The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-18

a lot to the game besides the name: and
you may call it with perfect propriety. ia
BILE tennis" That will save your feelings.
For the game is nothing more or less
than a diminutive game of tennis. 1t is
counted exactly like tennis; requires as
many players; furnishes as much exercise,
and offers as great an opportunity for the
practice of subtle heart-charmS
Who plays ping-pong? The answer is
easy. Everybody. The popularity of the
game has increased so much in the last
few months that it has become necessary
to manufacture the racquets and balls in
st. Louis: the foreign markets are unable
to furnish even half of what Is required.
1t is not only q fad, but has undoubtedly
come to stay as much as tennis did years
ago.
Tennis is still a popular game. We have
champions: national and local. So 1t will
be with ping-pong before another year has
rolled around. Already in St. Louis We
have tournaments, championships and
prizes at %ping-pong parties. There is great
rivalry between clubs and between MEM
bers of clubs. One cannot go to dine now
adays without having to take part in a
game of ping-pong after the dinner. It is
everywhere and all-absorblng.
Not only men of leisure and ladies of
quality are INDUCING in it. but business
men and college stoudents and women
who have to busy themselves about n hum
dred and one things during the day. Ev-
erybody has the fever. A ping-pong parlor
on Locust street is crowded every day for
several hours with players and there is no
sign of any loss of interest in the game.
Bankers and brokers find that the game
gives them more and better exercise in a
short time that they lave been able to get
in any other way. Among the devotees Of
the game are Allen West, Dwight Davis,
Harold Kaufman, Hunt Turner and Jim
Drummond. They frequently find time to
meet during the day for a game. Usually
it is for but a short time. but occasionally
they become so interested that they finish
the afternoon at the table.
But the season for ping-pong Is after
dinner. Then at private residences and at
the clubs there is invariably a game in
progress. Special rooms have been fitted IN
in houses large enough to
them, and in the clubhouses where the par
ticularly ardent worshippers at the shrine
of the celluloid ball and the racquet may
ommune with their own kind.
Stuart Stickney. he OF golf fame. Is n
'ffend' at ping-pong. He says himself that
he has to struggle to keep away from a table
during the day in order that he NAV devote
himself to business. But at night and on
Saturdays he gives way to the desire and
instead Of playing golf he stands at a ping
pong table until he is about ready to drop
The exercise in the game will be ac-
knowledged when 1t is known that a tennis
and a golf champion have almost forsaken
their favorite game for the %enticing ping
pong. Dwight Davis does not play tennis
as much as he used to; and Stuart Stickney
is rarely seen with his clubs. Yet. both ex-
celled in their special branches of athletics.
But ping-pong is a winter game, said one
who was only half converted. Needless to
say he could play only fairly. A host rose
to contradict him. Already many lawns are
being prepared for a table during the sum
mer. All that is necessary is an even place
for the table and light enough so that the
balls may be seen in the evening. In Japan
and in England the game is played the year
round. Why not in st. Louis?
Evening ping-peng parties during the
summer are already assured. It Is not dis