The morning call., 1893-09-08


Crouch and Miss Maude Wilkinson, all of
whom are IN the first class, are at present
visiting the Worlds Fair. So there were
only four entries yesterday, and when they
drew for opponents Miss Ethel Bates,
champion lady player of the Oakland
Tennis Club, was matched against Miss
Alice Roberts of the Oriole Club and
crack player of San Lorenzo, while Miss
Bee Hooper and Miss Alice Hoffman, both
Of the California Club faced each other
on.opposite side of the net
The t0uTE ament was opened bV Miss
Roberts and Miss Bates. They began be-
fore The day had commenced to grow warm,
AL ala some splendid playing. In the
CT set, Miss Bates a slender little
= aoctss sleemed to have no cnance agains.
EP stSiwflrt opponent. The latter did
y ne excellent all-around work, serving
acQratelys and winning some pretty rallies.
Mf5 B5ates seemed rather nervous, but
she stucks to the task like woman. She
was evidently mistress of her racket and
seemed to be cautiously measuring the
capacity of her antagonist. How deli
ieate looking girl, with a number FIVE
hand, could swing a racket with one
hand, and in the other hold four two-ounce
tennis balls at the same time, is one of
those feminine accomplishments which the
masculine mind cannot understand. Miss
Bates did it apparently without an effort.
Miss Roberts won the first set, the score
OF games being TO 3, and the points much
IN the winners service.
In the next set Miss Bates did much
better. She brought her clever vollying
into play and did some very effectual net
playing. 1t was soon evident to all that
the young lady has excellent Judgment,
and she kept Miss Roberts, who is plump
and rather short sighted, racing around
her court until she was breathless. Then
she went To Miss Bates by score of Cd.
In the third set Miss Bates. having be en-
coached by Tom Driscoll, who is mem
Der of the same club, played q strong
game devoid of errors, but with no at
tempt at display. Both young women won
alternate games until the score stood
two all. Then Miss Roberts met with an
accident which completely ratified the
poor girl" as sweet young creature from
Alameda expressed 1t.
''In running for ball she put her foot
through her gown, to her great confusion.
Secretary Larken rushed to her relief
with penknife, amputated the hanging
portion of the skirt and the game went on
But Miss Roberts did not recover her
equanimity. She won no more games, and
the set was counted for Miss Bates by a
score Of e.
Some fine play was shown in the match
between Miss Bee Hooper and Miss Alice
Hoffman, both of the California Club.
Miss Hooper, although slighter than her
opponent, has drive stroke so swift and
powerful that few men could equal. Even
Charlie Hubbard, holding a parasol over
pretty Miss Helen Walker, watched from
the spectators seats the rapid swing of
the graceful st. Helenan's racket with
envious eyes.
At ono stage of the contest when Miss
Hoffman was a few points in the lead,
Miss Hooper sent the ball flying across the
net with the Swiftness of rife bullet.
Involuntarily Miss Hoffman, who is fine
type of healthy young Womanhood, in
stead of striking at 1t, stepped aside out of
its course. "Jeehosophat" she CALCULATED
in astonishment. as she turned to watch
the course of the ball and the onlookers
smillngy acquleSced in her admiration.
In the first set Miss Hoffman won three
straight games before Miss Hooper real
iZed that the match was on. The sun was
in her face and she misplaced several balls.
''Tip your hat over your eyes," coached
James Brett Stokes. who was lining on
Miss HoOpeT's side.
The young lady thus advised adopted the
suggestion with grateful look and then
won the next six games without break.
What did l tell you?" said Stokes in
triumph at Miss Hooper's success.
The young ladies changed sides the next
set Miss Hooper won the first two games
hy the force of her hard play. Then Miss
Hoffman scored, followed by another
game for Miss Hooper. The latter had
streak Of bad luck from this point during
the rest OF the set. She had thoroughly
exhausted herself by her violent eHortS
during the latter part of the first set. If
Diana Will persist in using the blows of
Hercules the supply of strength will not
last long, as Miss Hooper found to her
cost.
Miss Hoffman perceived her opponents
weakening returns. and adroitly proceeded
to profit by her discovery. She cleverly
placed the balls in the mostremote corners
of her opponents court. keeping Miss
Hooper racing back and forth. She
quietly tired the sliglfter girl by her SUI
perior endurance. Miss Hooper won only
one more game in this sef the other five
going to Miss Hoffman. The la tier. glory
ing in her strength, marched off the court
with the air of Boadieea.
Then Miss Hooper showed that she
could fnesse even better than Miss H0ff-
man. When she found that she had over
exerted herself and that she could not