Evening star., 1903-09-19
SWIMMING FOR GIRLS.
Cycling and Tennis More Popular in
England.

From the London Telegraph
Leaving out of consideration altogether
the admirable utilitarian purposes of the
art of swimming. those who during the past
week witnessed the swimming competition
for the ladies' challenge shield at the Bath
Club were made to realize the pure delights
of the exercise and the good it does its fol-
lowers 1t may be claimed that this yearly
fixture has done more Of late years to popd-
Iarize swimming among society ladies than
anything else. Lady Constance Mackenzie.
who won the challenge shield three years
consecutively. is without doubt the most ac-
cOmpliShed lady swimmer whom the Bath
Club has enrolled as member.
She had courage. with which the swim
mer aspiring for honor cannot dispense,
and, besides strength of limb and power q
ready grace and ease in the water, which
gave her each time an easy win in the COM
petitions for the shield. Miss We're Dawnay
was always a near rival, taking second hon
orS twice, and last year she succeeded in
winning the trophy, to retain it with an ad-
mirable performance of all-round swimming
last Monday in the yearly competition She
has a style which, although 1t lacks the
dash of her predecessor, is equally telling,
and to some minds more graceful. The test,
judged by the secretary of the Ife-saving
society, included breast-strolze swimming,
springboard and high diving, motioness
floating and two feats in fancy swimming.
In the case of each of the five competitors
entered for the challenge shield the diving
proved the weakest point, not one of them
securing the maximum marks for the high
dive.
1t seems useless to hope that girls Will
ever take up swimming as they have taken
up cycling or tennis Inquiry goes tn show
that the position is, as it was last wear
practically stationary-that it is a pastine
enjoyed by few, who, strangely enough,
are confined to the upper and lower grades
of society. The girls of the great middle
class who need swimming most because IT
is so healthful Just those who will not
be persuaded to give time to the practice
The big public schools and the, board
schools are going to improve matters con-
siderably; In fact the school board returns
are particularly encouraging. They report
that the increased percentage of boy SWIM
mers is 20 per cent, that of the girls 80 per
cent. If giving the children free lessons I'm
their school hours under capable superyts-
ion and tuition does not teach English
youngsters to love swimming as they should
nothing Will. The costume question is no
bar since the girls may purchase the mate
rial at cost price, and learn to fashion 1t
into a bathing dress at school in needle
work hours
Very few girls schools have yet their own
baths, but it Is now so easy to secure the
entire use of a public bath for set time
that 1t Is scarcely necessary. Take the
of the St Brides baths for instance
which are utilized by the girls of the City
of London School, the Holborn Estate Girls
School, st. Dunstan's School, Graystoke
Place Girls School and clubs connected
with the firm Of Messrs. Cassel & Co. the
Collins Institute, and evening continuation
schools. The Isis Ladies' Club which used
to hold its meetings at st. Brides was al
ways regarded as one of the best London
clubs. Its members were all connected with
the post office branch in Queen Victoria
street. now removed to Kensington. The
club which has perhaps done most to en-
courage lady swimmers is the Ravens
bourne Club, which, in conjunction with
the Amateur Swimming Association, offers
challenge cup for 100 yards and a chaI-
lenge shield for water polo. These will be
competed for at the Westminster Baths in
October, when 1t is expected, as in past
years. Jersey and Swansea will enter strong
polo teams.