Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-30

exercise Many of our Jockeys keep in
condition by playing in winter, when
other sports are impossible.
Bennington is merely the old game OF
battledore and shuttlecock. played over a
net rather higher than tennis net. Any
big hall or barn makes good play
ground. 1t is equally good for la'lies.
Bennington was really the pioneer OF
lawn tennis, and it was only the extraor-
binary popularity of tennis which made
people forget it and abandon the much
Britain. however, and championship
games are played. and it evokes lot OF
interest
pure and simple, the oldest game of all.
played in a covered court. 1t was at one
time the royal game of France, but nova
days there are only a few courts. mostly
private ones. l understand the Chicago
Athletic Association has a court and
that you call 1t court tennis"
This is the game that young Jay Gould
came over to England to play and hand
somely beat all our cracks. 1t is most
scientific and very interesting to watch.
quite astonished us all by his brilliant
play.
We are. of course better off for winter
Sports tHdIl yOu are OWING 10 ClliHAtiC
conditions, For instance, our steeplechas-
ing season begins about the last week
of November, just after our Manchester
November handicap, which is the last big
English fiat race-a race which has al
ways created great rivalry between north
ern and southern trainers. In France, as
soon as winter sets In, about December
1, the whole venture is changed to the
Riviera, and the horses all go down to
race at Pau. Biarritz Nice. Marseille. etc.
prizes being as high as 5000. Most of
the racing in the south and all the rae
ing at Nice is hurdle and steeplechasing,
and large crowds attend the races, many
coming from Monte Carlo.
In Monte Carlo there is no racing. The
principal outdoor sport. If sport you can
call it, is pigeon shooting. and there the
largest pigeon shooting prize is given.
amounting to some $4,000.
But we were never strong for pigeon
shooting. There Is much that a real
sportsman despises In 1t, and 1t has
practically died out in England, except al
one or two second-rate clubs.
While in New York the writer was sur.
rounded by racing men, and naturally II
called up the old love for the sport OF
kings
Opinion, however. seems greatly divid-
ed as to whether racing will come back
soon. had several arguments on the
subject, and met literary man who Is q
strong opponent Of racing. My contention
was that racing in the long run had q
purifying effect on the community.
In our country the king and the three
card-trick man meet on the course ant
by and by they even exchange a good
day; perhaps the three-card man may
have had bad times. and says so to hi,
majesty as he passes: perhaps hill
majesty who is kindness itself, gives hin
lift. The three-card man goes home
and thinks. and new pride comes t.
him. He throws away the umbrella and
the cards and starts on a new line, per
haps a paper stall or q purveyor OF foods
on the course. And he never goes bacl
no, never! Has he not met his sovereign
on equal terms. and he has learned t
hold his head high and walk the squar,
roads Of life?
To my mind the race course is factor
in life. 1t is one Of the schools. just q.
the stage is. The literary opponent Of
racing was impressed by what said. H,
said 1t never had been put to him tina
way before. He promised to reconsidel
his decision. I hope he will as he I!
well known. and, through his pen, ha!
great power
l contend that racing brings all classe.
together in the finest open lair space tina
exists What race courses want Is clean
ing. not abolishing. Besides, what
tragedy to let horse breeding die out! A.
for the people who lose money racing
well. If they did not lose 1t that wa,
they would lose it another Racinl
teaches q man to be astute and teache,
him common sense