THE ATHLETIC GIRL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1921, Page 6

THE ATHLETIC GIRL.

ANSWER TO OPPONENTS. London, Alay 13. Leading school mistresses interviewed by the Times sum up those who oppose the participation of girls in sports as cranks, riding an out-of-date hofiby. They state that they keep in touch with their old girls, and many of these, who were champions at sport, have reared fine families. The school mistresses prefer tennis, cricket, and netball, with not overmuch hockey. Naturally, they add, athletics can bo overdone, like anything else, by boys also. The authorities at the Women’s Schoo] of Medicine in London are great believers in developing the muscles, and are especially keen on rowing, but the trainees are forbidden cigarettes, chocolates, or cahgJ? Some women doctors favor muscle building, and say that during their maternity work they found many of the worst cases among sedentary blue-stock-ings, some of whom exactly fit in with the definition of a “womanly woman” by the anti-sport party.

A message received recently stated that a conference of physical culturists and doctors had unanimously declared that girls must not be allowed to develop muscles. The doctors agreed that certain physical exercises were necessary, but banned the athletic girl, on account of the need for race preservation. It was declared that less muscles meant that more sons would be born.