5i8 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



tween the bases, fell, with an injured leg. We attended her to the 

 infirmary, with the foreboding that this accident would end our 

 play of baseball. Not so. Dr. Webster said that the public would 

 doubtless condemn the game as too violent, but that if the student 

 had hurt herself while dancing the public would not condemn 

 dancing to extinction. Singular point was given to her remark a 

 few days later, when a student did fall while dancing and broke 

 her leg. After this we played with the feeling somewhat light- 

 ened that we were enjoying delightful but contraband pleasure. 

 The interest in baseball did not increase ; clubs were not formed 

 by incoming classes. I think there was too much pressure against 

 it from disapproving mothers. However, those of us who had 

 learned the value of vigorous play succeeded in keeping alive 

 enough interest in the game to support two clubs until our senior 

 year. This year saw the advent of tennis at college. 



Knowing as I do that I owe to the regularity of college life 

 and to vigorous play an excellent health record since graduation, 

 it is difficult for me to conceive the point of view of those, if there 

 be such, who disapprove of athletics for girls. 



Tennis, being more conventional than baseball, at once gained, 

 and has steadily maintained, a hold upon the students. A tennis 

 association was organized, many courts were prepared, and an 

 annual tournament, in competition for the college championship, 

 was instituted. 



The primitive calisthenics of the gymnasium have long since 

 given place to scientific physical training, and a modern gym- 

 nasium has been built. 



About seven years ago, through the generosity of Mr. Rocke- 

 feller, facilities were provided for flooding the lake. The skating 

 season was thereby extended from a precarious duration of a week 

 or two, contingent on the snowfall, to a reasonably certain period 

 of six or eight weeks. As soon as these conditions were estab- 

 lished, large numbers of students learned to skate. I think prob- 

 ably two thirds of the college now enjoy this sport. 



A few years ago athletic games were introduced in connection 

 with the work of the gymnasium. The students were taught 

 battle-ball and basket-ball in the gymnasium, golf links were 

 prepared and golf clubs procured. Battle-ball was discarded, as 

 it did not prove a good game for outdoors. Golf, I believe, was 

 voted uninteresting, and accordingly neglected, and I learn that 

 it has not yet found favor with any of the colleges. It is thought 

 that as golf becomes better known throughout the country, and 

 students learn it before coming to college, they will play more a,t 

 college. 



Basket-ball has been enthusiastically received with us, as with 

 all the colleges. Each class has a team and substitutes, and inter- 



