Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-19
MAIDEN LAWN TENNIS
Important Changes iH tl,c Game.

FROM The New \ rk Tribune.
81 expect. said prominent dealer in sport
ing goods day or twoago that We shall have
such season in lawn tennis as we have not
seen yet. The raIae seems to have taken a
| greater hold in this country than any other
new pastime-"
| The racKcts in use are so multiform that the
most fastidious player can be gratitied. Last
year the run was chiefly on heavy weghts-a
ID OF. late or Jelfries vas common. This sea-
son a lighter racket is coming into fashion An
American house is showing London rackets
called after prince and princess, weighing 13l.
and 11l4 ounces. They are smaller than the
( average. rounded. and nearly straight on the
face Other fayorite shapes are the Franklin
and. Staten Island, with large faces and broad
at the end.
The ball question is still unsettled. Last year
Ayres balls were adopted by the United states
Lawn Tennis association. This year the matter
has been referred to committee. 1t is pro-
posed to allow clubs TO select their own balls
not binding them to particular make. One
disadvantage of the covered ball is its tendency
to tear. An English maker has patented
seamless felted ball which can never become
torn or ragged There is novelty in markers
The West End uses dry marble dust instead of
WhitcwaSh. so that no possible injury can be
done 10y ii 10 the most carefully kept lawn.
The most popular costume for men is plain
white flannel shirt. trousers and jacket. Some
of the more athletic prefer white woollen
knitted guernsey. which adapts itself to every
movement OF the player and presents nothing
which can catch the handle of the racket. 1t is
admitted on all hands that the constant practice
that has been going on at the armores and pri-
vate clubs has produced a marked general i'm
provement. especially among the women.
Yes, said an experienced player to the re-
porter. THE game has changed great deal
since it was first introduced. Ii is much more
scientific and requires a quckness of Judgment
which every one does not possess. Among the
pew players Mir Maitland, young Engshman
is highly spoken of He played successfully Il I
the Tennis club. in 42i street. some time ago
His style is peculiar. depending not on his SER
vices. but on tie skill of his returns He is a
baseline player. taking nearly every ball on the
bound and driving it back hard not six inche :
over the net. The accuracy with which he
makes these strokes is much admired"
The report oltliep park commissioners Of Brook =
lyn recently issued states that last year. with
the approval of the Commissioners. an eXtraor-
binary demand ACCOMMODATION for this game
was provided for: over 125 organized clubs
whose membership was of both sexes were as
signed courts. The turf was kept i'm excellent
condition. ard was laid out in courts and main
tanned throughout the season by the park en-
ployes without cost to the players"
A Dreadful Calamity.
From the Burlington Hawkeye.
A What, escaping from its keepers was walk
ing down the street. and occasionally mingling
in a feeble way with the Human Beings who
tostled 10y, when it met lonely 1t, surrounded
by a Newmarket.
'.Ah, deah boy" said the What. "'tevah's
mattah with YOU: Twousahs bag like sailah's,
don't v know"
"AIas!" replied the broken It, "Dwead-
full. isn't it! Y see, they came home new lawst
night, don't v know and my valet he pulled
them on the tOngs to stwetch them and he's
made perfect bags OF them, don't v know? An
just want to die, deah boy, pom hOlah. l do,
now"
And shedding a tear as large as pea. the un-
happy 1t was drowned in its briny depths.
She Must Have Lost il.
From the San Francisco Post
The other morning a sad looking citizen
walked into the Office of Wells. Fargo's ey-
press and began solemnly doing up in pack
age battered looking silver dollar. Having
accomplished this. he passed the enclosure over
to the clerk and said:
II found this dollar on Market street last
Patti. New York."
think she lost it, eh7''
"Think!' said the man in a surprised voice
''Why. Of course. So far as can learn it's the
only dollar LETT in San Francisco and, Of course
1t must have been dropped by her. Send it
along, please. and you'll have to collect the
charges at the other end. ! haven't got a cent"
And there wasn't a man in the house but was
as dry as the citizen who walked off to keep an
engagement with the bankruptcy commits
siOner.
THE INFORMATION arrives from Paris that al
paca is being introduced by some Of the leading
dressmakers as a novelty in dresses but the
novelty alone is its sole attraction, as its dura-
blty ana utility are not to be compared with
any Of the pure Wool productions of foreign
looms. Still, for a light, COOL dust-sl- edding
costume, it is very good. and, when tastefully
trimmed, as the French know how, there Is an
air Of Quaker simplicity. associated with Pa
risian cOquetry, that renders a costume Of this
character quite charming