The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-23

BOY BABIES ABUNDANT
Athletic Women of Illinois
Town Are Favored.
RAISES AN OLD QUESTION
Can the Sex of a Child Be
Predetermined?

Sclence-Or perhaps q partial solution or a
problem which science has heretofore
been absolutely powerIess to solve.
These ten babies are the only children
Of mothers who have devoted themselves
to outdoor life and athletics, all having
been members OF the same athletic club.
The babies have all been born within
the past three years.
Has Prof Schencks famous theory that
sex may be predetermined thus been jus
titled?
Is it true that the children OF mothers
who devote themselves to physical exer-
else and outdoor sports are likely to be
boys?
These are questions that the scientific
men and women in this part of the coun-
try are asking themselves, with quite
general answer in the affirmative
There are those here who dare to assert
that the problem of predeternination of
sex is well on the way toward solution.
Some of the physicians here say Coin
cidence" AS many more as strenuously
assert that it is really true that mothers
who have given much time 10 athletics
find that the stork brings them boys.
-Four years ago the young men OF Rock
ford thought they could get along with
out the girls. Promptly the girls turned
missnthropists and determined to have
their good times without the aid Of the
sterner sex. So they formed the Ragazza
Club. This was to be an organization
where men were barred and where no
mans name should ever be mentioned.
The club came into being in May, 1897.
It's avowed purpose was the snubbing Of
young men, primarily; secondarily. the
members were to cultivate athletics and
have Saturday afternoon devoted to
physical culture. an outing in the open
air and plenty Of fun without the aid Of
any man..
THE Ragazza girls" the town nick
named them. and to this day that name
has chung to them.
They rowed on the river, the played
baseball among themselves, they had
luncheon in picnic style and they enjoy
ed the good time which only whole
souled, care-free American girls can
have
The Sinnissippi Club?
Every girl Of the Ragazzas turned her
sun-burned nose at the name Of it. These
were the young men of the gay set who
made IT part Of their constitution and
by laws of their club that no girl could
be invited to their outings.
The Sinnisippi was the smart club of
the town. Five other young mems clubs
were formed during that eventful sum-
mer and a union effected. There was
park provided for their athletics and
regular schedule arranged between the
p,,t
girl was invited.
So the Ragazza club went on their way
serene well knowing that in the end they
would win. Finally the break came.
The young gallants of the Sinnlsippi in
vited the pretty girls of the Rsgazza Club
to a specially arranged picnic.
The Ragaxza girls laughed.
WHAT did they care for the men folks?
They were waxing in health-and beau
ty, II you want to know the secret-and
not flip Of their pretty fingers did they
care for the young men who had at first
arranged to have their club an Eveless
Eden.
Summer over, the Ragazza girls resolved
to keep up their club. Aney dropped
baseball They had a reading course and
a sewing class. Still they kept up the
athletic side OF their little coterie and
once a week all the year round they had
walking trips through the snow-bound
woods, they had skating parties. and
when nothing else could be done they ex-
crcised In their gymnasium.
Never was there a finer set of girls.
7ney found they could have a good time
without a lot OF young men dancing at
tendance.
But gradually from outside of clubdom
came certain young men who had never
believed IN the idea of manly sports for
men alone.
These were the lucky ones. They mar
ried the girls OF this No-Man-Club."
The Sinnislppi youths were nowhere.
When the first baby was born it was
boy. All the Ragazza girls rejoiced. Then
there were two more in quick succession
both boys. Then No. 4. as well as Nos.
5. 6, I 6, and 9-the Ragazza baseball
team the proud club women called them.
for all the youngsters were boys.
Now comes the tenth-a boy!
Everybody laughed when he was born
athletic girlhood IN the club. had gone TO
was born there even when the parents of
No were celebrating his advent.
The original membership Of the club
was made up as follows. all Of the girls
living in North Town. the fashionable
part OF Rockford:
Helen Armstrong Bertha Hyer
Florence Gantz Eva NJ. ManIove
Caroline JiIson Grace Palmer
Virginia Nanny Edna Taylor
= ma SUIT UeqsessoO qlsqszIII
Frances Brown Bertna Mcguire
Elizabeth Emerson Elizabeth Moffatt
Florida Nanny Adeline Stewart
Edith Robertson Florence Houston
Helen Dick Jane Weyburn
The young women who have become /
members since the charter list was closed I
are:
Amy Barnes Katherine Barnes
Harriet Barnes Frances Porter
May De Wolf Ell Freeman
Grace Peake Edith Dickinson
Mary Winter Fannie Walker
Jessica Treat Elizabeth Barnes
Miss Jane Weyburn was the president 4
and Miss Virginia Nanny SecretAry-Trea-
surer. Miss Weyburn is now Mrs. vaien- 4
tine Sexby and Miss Nanny is engaged 4
TO a civil engineer in New York. sounc
OF the girls no sre married haven't vet (
had the stork call al their homes. {
Helen Dick married Howard Country
man snd is the mother OF one Of the
boys Bertha Hyer became tire wife OF 4
Fred Hunt, young attorney OF BeIvf- I
dere- Ill Caroline Jiisoa vent 10 Michi- 4