New-York tribune., 1901-12-07

other sports, fencing for example, are excluded
sust as arbitrarily without any explanation.
The field is however fairly well covered, and
certainly No volume on sport Of any kind was
ever more charuingly produced.
Golf receives the place Of honor, and Miss
Ruth Underhin, than whom there is no better
authority. is selected TO speak Of the game as
regards its relation TO women. It seems almost
impossible TO believe that golf for women is Of
50 very recent a date, and yet one recognizes
the truth Of the statement when Miss Underhin
says that there were no women golfers OF any
Importance until after 1890. She quotes the
following significant passage from the Bad
linton Book" Of 1890:
Ladies' links should be laid out on the model,
though on a smaller scale, Of the long round"
containing some short putting holes, some long
er holes, admitting OF a drive or two OF 40 or
50 yards, and few suitable hazaros We vent
ure to suggest 40 50 yards as the limit OF
drive advisedly, not because We doubt ladys
power TO make longer drive but because that
cannot well be done without raising the club
above the shoulder Nor we do not presume
to dictate, but must observe that the posture
and gestures requisite for q full swing not
particularly graceful when q player IS clad n
female dress
The writer Of these words is referred, on the
sentiment expressed in this last sentence. 10
the graphic drawing OF Miss Hoyts follow
through" which accompanies Miss UnderhiIs
article He is also reminded that at present
Mrs Fox, Mrs Z. A Manice, Miss Hecker, Miss
Hoyt. Miss Heron, Miss Margaret Curtis, Miss
Cassatt Miss Oliver and many others make
average drives of from 80 to 175 yards. Miss
CnderhiIis statement that golf match Is
more trying tax upon the nerves and strength
than tennis will be met with incredulity by
those who have played championship tennis
Championship golf is trying, without a oouoI'
hut tennis is Just as trying on the nerves ana
Infinitely more so the strength ana eHoui
ance. Herbert NJ Hartman writes OF so1I rum
the mems point of view. He thinks golf IN tllis
country is in a transitory stage. He doupls Il
he best golfers Of the next generation VIII piaS
much better than the best golfers OF TINS oHe'
but he thinks there win be many more OF them
than there are at present; in other words' 'iiS'
the average Of golfing ability VIII DC iiiu0'i
higher L viii surprise some folks TO learn that
Mr. Hartman thinks there are few really chanl-
rionship courses in the United States
John E Cowdin( admits that he is an eh'huSi
asst On polo. and he writes like one. bnt an en-
thusiast generally writes entertalnlng4y' d. any
rate, and Mr. Cowdin is no excepIloii u 80
rule He tells how the game got KS ioo'ii'id AZ
lnis country and has something 10 say "0
the pioneers who established it 1ou haNe 81
10 ride, in polo" says Mr.. Cowdin, and ne Is OF
the opinion that the American 'cow pony is liie
best in the world for the game. although ne
admits that the English ponies are better preu'
Foxhan Keene thinks that the American pony
is just as good as his English competitor puI
that the foreign animals OF class are more hH-
merous he lis not particularly enlshtenlng on
the comparative merits of English and Anlerl-
polo players, though nobody is better en-
titled to opinion Here is his;
II is often asked If should have fair
chance OF beating the best teams IN EnsiaAu'
and / must say that this is a very olIncuIt ques
ton 10 answer satisfactorily. At our own gaIae,
with offside play and no hooking OF suchs, L
think we should win, we play more ippS
ga me than the English. and peneNe We tahc
more advantage of opportunities Ior hitting
goals, game giving US more chances "a
striking for goal; but what cur chances Woulo
be at the English etyle Of game is quite aholhef
question. The English certainly understand tae
science Of polo well. play in their places 70 per
fection, and hit strongly back and forward; put
with all that there is little individuality IN their
play: il lie orthodox throughout, and our indi-
viduality might. perhaps. help us out 10 some
extent.
In these comparatively evil days Of coaching
Mr.. o. II. p. Belmont is not discouraged NO
sport" he writes, which requires the perfection
CT skill and dash and the exercise Of nerve VIII
ever be abandoned by Americans. Coaching
may languish here for period. as it did IN