The Washington times., 1913-12-14
GIRLS OF WESTERN
HIGH LIKE HOCKEY
Fink-Cheeked Lassies in MILDLY
BIouses Play Game With
Vigor. and Skill.
By EDITH LoBERT.

"Close formation for a bully-off!"
Miss Z. II. Thomas, physical director
al western High school, blew her whis-
tie.
Immediately there was a rush for the
center Of the girls athletic field,
whirr of hockey sticks through the air
and couple of dozen pink-cheeked las
sizes in MILDLY blouses were closing in
to watch the ''bully-off."
What If somebody's riotous locks did
tumble DOWNS What If somebody's nose
did get shiny in the exertions attendant
upon the mad pursuit OF the shinny
ball?''
What Man Reporter Would Admire.
II 1 were man reporter person, /
suppose 1 would go into raptures over
the rosy cheeks and the graceful swing
Of the well-rounded arms.
Which are all very well in their way,
but I'm going to admire the gooo,
healthy lung power and the vigorous
muscle which come from wholesome
competition in the open air.
Hockey too strenuous for girls!
Not the way they play 1t at Wastern
Eyerv Tuesday and Thursday after
noon, when the weather is fit, the girl
hockey squads swing their curved sticks
over their shoulders and scramble up
the steps across the road to the new
athletic field, recently acquired
This space Is devoted exclusively TO
the use of the girls, who use 1t for bas-
ket ball occasionally, and expect 70
erect tennis courts there later.
--- How They Raised Fund.
The price of many an ice cream soda
went into a fund this summer for the
conversion Of a small dwelling on one
corner of the field into clubhouse.
Each of us earned dollar this sum-
mer toward a fund.-, one GREATNESS
Betty Informed me, as she took time
out" to tie fractions shoe lace-no, not
hair ribbons.
n hair ribbons come undone in the
excitement of a hockey game they stay
undone but shoe laces-well even a
football payer takes time out for that
"I gave up ice cream soda for Week
she continued, "and j know one sirl
VINO tainted a roof to earn her dollar"
The fund has now reached the proud
proportions of nearly $500, contributed
entirely by the girls who are interested
IN athletics. -.
tic competitions at Western High among
the girls. Miss Thomas informed me.
Want All To Benefit.
We want all the girls to get the bene-
n, of the athletic work here" she said,
.1nstesd of having picked team in
each sport get both the glory and the
benefit of the physical training.
80 hereafter We are going TO have
class competition instead. This gives
everybody a chance, and we think pro-
raotes far greater interest generally.
''How did the girls come TO take UP
hockey" 1 asked her, my mind intent
n ,-a.a al-l-
where il takes strong athxete. Inasc1-
line gender, TO play the game
Il learned the game from an English
woman when / was in college, she said.
II told the girls about ii. and they
seemed 50 enthusiastic about II de-
cided to try it out
Field hockey, of course, has not the
element of danger that ice hockey has
II isn't 2 bit more strenuous than the
old-fashioned shinny every boy knows
about.
And il serves admirably the main
purpose, which after all is to get the
girls out of doors, and into action in
the fresh air.!
Fresh Air For All.
II wish more young women, whether
high school girls or not, would get out
into the fresh air and exercise, If it's
nothing more than walk around the
block several times.
Are you an advocate Of hiking
she was asked.
Indeed 1 am. And what is more
these girls know what real cross country
walking Is. We climb up hillsides, and
scramble over fences and brsye rain
storms and come back thinking what a
glorous old world 1t is out of doors 90
Basket bail is well under way now.
Teams now in the process of getting Or
ganized and the regular games have be-
gun 'sI
1t Is not likely that the hockey prac-
ice will continue much longer. Miss
Thomas said.
With the regular gymnastic work and
the basketball activities now getting
tato fun swing, the hockey devotees
soon will have to put up their sticks un-
I'll next Easter.
And II vou want to see a real embodi-
nent OF the JOY of living just look in
OF buLch OF Western High School