Four Hundred Ladies Watch the Gymnasts and Japanese Fencers

The last of the Seattle Athletic Club ladies' smokers to be held this season came off with great éclat in the gymnasium hall of the club last night. Four hundred of the prettiest girls to be seen anywhere were there with their escorts, and witnessed the events of a thoroughly enjoyable programme, the getting up of which reflects great credit on Prof. Van Derveer and Prof. Greene, who had the affair in charge. The boxing was full of life, and the two pupils of Prof. Greene who appeared in bouts with him showed that they had made rapid strides towards proficiency under his intelligent instruction. Prof. Van Derveer's class in horizontal bar work went through a large number of difficult acts with grace and precision and with a certain air of finish that nothing but careful training can impart. The exhibitions of the Japanese fencers and of the military wrestlers created much amusement. Prof. Masuyama, who was formerly instructor of fencing of the crack police schools in Tokyo, showed his strength and cleverness to good advantage. The music of the Singer Leuben orchestra, which played throughout the evening, added much to the general enjoyment. Dr. E. W. Young acted as announcer, T. P. Taylor as timekeeper and D. G. Inverarity as referee.

Prof. Greene, seconded by W. H. Moore, and R. F. Parkhurst, seconded by C. H. Teaff, were the first to appear. They boxed four pretty rounds, in which the professor had abundant opportunity to show that it took a very quick man to keep out of his pupil's way.

After this came Prof. Van Derveer's class on the horizontal bar, the particular acts being as follows: By the professor, clear circle, one arm draw up right and left, right leg jump over, straight breast and circle, front and back horizontal, slow back and front circle and back off, and giant swing; by Allain, free circle, cutaway somersault, pull-off backwards, skin the cat and roll off, kip and front ground somersault, sitting somersault, and circle and front somersault; by Bornstein, free circle, toe spin, free roll or back circle, cat, back circle, knee drop and off, back breast, belly roll and front roll, one leg free roll, front somersault; by Ripley, free circle, two leg free circle and back roll off, back somersault off bar, twisting kip and front somersault, disjointing arms front and back, sitting somersault, and kip, still kip and somersault; by Cotton, free circle breast over and back ground somersault, back swinging kip and roll off, cutaway somersault, back kip, giant walk and still chop, gainer somersault from top of bar with belt to illustrate the method of teaching difficult feats, back breast, free circle and front somersault. There was a great deal of hand-clapping all through this performance.

Messrs. Masuyama and Haneda then gave an exhibition of their wonderful skill in fencing and kept the house in a roar. Some one was heard to say: "No wonder they didn't do a thing to the Japanese."

Vaughn and Cummings next appeared, seconded by Spaulding and Bornstein. They related their clever work of the last smoker and were heartily applauded. They were followed by Messrs. Nishimura and Nakamura, two more fencers, who gave a spirited exhibition and won much approbation. Next came Prof. Van Derveer and E. R. Ripley, who did wonders on the trapeze and were watched with bated breath by the fair portion of the spectators.

They were followed by the Japanese military wrestlers who illustrated the various falls and gave a very lively bout that elicited lively cheering.

The last event on the programme was a lively four-round sparring contest between Prof. Greene and Charles H. Teaff, in which many clever points of the manly art were brought out to the great amusement of all lovers of sport.

The floor was then cleared for dancing, and the greater part of the assembly took a hand and had a thoroughly jolly time.