Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09
LAWN TENNIS IN THE SOUTH.
Popularity During the Past
Two Seasons.

" y
Increasing Popularity During the Past
Two Seasons.
THE LONG STRIDES MADE IN wAsHIyaTox-uN-
BOUNDED ENrHUsIAsN AND sKII1LFUI. PLAYERS
THE RECENT TOURNAMENTS AND THEIR BENE-
FIcIAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF TIE GAME
The remarkable interest displayed in lawn
tennis throughout the north, and the increas-
ing popularity of the game, as shown each year
by the multitude of new players and new clubs,
have been fully equaled in the south during
the pasttw seasons. The southern interest is
an awakening one. The athletes of that sec
ton have become aware, only during the last
few years, that lawn tennis is a game which
fully develops every muscle, and at the same
time possesses the elements of excitement and
competition which render any athletic game
more attractive
The Southern lawn tennis association which
was organized in the fall Of 1887, made il a part
OF Its constitution that mo club which is stu
ated north OF Wilmington. Del. should be ad-
mitted to membership in the association" So
we may well take line drawn east and west
through Wilmington as the northern boundary
of the southern tennis field; and what a vast
field 1t is! Winter visitors to the south find the
game In full swing in every town from Whining
ton, Del, to st. Augustine, Fla. Tournaments
are held In the largest cities of the extreme
south In the middle of winter, and the turf is as
green and the Temperature even more delight
ful Tor lawn tennis than the northern players
enjoy at Newport where the tournament for the
national championship is held in midsummer
The enthusiasm of the extreme south has
reached Its highest point in st. Augustine Fla
where 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 northerners, who happened to be
sojourning in Florida, and was won by Mr.. H.
u. Trevor, OF New York city. 1t has lately
been reported, however. that a special Pull
man car, finely equipped, will convey to the
scene of conflict northern contestants in the next
tournament. to be held in the month of March,
1889. The st. Augustine lawn tennis club has
recently become a member of the United
States national lawn tennis association and the
coming tournament will be held under its
auspices.
THE CENTER OF INTEREST.
To reach the center of southern interest and
enthusiasm, however, we must travel far north
of st. Augustine and visit three large cities,
VIZ, Washington, the national capital, Balti-
more and Wilmington. In Washington, par
ticularly. the game has taken long stride for
ward, and what place could be better adapted
for such sport? Its climate is such that the
tennis fiend" may enjoy his favorite game all
the year round Turf courts can be used as
late as December and as early as April. and
during the intervening months practice on
asphalt il sufficient to keep the eye and the hand
well IN" Some years ago a few members of
the metropolitan 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 afternoons amuse-
ment The members of the different foreign le-
cations are accustomed to use this court and
0llrlnU AZ faux Nd CO. hill
the unfortunate victim of American politics.
was an almost constant attendant, usually as a
spectator. On this court Mr.. W. Y. R. Berry
and Mr.. IL. w. Slocum, jr., played almost daily
during the winter of "a and 'S5, and Mr.. Berry
showed the value of his winter practice by cap
turing most of the rich prizes offered at north
ern tournaments during the following summer.
his rank amongst expert players being second
only to the champion, Mr.. r. d. Sears. Mr.
Berry Is almost giant in stature, and few of his
opponents in tournaments of that summer will
be apt to forget his strong and accurate smash
ing. which was the feature and chief strength
of his game. Prior to the summer of 1887 tour
naments for the championship of the south had
been held on the grounds of the Delaware Field
club at Wilmington. that club being a member
OF the United States National lawn tennis as
ISOLATION. and the tournaments being held I'M
der its auspices.
ORGANIZING THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION.
During the latter part of that summer, a few
active spirits in Washington, the most prom-
nent of whom was DIR. f. p. MacLean, conceived
the idea of organizing an association. to be
composed exclusively of clubs situated in the
south, and OF holding an annual tournament for
the championship of the South. under the aus
pices OF that association. Up to this period no
tournaments had been held in the District of
Columbia, except few local contests, which
had aroused little or no enthusiasm There
were probably not more than ten clubs in the
city, and most OF these were composed OF but
few members. To DIR. Mclean. more than any
one else, was due the interest which was now
newly excited. His enthusiasm was contagious
and active preparations were begun for the
first tournament of an association which was
not yet IN existence. 1t was decided to hold
the tournament In October, and circulars were
sent to all OF the prominent clubs of the south,
inviting their members to contest in the COM
ing tournament and share in the organization
OF the association.
The responses were numerous and favorable.
and or the 30th of October meeting was held
at Wormley's hotel, in Washington. at which
delegates from the Baltimore cricket club, of
Baltimore, Nd; the Delaware field club, of
Wilmington. and other smaller clubs scattered
through Virginia and Maryland met representa-
tlves OF the prominent clubs of the District of
Columbia. A permanent organization was eff
fected, to be known as the Southern lawn
tennis association. DR.. F. p. MacLean was
PAOoiucue, Leigh DOnSal OF the
Baltimore cricket club, vice. president, and Mr..
c: J.: McCawley, of the Columbia athletic club,
or Washington, secretary and treasurer 1t
was resolved that no club situated north of
wilmington, Del, should be admitted to men,
bership in the association
THE FIRST TOURNAMENT
OF the association was successful far beyond
the anticipation of its promoters. 1t was held
ON October 80, and the following days, at the
United States Marine barracks. The champion
ship of the south, in singles was won by Leigh
Bonsal. OF the Baltimore cricket club. and the
same player. with l.. V. LeMoyne as partner
secured the honor of the doubles champion
ship for his club. Washington was obliged to
rest content with second honors r. B. Good
fellow securing second place in the singles and
G. l.. McCawley and r. s. Chiffon the same i'm
the doubles. The tournament was ably man.
aged by a committee composed of DIR. Mac
Lean. W. V. II. Berry and C. L. McCawley. The
prizes were donated to the association by two
prominent firms of New York city, A. G. Spald-
ing d Bros. giving challenge cup for the
singles, to be won two years before it became
the property of the holder, and Peck & Snyder
presenting two silver cups to the winners of the
doubles championship.
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN.
The success of this initial tournament of the
association greatly encouraged its officers.
Many of the contestants had been hitherto un-
heard of, and some of them coming from clubs
located in small towns and villages of Virginia
and Maryland, had shown skill Of no mean or
der. Particularly surprising was the play Of
Mr.. Abel John Layard, a young Englishman,
and H.. 81 xlzy Il