The morning news., 1889-03-15
,wN TENNIS IN THE SOUTH.
,.oreasing Popularity During the Pas
ILL., qwo Seasons.
IRON, the WASHINGTON Star.

=, +annis throughout the north, and the
leasing popularity of the game, as
.bo,ya each year by the multitude OF new
7Igrars and new clubs, have been fully
P.,olIed in the south during the past two
eq-ons The southern interest is an awak-
see9 sea- one The athletes of that section
en,-s en,Ie hecome aware, only during the last
ISr wears, that lawn tennis is game
Iehicb fully develops every muscle and at
nnIeame time possesses the elements of ex
element and competition which render
NV athletic game more attractive.
Tho Southern Lawn Tennis Association,
--hinb was organized in the fall of 1887,
,ade mt,lI if part of its constitution that ''no
n',b which is situated north of Whining
taa Del. should be admitted to member
- ~ in +he association So we may we'll
30 line drawn east and west
tSrough Wilmington as the northern
boundary of the southern tennis field; and
1yhat vast field it isl Winter visitors to
the south find the game in full swing IN
orerv town from Wilmington, Del, to st.
bng1st1pe. Fla. Tournaments are held in
tbe la eest cities of the extreme south in
tbe middle of winter, and the turf is as
rrean and the temperature even more de-
Hghtful for lawn tennis than the northern
nIsvers enjoy at Newport, where the tour
ppament for the national championship is
held in midsummer.
The enthusiasm Of the extreme south has
reached its highest point IN st. Augustine,
Fla where a valuable challenge cup has
been offered, to be played for in February
or March of each year. The cup was last
year contested for by only few northern
ers. who happened to be sojourning il
Florida, and was won by II. G. Trevor of
New York city. The st. Augustine Lawn.
Tennis Club has recently become member
Of the United States National Lawn Tennis
Association, and the recent tournament was
held under its auspices.
THE CENTER OF INTEREST.
To reach the center of southern interest
aud enthusiasm, however, we must travel
far north of st. Augustine and visit three
LARGE cities, via Washington, the national
capitol. Baltimore and Wilmington. In
Washington, particularly, the game has
taken a long stride forward, and what
place could be better adapted for such
sport9 Its climate is such that the ''tennis
fend" may enjoy his favorite game all the
wear round Turf courts can be used as
late as December aud as early as April, and
during the intervening months practice oa
asphalt is sufficient to keep the eye
and the hand well 'in.n Some years
ago a few members of the Metro
politan Club built an asphalt court on
street, and since that time there have been
few winters when the court has not been in
constant use. On many occasions the snow
has been shoveled away to afford an after
rooms amusement. TheIme nbers of the
different foreign legations are accust toned
to use this court, and during the past few
years Lord Sackville-West, the unfortunate
victim of American politics, was an almost
constant attendant, usually as a spectator.
On this court Mr.. w. V. R. Berry and
Mr. H. W. Slocum, Jr., played
almost daily during the winter of
18S4-'85, and Mr.. Berry showed the
value of his winter practice by capturing
most of the rich prizes offered at north
ern tournaments during the following sum-
mer, his rank amongst expert players being
second only to the champion, Mr. r. d.
Sears. Mr.. Berry is almost a giant in
stature, and few of his opponents in tourna-
ments of that summer will be apt to forget
his strong and accurate smashing" which
was the feature and chief strength of his
game. Prior to the summer of 1887, tour
lements for the championship Of the south
had been held on the grounds of the Della
ware Field Club at Wilmington, that club
being a member of the United States
National Lawn Tennis Association, and the
tournaments being held under its auspices.
ORGANIZING THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION.
During the latter part of that summer a
prominent of whom was Dr. F. P. Mac
Lean, conceived the idea of organizing an
association, to be composed exclusively of
clubs situated in the south, and of holding
az annual tournament for the champion
ship of the south, under the auspices of that
association. Up to this period no tourna-
ments had been held in the District of Co
lumbla, except few local contests, which
had aroused little or no enthusiasm. There
oIno not fat1 oil he
city, and most of these were composed of
but few members. To Dr. MacLean, more
than any one else, was due the interest
which was now newly excited. His enthu-
siasm was contagious, and active prepara-
tions were begun for the first tournament
of an association which was not yet in ex-
istence. 1t was decided to hold the tourna-
ment In October, and circulars were sent to
all of the prominent clubs of the south, in
viting their members to contest in the COM
ing tournament and share in the organiza-
ton Of the association.
The responses were numerous and favor
able, and on Oct. 30 a meeting was held at
Normley's hotel III Washington, at which
delegates from the Baltimore Cricket Club
Of Baltimore, Md, the Delaware Field Club
Of Wilmington, and other smaller clubs scat
tered through Virginia and Maryland, met
representatives of the prominent clubs of the
ganization was effected, to be known as t
southern Lawn Tennis Association. DR..
r. ?. MacLean was elected president, Mr..
Leigh Bonsal of the Baltimore Cricket Club,
wee president, and MIR. c. l.. McCawley
Of the Columbia Athletic Club of Washing
tor, secretary and treasurer 1t was re-
solved that no club situated north of Will
mIlngton, Del, should be admitted to mem
UerShlp in the association.
THE FIRST TOURNAMENT
OF the association was successful, far be
You'd the anticipate ion of its promoters. 1t
was held on Oct 30, and the following days,
at the United States marine barracks. The
Championship of the south, in singles, was
won by Leigh Bonsal of the Baltimore
GIrlcket Club, and the same player, with L.
" LeMoyne as partner, secured the
iIonor OF the doubles champion hip for
MS club. Washington was obliged to rest
content with second honors; r. B. Good
Fellow securing second place in the singles,
ana Z. l.. McCawley and r. s. Chiffon the
same IN the doubles The tournament was
qoly managed by committee composed of
1Dr MacLean, w. V. r. Berry and G. L.
McCawley. The prizes were donated to the
sSSsoclatlon by two prominent firms of New
1oTk city, A. q. Spalding & Bros. giving a
euallenge cup for the singles, TO be won two
years before it became the property Of the
nnqlder, and Peck & Snyder presenting two
eIFer cups to the winners of the doubles
championship.
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN.
A. Inc success Of this initial tournament of
W one ASSOCIATION greatly encouraged its Off
VETS Many of the contestants had been