Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-17
TENNIS CRACKS.
AfCoMPAR1soN OF NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN CHAMPIONS. rass-a q
The Northern Courts Have Not Got the
Advantage by Any Means-How We
Would Stand in Contest.

Interest in the very pretty and popu-
lar game of lawn tennis has been in
creasing daily in and about Los Angeles
of late, and appreciating the fact that
most Of the crack players are faithful
readers OF the HERALD, this journal has
embraced the opportunity OF posting
them as to the opinion of we'll known
northern player as to the rank Of our
experts with those of the north.
Mr.. ]. M. Kilgariff, of the California
Lawn Tennis club, with his charming
wife, is visiting us at the present time,
and was at Redondo during the late
tournament. Mr.. Kilgariff is an ardent
lover ef the game. He made good
fight in the tournament at San Rafael
this summer, being beaten by Yates for
the place OF runner up. He is ac-
quainted with all the crack players.
The HERALD correspondent sought an
interview yesterday, and Mr.. Kilgariff
very kindly consented to give his ideas
as suggested by the meet at Redondo.
To the question of our cracks compared
with those of the north he said: "Any
one who has a knowledge Of tennis
knows how difficult it is to draw COM
parisons between players who have
never played against each other. Take
two players evenly matched and they
will put up game that will be close
and exciting and appear to be good ten
mis-, but let one of these players face a
man who is fifteen better than he is
and the game will be dull and uninter-
esting. On that account it is hard to
give an opinion as to the relative merits
of your players and ours.
81 was very much interested in the
match between Arnold and Bumiller.
The latter is wonderful little player,
and some of his strokes in that match
were simply marvellous. He is more
like our Champion Taylor than any one
I have ever seen. They are both of
about the same size and build, and play
very much the same style of game.
"What is Taylor's strong point?
Well, his whole game is strong. There
is no amateur in our part of the country
that can volley and drive as he can.
Yes, think he could beat either Arnold
or Bumiller even when giving fifteen.
He would win by fast placing"
''Who are your men next to Taylor?"
Hubbard and Yates would come
next, suppose. Either would make a
very close match with Arnold or Bumil-
Ter. The former is very tall, and stands
up near the net and slams everything,
and if bobbed ball comes near him his
opponent will never get chance at it
again"
"Mr. Kilgarif, what style of game
would be most effective against Taylor?'
asked the writer.
swell, that is hard to say. The only
man who ever succeeded in beating him
is DAILY, our court marker. He is a
born tennis player, and can play any
style of game necessary to win. 1t is
TBS sa1asran 81 Any OCCASION But the
eral play of your players in the late Re.
Ydondo tournament was ahead Of
ours. By that mean that you could
select ten men, say, who would average
better than any ten we could
select. Our players do not use the
stroke known as the Lawford, as much
as yours. They play nearer the net and
win by swift drives and cut offs to the
side lines close up to the net. In fact
the Lawford was not used at all until
three years ago, when Robert Carter
met Taylor on our courts. Since then
it has been practiced considerably.
N'The playing of some OF your younger
players is very promising and 1 don't
think there is racket wielder in the
whole country that has handled the
racket as snort time as Bumiller that
could put up anything like the game he
does.
"How do the ladies compare? Well,
have only seen two of your players
on the court, Miss Gilliland and Miss
Halsted, and their game struck me as
remarkable. don't think we have any
one in the north equal to them. I think
either of them could win against our
best.
"How about our players in the double
events? can't tell yon who are the
cracks in gentlemen's doubles in the
north. The tournament deciding that
will take place next month. Tobin and
McGavin have held the championship
for the past year. think they could
beat the winners at Redondo, Arnold
and Chase.
"The matches between your
teams are prettier to watch as
the sallies are much longer.
Our teams smash more and do no,
play with the idea of JUST getting the
ball back over the net. The rollers are
usually short and fast, each player striv
ing either to win or lose on every
stroke he makes. In other words. we
do not play go carefully"
What do think lacking in the style
of play of your men? Well, now am
hardly presumptious enough to suggest
chat but can say this much, our play
.efe cut the balls to the sides close up to
the net and kill lobs more than yours
do, and when this is acquitted to high
degree as it is by Taylor, think it is
the winning game"
Mr.. Kilgariff said in closing that he
had greatly enjoyed meeting the players
,of the south and hoped that some Of
them would be seen in San Francisco in
sshfinaRr future. where he could assure
them they would be heartily welcomed.
NOT A MURDER.