The sun., 1910-06-26
HANDDALL MORE POPULAR
NpW YORkERS FINDING our
EFRIIS o. THE GAME.
RNui Take OG Fissh and Give Health
Wany Elderiy Men AinOng Iis Deyon
ices The Ptay Elther sJFennous o.
ri,urrIy a SIN Montlls Cuurae % d.

ices The P,ay Elther Strenuous o.
ri,urrly slN Montlis CouFze ~ d.
have discovered the best exercias in
q. t,.i said the big red faced man who
... iron a time was ~ fat that be was
...nai 20 look scales In the face and
OBJ. ,,t in the smoking compartment Of
% tho Empire State Express as Il
...l natween New YORK and Albany a
r, avs ago. I used 10 swear by swim
rr, ~ a method 10 get rid Of the rolls Of
,.-.. that make a fellow feel that he
..s. friend In the world when he tries
,.., his shoe laces. but somebody asked
-r. rus 7ne day Il had ever played hand
I'D"
% was all could do 10 refrain from
r.''us gay and answering In the mega
tive ~ the same time volunteering the
formation that could play pingpong
You SCI had Il stored away somewhere
r uv memory that handban was a real
rlvr ke game that you playe1 In a pleated
SHIRT and that part of the cogtume was a
r-lling collar and a butterfly how. My
weight was problematic when I was initi-
a'ed into the game. but I'm tell ynu a story
hat may BE- a guide a. to how I .'toOd on
tha hooi. a. the stockyards fellows say.
-Ons Sunday morning after a drive
started for tho nearest car In company
With two heavywslght friends ol mine.
rach ci us had special wagons mado 70
our order. guaranteed noe 10 break down
unier ordinary prOvOcation. When w.
zane 70 the corner Where We were 70 take
our trolley there wasn't the sign Of a car.
As We chRtted one Of the fashionable
ohurches In the nelghhorhOod disgorged
its congregation and a typical Brooklyn
couple came along. The man had on
his frock coat and top hat and mother
vas 90 proud that she was picking the
infnitesimal particles Of lint OH him as
they walked toward us When they
halted she made a few dabs az his neck
tie and collar and having finished stepped
hack a pace and looked him over low
ngly,
AT that moment her eye caught sight
N scale. one Of the penny In the slot
sfsirs that weigh up 10 800 pounds, and
she murmured:
Darling. you haven't bscn weighed
IN weeks Do get on the scale and let
me sc how heavy you are. You must
weigh fully 900 pounds
Darling promptly hoped on the plat
form. dropped his cent in the slot and the
long finger pointed 10 202
-Gracious. petsy. but you are a big
mani calculated his wife. and thought
she was going 10 kiss him. while the man
swelled his chest till thought he would
hurst every button on his waistcoat.
-Get on there. Bill saws 70 the light
weight Of our crowd. Wifey and hubby
edged up and gasped when the needle
pointed TO 2J0
Come on. Tom. and my other partner
hoped on. The hgure was 27S this time
and the woman vas ready 20 faint.
She and her husband were almost on top
II the scale watching the indicating finger
with bulginR eyes when ! stepped up.
The machine groaned with the impact of
my No. i7s, and that old finger ran around
, the dial az a mile a minute clip and hat the
sOO pound limit. when It began 20 do stunts
In an endeavoT % get past. An ominous
whirr In the interior Of the machine
warned me that something was doing
with the works amt got down. convinced
that mother realized that therp were a few
bigger men physically than her husband
Mind YOU. I've never been proud of my
weight, and made up NV mind 10 reduce
IA tried almost everything else but hand
hall. and they told me that was the best
a. g. -. L. k..At..n -. - - q.
costume IN which I wouldn't look like an
elephant al play. A comfortable pair Of
fannel trousers. a broad belt ot ieather,
-rrong rubber soled shoes. an extra heavy
vpollen sweater and a bellyband Of knitted
wool we're ordered and having been elected
, member oi one Of the local athletic
examinations 7 was taken 20 tho handhall
court. got a locker and was introduced
o. Barney. the professional in charge.
Barney from hts name would ordi-
rtrilv he ranked a. a Milesian. but one
ranoe of his typical German face and hia
,laracteris'ic by chiminy' when unduly
rycited betokened the tatheriand as
MS birthplace. Barney initiated me into
the intrcacies u the preliminaries. pro-
Glcing socks Of wool q a double thick
rass n prevent chafing and blistering. and
after inspecting my hands he finally de-
,ied that there was nothing IN hts supply
store that would it me. An ordinary pair
~ I'D walking gloves vas therefore sub
l'itltsd until my hands should grow
hiriened by the game
The courts. two In number. were on
the top door. and there was an abun-
dsnoe of sunlight during the daytime
while on dark davs and for late evening
and night play electric lights 20 placed
that there we're no shadows on the courts
were utilized Thare was always an
abundance Of air and there was total
a1sence Of drauEhte owing 20 the HEIGHT
~ which the windows were placed. The
windows we're covered with screena. and
IN the language Of the regulars who
showed up for play every afternoon you
could 20 an fast a. you liked.
Ths courts were open, that is they
were not walled. az the old Casey court
In Degraw street, Brooklyn, and many
others frequented by professionals are,
md the game therefore called for none
n the spectacular picking Of balls from
ne side walls IL must not be thought.
However. that there was no chance for
startling oT strenuous play under the
,Ircumstances. The side and hack lines
wera painted white, a. was the serving
ne and when both courts were going.
s-1eeaIly when a tournament was under
vsv there was plenty Of excitenent.
The premier stages Of my education
we're "a bit disoouraRina. but under Bar
r.v cheerful encouraging and the knowl-
al-r that ! was losing weight by the
'n'nltn ] persevered and sOon began
's.rg NV belt up a hole every few days
Ton minutes was about he !ength Of my
'r-' prsctine and befOre hall the time
Dad aypired even under a gentle service
w.It h. putting Ike q grnmpus and
rE fac, wolld he purple.