BARE LEGS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 9 July 1929, Page 2

BARE LEGS.

NEW TENNIS FASHION. SUGGESTED BAN. (TB.OH OTTB 0»"» COaMSPOITDIXT.) LONDON, May 28. A great deal of discussion is going on as to whether women should play tennis with bare legs. The fashion is growing very rapidly. It ia asked : Will the Lawn Tennis Association and All-England Club place a ban on the vogue in the Wimbledon championships? The no-stockings vogue was introduced into this country by Miss ''Biine" Tapsoott, the South African player, who, when she arrived in Englandrecently, said she would play at Wimbledon without stockings as she did in 1927. Miss Helen Wills is playing in the French championships stockingless, and Miss Elizabeth Ryan, who will partner Miss Betty Nuthall at Wimbledon in the ladies' doubles, and Miss Joan Fry have also played in bare legs. Miss Betty Nuthall will wear stockings, but it is almost certain that, as Miss Helen Jacobs, tho American player who arrived in England last week, said: "Many players will in time play without stockings, especially if they get in this country the hot weather we experience in California, where nobody wears stockings on the courts." From Paris, where the hard-court championships are in progress, there comes the news that the women are much amused at the controversy in London In most lawn tennis clubs, whether they be in Paris, Le Touquet, Dinard. or Deauville, it is the custom when the weather is hot for women to discard their stockings. French women, m consequence, cannot see any difference in playing without stockings at their clubs or at W r imbledon. WTiy, they ask, all this fuss—and dismiss the question with a shrug of the shoulders. Views of Players. The "Daily Mail" has been obtaining opinions from well-known women tenuis players. Among the views expressed were:— Mrs Mallory (the former American champion): I never heard of anything so ridiculous. I came over here this year fully intending to play without stockings even at my age. Supposing wa all turned up at Wimbledon without stockinss. W T hat would you do? Turn us off? If all the women tennis players decided that they would not wear stockings at Wimbledon they could not refuse to let us play. That seems to me to be the only reply to such a silly action. Bare legs are a great advantage to a woman, and I do not agree that they look ugly. If a woman has nice legs they look very pretty without stockings. Mrs Lambert Chambers (who won the singles title at Wimbledon seven times): If women must have their legs covered to play tennis, then why should not they have long sleeves? It is just as ridiculous to suggest that. In any case the dress a woman wears is her own business and not that of the Lawn Tennis Association. The only action for the players to take, if they think that bare legs help their game, is to stay away from the tournament. Husbands Would Object. Players who dislike the bare-leg fashion included; Mrs Shepherd Barron: I think that the bare-leg fashion is hateful. I certainly would not appear on a court before the public without stockings, and I am sure that most of the married w omen will not adopt the fashion, as their husbands would object violently. Women's legs do not look handsome w "hen they are bruised and scarred. Mrs F. 6trawson : I do not like bare logs because I do not think they look nice; but, also, I do not see why a woman should not be allowed to play bare-legged if she wishes. | Miss Vera Montgomery: Bare legs are not only ugly, but are not as comj fortable as stockings.

ST. LUKE'S CONCERT. ♦ A very succFS«fnl *■»• ™\ • "■'* night in the JeUicoe Hall by the Bokal* Francis, Lid., St. Luke'a Church Sumi.-v t.hn J 1! Fund. Tbert w»* a, good audtenoe and all the item* were well receive. - tributing to programmf were' —M «s*» Kita Lucai, •'Summer Night" and *!»©▼•'• i> Merehr '• 21i&s Ninn Pfi>ter i: > " ten. i Mirmetonka" and "Angela Guard itteo." Mr J. H. Cock* «ang "i'be a.-.* Player,*" "Why Shouldn't 1?" and "From tbe Laud of the Sky Blue Wat»r," and Mr P. Page gave two piano soloa, "Preloda in A Flat" (Chopin) and "Vienneae WalU" (Gartner, arr. by Friedman) Violin aoloa w«r» played by Mr R. Clark, "Traumerei™ and "Rondino." Two excellent Gnlhranae* piecea were played by Mr Kniett Gordery.