New-York tribune., 1901-05-05
ATHLETICS AT WELLESLEY
"hACE AND GOOD TIMES MINGLED
WITH MORE SERIOUS PURSUITS
COLLEGE FETE DAYS AND THE
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

AS IN most OF the wOmens colleges nowadays
grace ahc good times and sweetness and light go
mana IN hand with political economy, Greek and
higher mathematics at Wellesley. The evolution
or physical training. with its acco,npan animent OF
fetes and field days IS here, as elsewhere a we'll
established department Of natural science not
hoped for by those once feared that girls
would be other than womanly if they took to-
learning.
Wellesley, with its magnificent park of three
hundred acres. diversified in landscape features
and bordering upon the shores OF large at
tractive lake, has exceptional advantages for out
door sports and pastmes, which become more and
more vital part of the college life. In fact out
door exercise preponderates largely the indoor
work in physical trainng-of necessity since the
gymnasium quarters limited that only
years work can be had indoors Each student as
she enters college goes through the freshman
years training, which Is after the most approved
system Of Swedish gymnastics. Possibly she gets
IN again later during her course If she is on a
dancing css R a 10 1ne or Re
than probable that during her one years work, un-
nm, the freshman has gained in eagerness for
physical recreation that her desire for II holds
Various fete days-"foat." tree day Ice carnival
ana ed daywmark the college year The Wellesley
known almost as far the fame of the college.
this charming carnival attracts thousands of Wis
nors. II Is the one event OF the year 10 which
actual limit being ten to each student-and with
over seven hundred students in the college the
number or guests can easily grow into the thou
sands
Al nrst, years ago. the aim that float" should
simply be a pleasing spectacle dreamy effective
picture. Back in the early nnetles the boats were
anything that happened to be convenient the row
ing was amateurLsh. the singing invariably good
in fact. ii was commonly understood that the
crew girls were chosen for their voices rather than
their skill tn rowing. But the present day "hoat'
Is Very differently ordered The rowing shells are
buIIt on approved Yale models with all the mod
cIn conttlYanCcs. and great point IS made OF the
Siiok"- The "fall rowing season with coaching
opens on october J. and continues. during suitable
Weat her. on the lake The winter training opens
al the close OF the fall season continuing through
out the winter term. with prescribed athletic work
chefy on the rowing machines. and again in the
spring the crews so on the lake. Three weeks be-
Tore 'hoat' each class eight Is to be chosen and
TWO weeks before the college eight, Judgment be-
ing based on health. subiectOn TO discipline and
lechnlcdl skill At present there in training
fourteen seniors. eighteen juniors. twenty sopho-
moreS and about thirty freshmen. The required
costume Tor the crew work Is jersey underwear
Wllte rowing Jerseys or sweaters with blue knick-
erbockers: rubber solcd, low shoes without heels;
leggings or golf stockings and short skirts for out
door running
Float comes early In June Naturally the most
desirable positions the lake shores are obtained
by those who arrive first the appointed even
ing The western bank Of Lake Waban IS always
roped off, and after ranset lighted by electricity