Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-04-04
TENNIS CHAMPION.

mo, Gus, ! nave never seeH mn
play. ! have seen his name In the
uapers once or twice, Mlt that Is all
know Of him. never thought OF him
for moment as likely to give III all
such surprise ms this"
"Well | am jolly glad he has done
It. It does these chaps who have mao
It all their own way 80 long no END OF
good to have the concelt taken out OF
them at last"
This conv, rsation took place on the
day after that exciting day ut Wlmble-
don, 80 memorable to all Interested IN
lawn tennis, when the mighty cham
pion of six years standing had been
thoroughly and fairly beaten by n
Youthful and comparatively unknown
PLAYER, after a long and exciting strug
gle.
Full reports had, Of course, appeared
In the papers, and the news had Just
reached the remote country town or
Muggeton, whose tennis players are
quite rs much. IF not more, excited the
day after the event than those thou
sands who Witnessed the struggle on
the All England championship court
at Wimbledon.
Arthur pushIngton was the secretary
OF the lawn tennis club ut Muggleton,
and Augustus IIowsthat was the Mug
glcton champion.
The club has Its enemies, Of course,
like everything truly great whether
mn institution or an individual; enemies
such rs the clubs OF the nclghborlng
towns and villages round about, which
cannot produce n player who comes
within challenge distance OF the Mug
gleton champion,
The members Of these ll-nhtured
clubs may say that the reason for the
pre- emincncc of the Mugglctoninns In
tennis X owing to Their" being nothing
else for the inhabitants to do, aud that
II 1t were not for The annual lawn
tennis tournament held there the Mug
gletonlnns would never he more than
half awake. But no one heedS male
VIOLENT ISLANDERS of this character.
For somc time past MugGlcton has
annually held tennis tournament.
open to all amateur tennis players
with special events for local players,
but up to the time of our story the en-
tries for the open and district events
had been wonderfully similar
II Is Il remarkable fact that none OF
the illustriouS cracks has ever thought
II worth their while to compete with
Mr.. lIowlsthnt for the diamond cham
plonshlp badge, presented to the Mug
glcton tennis club by Sir Henry rorill-
man, NJ. T., the squire of portly hall.
"My dearest Bertha, have you heard
the neWSY'
The uucstioner was Miss Amelia
Jones, who had dashed, GREATNESS and
excited, into her friend Miss Marshalls
drawing room some weeks after the
Wimbledon meeting.
"rhc news, my dear? Whit ncwsW
asked Miss Marshall.
"Ahout the new champions"
"no You mean Smnshrr. the All-ling
land Champion or course | know he
won the match at Wimbledon"
Eyes, but do you know he has en-.
tered for the tournament, our tourna-
ment, ut Muggleton? They are holding
committee meeting now. Get on
your things. my dear, and let us go. |
am longing to hear all about It."
Miss Marshall was not long IN ar
ranging her outdoor costumes; and the
two young ladies' hurried to the ground
Just IN time to hear the secretary read
the champions letter for the twentieth
time. II ran:
IL have heard often OF your open
tournament and of the admirable way
in which II Is managed. | shall be in
your ncighhorhood at the time for
which your meeting Ia advertised. ana
should esteem 1t favor II YOU would
enter me for all the open events and
find me partners for the doubles"
The question for consideration was
what was to I've done under the circum-
stances? 10 allow the llustrious
Smasher to go to the Dog and Dutt !"
Mugglcton's one inn. was out " the
question.
Somebody must put him up" said
the secretary; and who is so llkley to
do It as the president, Sir Henry porti-
man? Is he not always eager to enter
tain any illustrious stranger who visits
the neighborhood? | propose that a
deputaton be appointed to call on sir
Henry"
Sir Henry, who was NJ T. for the
district was only too delighted to do
anything which promised little cclat
and popularity, and m invitation was
accordingly sent and graciously ac.
cepted by the great Smasher.
At last the day before the great tour
nament arrived. The champion was
expected at noon, having signidcd his
wish to see something Of the pictur.
esque part Of Muggleton before set
thing down to the serious business OF
the hour.
Once more Miss Jones had the de
lightfu task Of telling her bosom
friend the latest news