GAMES OF THE 70'S

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 13

GAMES OF THE 70'S

GRANDMOTHER AND SPORT ;

In • these days of vigorous feminine sports and athletics we sometimes forget to what extent our mothers and grandmothers anticipated the women of the present time in this particular field, even though it was only on Very mild and leisurely lines! "It must have demanded enormous courage and energy on our grandmothers' part to attempt strenuous physical exercises when tightly corseted and submerged in a welter of voluminous clothes," says a writer in a contemporary magazine. "Yet women excelled in the sports of their day. Archery was considered an ' elegant' exercise, and women took it so seriously that they frequently triumphed

over men in the art. Swimming was more of a parade of elaborate swimming costumes than a strenuous exercise.

" Considering that these costumes usually consisted of a full, heavy serge undergarment with 'an added voluminous serge skirt which, speedily became waterlogged, it is hardly surprising that most fair bathers contented. themselves with bobbing up and down in the water, while" safely attached to a long r6pe, and taking care not to* wet the face or hair. Even the costume adopted by- strong swimmers involved a Turkey twill bathing dress made with knickerbockers, and a skirt,.to be worn with thread Btojckings "for decency's sake," and a waterproof cap. ..' .' ■-.'. The games era the seventies* and was heralded in by mild croquet. Even this seemly game must have been difficult to play in tightened bodices, bustles, and yards and yards■ of flowing skirt! Then came golf and Badminton, and, in 1875, the immediately popular lawn tennis. This game widened women's lives greatly; they began to mix .more frequently and naturally with other people for perpetual' tennia parties '• ther joined clubs, and this.first taste of real exercise spurred them on to fresh endeavour at sport. Thereafter they took up cricket, ice hockey, skating, and boating. " The greatest modification of dress to necessary freedom of movement was made for tennis. In the nineties they were advised to wear ' a dark blue serge skirt, made quite plainly, and fairly short, and of ample width, with a flannel shirt and a sailor hat/ and were, warned that 'care should be taken always to have the cleanest and prettiest of white underskirts, as these show when running for a stroke far more than one would imagine.' White shoes were unsuitable, as ' thej; make the feet look large.' Heelless Russian leather shoes, with red rubber soles, were recommended instead." Their. idea of a " short skirt" was one of ankle length!