New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06
LAWN TENNIS AND COURT PLAY.
EFFORTS TO CONQUER THE ELEMENT OF LUCK

EFFORTS TO CONQUER THE ELEMENT OF LUCK
IN GAMEs-wHAT MAY COME OF THIS.
One of the most interesting features in the evolution
OF the game of lawn-tennls is the gradual growth OF
the covered court play. There be little DOUBT
that when the game first started It's promoters IN
tended that 1t should be a purely outdoor pastme
There court games already In existence eS'aD
shed on so firm basis as TO make the danger Oh
their being spplanied extremely slight, and fenced
around with all of those old associations which cling
to every favorte and time honored form Of recreation
Butthey labored under two principal Disadvantages
In the first place. the bodily exercise which they
afforded was not that exercise IN the open air which
many regard as essential to health and without
which the average American feels that he rs lost
In the second pace, the comparative scarcity OF the
courts in which these games were played tAere are
only three OF those courts IN this countrye one IN
Newport and two IN Boston and few more IN England
and the expense attending the erection offnew ones
placed them beyond the reach Of many wfDse occn
patton or inclination prevented their turning their at
tentlon 10 some other already existing pastme.
II was therefore, In order 10 meet these two dis
advantages that the game Of awn-tenns-a game that
could be played In the summer and in the open air,
and was within the reach Of all those who had a
sufficiently large plot Of grass at their dAsposal-was
started. But II not long before enthusiasm for
the game and desire TO be more less independent
of the vagares Of winter climate led to the practice
OF PLAYING on hard courts both out OF doors ana unuer
cover: and where new courts were not laid down
especially for the purpose the drill shed or the
abandoned skating rink made to minister to the
rising game. And so II has about that people
play lawn-tenns variety of surfaces widely
different from that natural ground after which the
game is named
Among the many causes which have contributed to
this result the desire for winter play has perhaps
been most potent. IL did not take long to make the
discovery that the game almost enjoyable In
winter as in summer and that the violent bodily
exercise was sufficient 10 keep player warm even
on the coolest day. while the value of winter
practice and the superior skill shown at the open
ing Of season by those who had not
abandoned their favorite exercise during the winter
months were too obvious be denied. But there
is another which is tending TO increase the
popularity Of covered court play.
This may DO described the desire for the eimina-
tlon of luck II cannot be denied that the element
Of luck enters largely into the game as played on
absolutely true, and false bounds may occur at any
moment Seldom, too, is there a day on which me
play. while roo much too little light, and host
of other adverse conditions are always likely to
covered court, the other hand, these annoy
are. ought to be, almost entirely absent. ..-
not all that they are declared to be, that the
floor often uneven and che light bad that few coy
known This may be true, but it must be remembered
that covered courts yet In their infancy and that
be cons rncted which ldls every requirement and is
perfect IN every particular II this fortunate con
prslng if small, but determined band Of players
were TO be found VINO should be willing to devote
It IS Whs pered tina, the nucleus of such body is
already in existeyce md that time only Is needed 10
bring covered court play 91 sa suS9 est
line of its own.