[The Philadelphia Hockey League has been successfully organized as is told by Miss Josephine Katzenstein, a member of the Lansdowne hockey team. Miss Katzenstein has been chosen for the All-Philadelphia team every year since its start. Previous to this, she played on the Bryn Mawr ’varsity. It is needless to say that she is one of the best forwards that ever played in the Philadelphia League.—Editor.]

When we consider that before 1901 field hockey for women was hardly more than a name in and around Philadelphia, and that since that year enthusiasm for the game has so steadily grown that we have now perhaps the finest hockey league in the country, we may justly feel optimistic on the subject of athletics for women.

In 1907, there were eight hockey clubs in this vicinity—enough to organize an inter-club hockey league. Merion Cricket Club, Belmont Cricket Club, Lansdowne Country Club, Germantown Hockey Club, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Moorestown Field Club, Haddonfield Hockey Club, and Frankford Cricket Club composed the league. Later Belmont went out of existence, Frankford and Moorestown withdrew, and Temple College joined the league. Now Lansdowne, Germantown, Haddonfield, Philadelphia and Merion have second teams, while Riverton plays only in the second league.

The different teams must have distinguishing colors, and no club joining the league may use the colors already adopted by another club. So far Temple is the only club far-sighted enough to play in bloomers instead of in hampering skirts. It is hoped by many that all may soon follow her wise example. Professionals are barred from competition on any league team. A team may be admitted to the league upon application to and approval by the Executive Committee. Each team has to play two matches with every other club in the league—one on the home field and one on the opponent’s.

Since 1908 a committee formed of a representative from each club has chosen an All-Philadelphia team to play outside teams, after the inter-club games are over. This has proved an incentive to consistently good playing all season, as one knows that the critics’ eyes are on one in every game. It has also helped to spread the interest in hockey.

Bryn Mawr, New York, Baltimore and Rosemary Hall (Greenwich, Conn.) teams have been met repeatedly by the All-Philadelphia team.