The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-06
PING-PONG THE ENEMY.
Passion for Table Tennis Has Made
a Wreck of the Dining Room.

a Wreck of the Dining Room.
It is we'll these spring days to arm
ones self for meeting with the Ping
Pong adversary. Let those who are in
credulous of this fact attempt to get
up an informal dinner or theater par
ty, relying on belated telephone mes
sages to secure the guests. 1t is safe to
predict that six out Of ten of "les in
vites" will pour forth regrets, but re-
main true to their Ping-Pong engage
ments. Extra men who formerly could
be relied on for emergencies, are now
quite naughty in their rejection Of
late invitations. They can we'll be so,
for even when they have no engage
ment for a regular Ping-Pong party,
they inevitably have a date to go and
play with other stray men. Indeed,
when by themselves men often have
more fun over the game than when
played with girls. They are then privi-
legged to serve harder and they warm
up to the play much more than is pos
sible when it is necessary to keep col
lar from whiting. Frequently, as at the
universities in England, they keep at
the game until well on to the small
hours of the morning. This mostly oc-
ours, however, when a wager has been
laid. In general play, that is, as a So
ciety game for men and women, Ping
Pong cannot be decried as a betting
game. Bridge and Skat, the German
favorites, still hold good for that pur-
pose.
In another and most important way
Ping-Pong disturbs the family tran
guilty. 1t upsets the all-important
maids. Dinners, both formal and in
formal, must be rushed through, even
a home luncheon is cut short, because
the table must be cleared for Ping
Pong. The elder members of various
families complain that their dining
rooms have not been in good order
since the game became the family reg
ulator. The young people cannot be
driven away, but flock about the strip
ped table as bees about a honey comb.
The craze, If such it must be termed,
shows as yet no signs of abating.
Probably with the warm weather it's
popularity will grow stronger. AS
with tennis, heat but seems to increase
the players prowess. Tables mex
pensive in character, will be set on
verandas, or wherever in the open the
game can be enjoyed away from the
confinement of the house.
Happily, Ping Pong is a game that
can be enjoyed by all. 1t is not over
costly, as golf, and it requires no
they know, only look prettier when
lodging about a table in Louis Quinze
heels and fluffy, ruff1ed skirts in which
the former sometimes become entan-
gled.
According to the purse of the buyer
sets of Ping-Pong can be purchased
at almost any price from a dollar and
fifty cents to five dollars. OF course,
it is best to get a fairly good set. The
rackets of the cheaper ones are made
of parchment, not vellum, and are not
apt to last very we'll. With one set,
also, a fourSome can now be played,
as the latest rule is that partners
playing together at one end of the
table must use the same bat between
them. This adds greatly to the ex-
element of the game, as owing to the
rapidity with which it has to be pass
ed. it is not always possible for the
individual to grasp it properly, and
therefore he may be called upon to
return a ball when very awkwardly
placed. All this, however, but adds to
the Jollity and skill of the reigning
tyrant, Ping-Pong.