Evening star., 1901-04-20
ARCHERY TO BE REVIVED
LONDON HAS ALREADY ADOPTED
THE MERRY SPORT.
ffcturesqueness Of the Game Appeals
10 faddists-Thirty Years since Ii
Was Last Taken Ip.


1t would be unwise 10 nronh.s, tho and
OF the golf craze-that is too far ahead and
| altogether too uncertain. But il is safe TO
say that archery is to be the next athletic
fad for society. Indeed the coming OF the
bow and arrow is already signaled from
| the east and when the height of the sea-
son is reached London will be agog with
| the new and ancient sport.
And when is it coming to Chicago? That
is the question. One asks it about town,
but no one seems to know The country
clubs are not as yet interested in ii and
the town organizations have not taken 1t
up
Early in the fail it was announced that
the Womans Athletic Club would open an
srchery gallery. but in the excitement OF
bowling and rifle shooting IT was forgotten.
But We will start it in the fall.'' says
Mrs. Paulina Lyon, the club secretary,
when questioned.
I'm the new club house them" one won
ders.
Yes, in the new club house." is her an
sWer we hope to have fine gallery
for the shooting. and it is my opinion We
VIII be the first club in this country to
take 1T up. You know. il is the rage in
London. They say 1t will upset golf COM
pletely. You know, 1t is a fascinating eXer-
else, and so picturesque.
Hearing this the golf enthusiast will no
| doubt laugh scornfully as though nothing
could snatch his beloved game from him.
And that may be true. but the wise ones
Will realize that the word picturesque
Will go long way to make the new game
a favorite. Will anything which is pictur-
esque fail to become a fad? Ii is impossi-
BILE Golf is picturesque and II may be
played without soiling ones clothes which
fact makes it possible for many people
But compare ii with archery and the result
will be quite clear. Archery Will come of
victor. As game giving opportunity for
display of grace and costume il is without
2 rival.
The painters of centuries ago recognized
this fact when they studied fit subjects for
their canVaseS. 1t was recognized by kings
and queens and petty princes and by mere
nobodies who could have friends and gar
den parties. 1t is doubtful what drove It
from popular favor unless the more seri-
Gus game OF war kept it from the lists. 1t
came and went from public service. appear
Ing full tilt when healthy monarchs held
the throne and disappearing when cripples
became kings.
Archery is like tennis in that II has come
out OF fashion and gone in again more
times than could be fairly counted. When
ever it appears all other sports give way
to it. and no matter how short it's STAY il is
all-powerful while it lasts. Men and wo-
men and children learn to WELD the bow
and arrow and dream of bulls eyes and
and archery teas and archery balls and
other things archery. for the game loans
Itself nicely to all social gatherings. II is
a game which may be played before break
fast or after dinner and 1t will entertain
any kind of party of any kind of people
at any time.
Was Popular Thirty Years Ago.
1t was thirty years ago that the game
was given its last airing and for the year
ran riot with popular fancy. When the
bows and arrows We're again packed away
there were many old-fashioned people who
bemoaned their going. For the women,
who wore hoopSkrts. no other game was
possible; base ball was not to be thought
of and tennS-well, no one was pIaving
tennis In those daXs. With the of season
of archery, however. came the on season of
tennis, which kept fairly lively pace until
golf came along to relieve IT.
Ana now, in spite of all the golf talk
which Is going around, there is A noticeable
diminishing of interest in this red and green
game. There are the enthusiasts to be sure
and the people who are lust learning the
game, hut there are also many, many others
who have learned the game and played IL
until ii has become mrnotonous From the
ranks of these last will come the first arch
ers and by them the game will be intro
duced at the Country Club, which being
now all golf. will as quickly become al
archery.
Not that the green field with its red flags
and sand piles will be entirely deserted but
that the throng about the club house, which
Is always of the most fashionable will find
charming entertainment close at hand The
gallery" which reads about will be-
come even smaller than II is now and there
will be still fewer instances OF going the
round with golfers.
What Archery is Like
Every one knows what archery is Ii IN
not necessary to describe the game which.
| indeed has very little game to It, Given tho
targets in a row at one end of the gallery
and the archers in a row at the other and
1t becomes a simple case Of hitting the bulls
eye. 1t is not slow or tedious contest, al
though, as there are always large number
of contestants and as the game is played
off in sets, II often continues several days.
The charm of the contest lies in the grace
with which the bows and arrows are ham
died and in the precision and strength Of
the aim
Just what has called archery to public
attention for this particular year is difficult
to say. BY some people who should know
1t is attributed to a return OF the romantic
In literature and upon the stage, and there
are others who insist IL is merely the turn
ing of the cycle of sports. However that
may be, here ii is. in company with under
sleeve and chenille of forty years ago
and, although il has not yet come to Amer
fca, 1t is inevitably coming, and the golf
enthusiasts may We'll make the best of
it. for while it lasts archery will be SUI