Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09

tons ordinarily use these courts: the one COM
posed mainly Of the college professors, and the
other almost entirely Of the students, some of
whom have become quite proficient. end are al
ways among the most interested spectators of
any important match played at Kendall Green.
THE vIcroRs
Having secured these grounds, the commit
tee made the tournament additionally attractive
by adding two events for ladies, both . singles
and q doubles competition. There are no ladies'
In the District whose skill rivals that of the
seemingly invincibie Miss Robinson, of Staten
Island. She appears to be in o class by herself
among the lady players of this country, and the
only ambition Of majority Of her opponents is
70 90 as well as possible against her; but there
are many Of considerable skill. and the entries
IN these two events were sufficient to make
them very interesting. The championship
gies, was won by Miss Bayard, .
daughter Of the Secretary of State, who
had often demonstrated the strength Of her
game while member Of the Delaware Field
Cup OF Wilmington. The contest in ladies'
doubles was won by Miss Bayard and Miss
Stafford; The championship in mems singles
was rather Unexpectedly taken by Mr. John
Pope, who had shown a considerable knowl-
edge OF the science of the game when repre-
senting Cornell University in the inter-
collegiate tournament of the previous wear.
MIR. Pope's most troublesome competitors were
MIR. H. b. Goodfellow and Mr.. c. L. McCawley.
both OF whom showed marked improvement in
their play. Mr.. McCawley, with MIR. Stevens
as partner, succeeded in winning the final
round of the doubles from Messrs. Woodward
and Davidson, and thus carried of that cham
pionship.
Mr.. PosTs SKILL
The success of this tournament and the good
play shown did not, however, appear to materi-
ally affect the result of the next championship
meeting of the Southern association, held on
the grounds of the Baltimore cricket club on
June IL and following days. Washington was
represented by some of its strongest players
who made creditable showing. Messrs Bon
sal and LeMoyne, however. who. as a result Of
continued practice together showed admir-
able team work, succeeded in winning the
double event for the second time, and thus
became the owners of the two CUBS pre-
sented by Peck 4 Snyder. A new Champion
made his appearance in the singles. Mr.. A. H.
s. Post gave by far the best exhibition of skill
that had up to that time been seen in the south
and won the championship without much
trouble Mr. Post is only seventeen years of
age, and as his play is not free from some of
those faults and weaknesses common to young
players. 1t was greatly to his credit that he
succeeded in wrestling victory from opponents
OF SO much greater experience. His strokes
are at times positively brilliant, and. though he
OFTEN shows inexcusable carelessness and an
apparent lack Of steadiness. il was demon
strated that his game possesses real strength
by the closeness Of the match which he PLAYED
with strong opponent. Mr.. Q. A. Shaw. in the
open tournament held at Narragansett Pier
last summer. Mr.. Post is undoubtedly one of
the most promising of the young players. and
the Development Of his skill will be watched
with interest
BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE.
Though the two tournaments held at WASH
lngton In the fall Of 'S7 and the spring of 'sS
did not produce a player capable of winning
the championship, yet their beneficial influence
was shown In the improved play of the greatly
increased number who followed lawn tennis as
a pastime. There were about ten clubs in ex-
istence two years ago. There are now seventy.
and the total number of players, as estimated
by the Capital newspaper. is two thousand. III
a devotee OF lawn tennis. who is anxious to inn
prove but does not himself wish to compete in
tournament, will observe carefully the
methods OF different contestants who are
struggling to win the prizes. he is certain to
obtain some hints which will be useful to him
and strengthen his game. Thus did these
tournaments result in a substantial improve
ment in play throughout Washington. Among
the most expert, and among those whose i'm
provement has been most rapid, may be men
toned Messrs. Oscar Woodward. C. L. Nc
Cawley, John Pope, R. B. Goodfellow, John
Davidson, W. P. Metcalf and DIR. ]. l.. Wort
man. No list could be complete without adding
the name of Mr.. w. V. R. Berry, who estab,
hshed his reputation as an expert some years
ago, and who now appears to have Joined the
ranks OF retired veterans.
THE COUNTRY CLUE.
Some few years ago club social in its
nature, was organized by several gentlemen of
Washington, prominent among whom was Mr..
John F. Waggaman. A clubhouse and grounds
were secured on the Bladensburg road at a
point located in the state of MARYLAND, but ONLY
a short distance from the boundary line of the
District Of Columbia, and not more than three
or four miles from the center Of the city of
washington. The club is known as the Country
club OF the state of Maryland, or the Highland
Country club, and 1t was designed to occupy the
same relation to the city of Washington as the
country clubs OF Boston and New York hold TO
those cities. One of the earliest sporting
features added to the club was a tennis court
and it at once occurred to the ever-aetiye
mind OF DR.. I. P. Mclean, who was a member
and interested in the club. that this would be
grand place in which to hold a large lawn
tennis tournament. Tournaments for the cham
pionship OF the south had been held under the
auspices OF the Southern Lawn Tennis associa-
ton; but 1t had been required, as q condition of
playing, that contestant should be a member
OF club belonging to the association and. con-
sequently, only a resident of the south was able
to compete. DIR. Mclean knew that the middle
states championship had been won by Mr.. r.. ID.
Sears, resident of New England, and that the
New England championship is at the present
time held by New Yorker. He felt that a
tournament for the championship of the south.
open to all comers whether from the north or
the south, would excite general interest. and
would, moreover, give the residents of Wash
ington an opportunity to witness the skillful
playing OF the northern experts, Who il was
hoped, would be induced to compete
AS a first step, the Country Club of the State
OF Maryland applied for membership in the
United States National Lawn Tennis associa-
ton, with the idea of holding the proposed
tournament under the auspices of that associa-
ton. The application was granted and author
NY gwen to the club to hold the tournament for
the championship of the southern states. This
ton IN an attitude OF apparent rivalry to the
Southern association. The latter had already
held tournament at Baltimore, as has been
related, and. naturally, would not recognize
any champion for the year except the winner
OF that tournament. The rivalry was more ap-
parent than real, however, as Dr. Mclean. the
president of the Southern association
was one OF the originators, and in
fact, the most active in the management
OF the Country club tournament. The appar-
ent conflict and championship complication
Will not be experienced in the future as il Ga
p1 obable that the United States National Lawn
Tennis association, whose membership is now
limited to single clubs, will at the next annual
meeting engraft into its constitution clause
under which other associations may be admitted
to membership in the older organization. thus
making it central and undsputed authority
in lawn tennis throughout the United States
Under such clause the Southern association
can become a member, and only one annual
tournament for the championship of the south
will hereafter he held