MORE GAMES WANTED FOR GIRLS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 3

MORE GAMES WANTED FOR GIRLS.

' Strange as it may seem there is nbthing more' difficult-to" invent than a good popular outdoor, game in winch' women can 'take part. The time,'has-come/, as we-felt eur© it ijvust -for athleticism for women has. been greatly over/ • done—when headmistresses' and others who understand girls feel the need of some mora satisfactory -game than hockey, or cricket.;, As 'played at present the former, which is, cf course, a winter pastime, is far too strenu- ■ ous. -i>As -a. mixed game—and ■■ what game is really- enjoyable in which both sexes cannot, take part?—it is certainly' not to. be recommended.. Men hate playing-a team,of girls, and girls feel that'.the'.men have to .exercise, restraint,' which spoils -sport ; in combating them;; Cricket offers fine exercisflf rbut; has its dangers—a girl had - two front teeth . knocked out tho other day in a match, arid ' what "can compensate a woman for such disfigurement as that? -is'.out' of-, the: • -question. Swimming is ' monotonous, - anti from-tennis, which is hard'to beat in every way, a change is also desirable, lest familiarity should. breed the proverbial contempt.' This 'brings ,us':back.> to • the- point -raised .by.' the-.headmistress, of St. Paul's'Girl-School, .'who says 'a .really,.satisfactory game is sorely needed.'which-shall be.-equally, exciting for- ". both'.sexes,- which shall■ teach:'courage', -anti' unselfishness, demand, skill, provide exercisewithout making deminds on girls who have .not got supernatural/physical strength, ami which shalLbe of such a - nature that.it caii be played by/girls who can 'neither traye • V " long distances in search of open spaces, and. ' who have not much -room -at 'their- command.. One begins to think : .that the really success? M game inventor,like the poet/is-born, notmafo.' He occurs at rare intervals in tno ' ■'history of sports • His'hand can-never .be forced,v-he; can\dovnothing to order. • ißut.it . . ' is extraordinary hoV.demands, of any nature. ' create : supplies. ■ It; is ; .reoognised now; that girls ; must " have' vigorous'; -healthy, competitive outdoor-sports,-and it-, is becoming-clear that tennis does.''not wholly- satisfy -them on .one hand, while; hockey .has many disadv-an- . tages, one—low be it- spoken—"being its os ; , panding influence;bn the hands and feet. So; ' dndoubtedly,-; the opportiinity -will make, tno game. . We must' bide our - time, and somo day a great surprise will be sprung-upon us. One hopes it, may be a woman iwho'will thus , meet the requirements of her sex. -