Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 275, 22 November 1893, Page 3

The " degeneracy of tbe race" is a favourite topic of tbe "silly reason." Opinions are divided. The youth and smallness of the modern British soldier are used as arguments in favour of degeueraoy, whilst athletic records aad the statute of women ore urged as proof of our improvement in physique. Probably the vigour of the upper and middle classes is increasing, th*t of the working closes being Bt itionary, Whilst a fringe is deteriorating, owing to the modern crowding of Uie agricultural population to the towns. From this fraction of the population , apparently, a considerable percentage of our recruits are drawn. Anyone who saw the tennis tournamenc in Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, last week, must have been struck by the extraordinary proficiency of the women. Take them out of the skirts which handicap them, and ladies like Mrs Hillyard and Miss Shackles would want few poiuts from the best men. As it is, they play halfvelleys with equal skill. There is no evidence of degeneracy in lawn tennis at all events. One wonders with wbat eyeß our great grandmothers would behold the catlike activity of their descendants in the tennis courtsi Tennis, at all events, should Bend forward some excellent atavistic propenßitieß into the future.— European Ma il .