the
person who would have the mothers of
this age and generation substitute guns
for dolls and make manly little fellows
out of their daughters.
"Give the girls the same chance to de-
velop physically as the boys" is his cry
''Then Wen have a race of women physi-
cally able TO compete with their
brothers.
The extremist would have football oc-
cupy as prominent a place in boarding
school life as French and parlor depart
ment. He would have It take precedence
over the three RS in the public schools
He would demand that the college girl
punt and tackle as well as con isms and
ologies.
His voice has not vibrated on the desert
air. Little girls have had their dolls rude
iy snatched away from them. But they
have covered the naked blade of the
sword with one of dollys skirts, made a
head Of the hilt and hugged and cooed to
this poor excuse for dolly.
Football for girls is going to meet with
a colder reception than was accorded the
feminine baseball. Several years ago
vague hints of the popularity of the latter
game in the East Travelled westward, and
of course the girls out here Immediately
invested in ball and bat.
A nine was formed at the Girls High
School and the fact carefully concealed
from principal and teachers. Their first
game was their last. They each and
every one of them made a home run"
and motherly fingers bandaged bumps and
bathed bruises.
Now there comes a faint rumor across
the continent that in one OF two Eastern
schools the girls play at football. But the
report falls on incredulous ears and even
II believed causes not the smallest twinge
of jealousy. The girls here are content to
understand football, to know when to
Rah! Rahi Rah without becoming as
Quainted with the ball by actual contact
However, the fact of its being attempt
ed elsewhere has caused not little dis
cussion among the women interested IN
athletic sports. And from the fountain
head of physical culture comes a voice
that says girls who are physically capable
OF playing football are mentally unfit for
the game.
The co-eds in the university claim and
maintain their right to enter into any
branch Of academic work. They are not
put to blush in any department by the
male students.
fessor Magee and says they are not men
tally able to play football! Mrs. Magee,
the idol Of all the girls doing gym"
work, reiterates her husbands state
ments.
And the women, usually so quick TO
take offense at the slightest hint Of in
competency in any line, not only let this
statement go unchallenged but they them
selves agree that they are mentally unfit
to play football.
Those who most firmly echo Professor
Magee are the girls who belong to the
basket ball nine. They represent not only
the brain but the Drawn of the college
women. They are jealous advocates of
physical development for women, and
firm believers in the higher education Of
the sex Yet they, too, confess that they
are mentally incapable Of football.
What does 1t all mean? Well, the cor
rect solution is so much the simplest one
that II would be the last to be hit upon
by the uninitiated.
Professor and Mrs Magee and the girls
mean that while some women are or
might be developed to be physically able
10 play football they could never take
the mental attitude toward their fellow
players which football demands.
Girls could never rid their minds Of the
thought that they might be inflicting seri-
Gus injury upon fellow player.
A touchdown would pale into insignif-
canoe compared TO the possibility of
breaking an arm. The vision of a sprained
ankle would arise and prevent a brilliant
tackle.
In other words, girls cannot success
fully play game that requires absolute
concentration on the game to the extent
of involving total forgetfulness of con-
sequences to opponents.
Girls can play games that require phys
ical strength, endurance, agility and dex-
terity. They can play a game that re-
Quires forgetfulness Of self. But they