Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-16
Copyright. by Joseph b. Bowies.)

copyright. by Joseph b. Bowies.)
Mrs Hobart Chatficld Taylor. who is \
golf player of renown we'll as n lei,de-
in society speaks with authority upon the
game Of golf and what it offers TO women
as a h"althful and delightful pastimc. TIE
daughter of the late Senator Charles u.
Farwcil OF Illinois. and the wife of the
talented author of The Crimson Wing
and other novels. she is Well known.)
When American women took up
golf they did it as pose: in 4 short
time it became purpose; it Is now
merely a paStime.
All this ALTERATION may seem
meaningless. but those who remember
the various stages through which golf
in this country has passed cannot fail
to recognize the truth of 1t. The
pose period was when golf began.
Then it was new fad-the thing to
talk about. the thing to do. Women
and likewise men-wore red coats;
they f1ockcd to the golf links as they
would to afternoon teas. and the pro-
fessionals were busy from early till
late teaching women, regardless OF
weight. age or previous condition OF
servitude. to drive gutta-percha balls
OF little piles of sand. Every woman
must take up golf. and take 1t up she
did with a vengeance.
Gu: of the pose period grew the
purpose epoch. when home. husband.
children and even best young men
were forgotten In the daily chase OF
that same guttapercha bali. We
dreamed of golf scores by night and
we struggled to lower them by day.
Our intimate friends became our
hated rivals and our sole object in life
was to lower a record or lift cup.
One can hardly think OF those days
without restraining smile. wom-
ans popularity was gagged by her
success on the green. and be she new
er so beautiful or attractive, she was
forced to give the palm to the loca!
champion. AS for the woman who
had attained national honors. she was
the envied of everything in petit
coats, and consequently the detested
During that purpose period Of golf the
woman who had not reached the first
fight still cherished hopes. and the
only object in life for the average
woman of that day was to bring in
lower score. by fair means If possible,
or-dare / say it?-sometimes by foul
But in time a feeling OF discourage
ment came over those who. having
tried. had failed They had gone
through the posing period. with its
red coats and silver scorebOoks: they
had made Of golf the only thing in
life. but they had not made good
scores and. after two or three seasons
of perspiriIg persistence and grace
less gyrations. they dropped out of the
game. IF at first you don't succeed.
try. try again" does not apply to golf.
Golfers are born. not made. and II
you haven't the eye and the supple
ness of wrist the game calls for il is
wiser to play ski:t!es. 1t has taken
American women years to find this
out. but at last those who can't play.
and never could play. have become
contentcd wives and mothers once
more. and those who can play take
golf as one Of the many diversions Of
life and not as its sole object.
The game has now reached what
call the pastimc period We are con
tent 20 take II as an amusement. and
those who have any chance Of win
ming make l. genuine sport. The
contestants for championship honors
arc those who really love the game.
and they play 20 win II they are
beaten they don't scratch their op-
p1uents' eyes out. but they 30 70
work ~ try to do her up" IN the next
match. For a numbcr Of years there
were but two classes IN American
womcn's golf: Miss Bcatrix Hoyt.
and tho others. No one else. except
Mrs. halter Duncan. who did not en-.
ter tournaments. had the slightest
chance NJ winning the championship.
and Il was only a question Of Who
would bc the runucT-up.
For three years Miss Hoyt reigncd
suprernc as queen Of golf. but that
vas the time when goIf vas Dur.
vose. So that out ~ the throng u
ncrxigteut women who crowded the