Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-31
TENNIS BADMINT0N.
The LATTER HAS NOT DRIVEN THE
FORMER FROM FAVOR.
Great Season for Net and Racket Games
Tho Gossip of the Champions-How
to Play Badminton.

Correspondence OF tho Richmond Dispatch.l
Nrw York, May 30.-The tennis season
OF 1891 has fairly begun, and from present
appearances it will be the liveliest one
that has ever been known in this country.
There was prospect earlier in the season
that badminton might supplant the older
game in favor, but every one concerned
now scouts tho possibility of such a result.
No one naturally takes q keeper interest
in the question than the makers Of tennis
goods. and they report the largest advance
sales on record. it ia one OF the not
to- be-forgotten consequences OF the popu-
larity Of lawn-tennis that the manufacture
and sale of nets, rackets, lawn-markers,
shoes, and uniforms has become a great in
dustry. II IS only very few years since
ali these goods were imported from Eng
land. the home of the game: now they are
practically all made here. and the business
amounts 10 something like $4,000, 600 a
year TO the trade. This is looking at the
other side Of the sport. but the point Of
view is not an unimpOrtant one.
The clubs in and about New York are In
numbers almost legion. and they are pre-
pairing busily for championship events.
Practically, the season begins with Decora-
tion-day. the month of fine weather before
practice-playine. OF course play be-
gins earlier South. The Washington
tournament for the championship
Of tho southern States was held in
the middle Of MAY. Tomorrow the New
York Tennis Club will hold it's spring
games, and from now to the end of the
season. in October, there will be tourna-
ment every day: for not summer hotel of
any size is without ITS tennis-courts, the
smallest villages have their clubs, and
matches and return matches are shrewdly
relied upon 20 keep up the interest in the
game.
THE SUCCESS oP TENNIS.
Undoubtedly the success Of tennis re-
largely due 20 the fact that mon and women
can play it together For Irritation pur-
poses II may not quite equal the sedatc and
sluggish game of croquet. but for Judi
cious combination Of sport and opportuni-
ties for Nfe-d-tetes it's equal has never been
invented. Indeed, tennis is the ideal
ladies' game. As il requires agility rather
than strength to play tennis, there is no
reason why women should not play quite
as we'll as men, If it were not for the per-
petual handicap of skirts. As 1t is, an
active woman is about match for stout
and midde-aged man, with equal prac-
tice, and some OF the best women play
ers can hold their own with any but the
very best men. This is test not TO be
recommended. however, as the practice Of
playing with one of the other sex rather
tends TO break a man up, as is divided
between his gallantrv and his desire TO ex-
eel. Thus it may easily happen that a man
will show up in better form at the end of q
season with comparatively little practice
with men than if he had considerable care
less playing with women. Championship
games are, of course, always between play
ers Of the same sex.
Since Sears, of Boston, who was an ex-
traordnary tennis-player, met with dis
aiding accident the honors of the game
have rested with the Brooklyn PLAYERS.
Henry w. Slocum, Jr., son of General IL.
w. Slocum. the champion of1S89 and Oliver
S., or "Ollie" Campbell. the present holder
of the championship, both having PLAYED