The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-09
TENNIS HAS LOST PRESTIGE WITH
MEMBERS OF ST. PAUL So
CIETY.
YACHTING AND THE WHEEL
HAVE DRIVEN THE RACQUET FROM
ITS ONCE PROUD SOCIAL PO-
SITION.
MEMORIES OF IT'S BETTER DAYS
Occasionally Haunt the Folks Who
Played 1T When 1t Was Esteemed
Pleasure.

Ten years ago and more ST. Paul was
in the midst of mighty tennis craze
which for time held nearly every
one in its power. Those who did not
play the game watched those who did
with all the interest accorded their
favorite sport by the lovers of base ball
and tennis suits in all their startling
and freshly Numbered whiteness, were
to be seen at all the unusual places now
freQuented by the bicycle costume. In
fact the game, healthful and graceful
was as popular as any of the sports of
today, but it did not endure, and with
the organizing of the White Bear
yacht club and the arrival of the wheel
the enthusiasm Of the local tennis play
ers in the majority of cases took to it.
self wings or wheels, and was away
before even the devotees themselves
realized what had happened. The nets
and racquets were relegated to the
attics, or made use of in the decoration
of the room of some member of the
family with a mind to the, artistic side
of sports, the tennis suits went out to
the lake and became yachting suits,
and the cat and the baby had q good
time with the balls. When tennis was
in it's prime there were some excellent
courts in st. Paul and some famous
games were played There were even
some famous players in the city's
midst. ~ VIII Thorne will be remembered
among the latter as being the champion
of the Northwest for rsone time. Mr..
TEorne also won honors at Yale as
tennis player Ten years ago, E. P.
OrdWay was considered one Of the best
all around tennis players in the city.
x The competitors of Mr. Ordway were
James Wall, W. H. Lightner, Will
Dean, H. R. Robinson, Lewis Bigelow,
Harry Johnson, Ed Hamilton, and
famous ST. Paul Tennis Club. Later
the group of players included w. N.
Armstrong. who won a good many
prizes; Robert Rantoul, Whitney Wall,
Will C. Read, w. Henry Patterson,
George Bigelow, John N. Jackson, and
Dr. Archie McLaren, Luther Newport
and Will Peet were also among the
we'll known players. This group of
men, or at least some of them, played
on the court on Dayton avenue, which
was made famous by the young women
friends of the players who used to
serve tea on the grounds afternoons.
Afterward the greater part Of the
playing was done at Hamline where
the six courts of the ST. Paul Tennis
club were located. Will Read, the
president of the club for number of
or five years the club was very pros
porous and the annual Fourth of July
tournament in the afternoon was held
as regularly as the regatta on the river
in the forenoon. Refreshments were
served at the Fourth of July affairs
and there was music, and the NuShka
coaches went out with the gayest of
gay parties aboard. The woman had a
day at Hamline and there were several
holly contested tournaments among the
women members alone. There were
male and female doubles played there
as late as 1890. About that time the
White Bear Yacht club came into ex-
istence and the devotees of tennis took
to yachting for amusement.
Among the women who played on
the Hamline courts were the Misses
Dean, Smythe, Forepaugh, McLaren,
Bigelow, Frandrau and others, the ma
jority of whom are now married. The
club finally consolidated with the
Cricket club, and, except on a few
private courts, there Is little playing
done.
OF the private courts the Fairmont
was organized in go at the suggestion
of Louis Tamme, who had had some
experience of the game East The out
fit was only an ordinary one and the
first players were w. G. Strickland,
George Matheny, who is now South;
Dawson Moreland, Nellie Beardslee
and Susie Watson The club was
strictly neighborhood club and inn
provements were added to the court
each year. Three years ago the court
was enlarged and put in first class
shape. The women members dropped
out as the wheel gained in popularity.
A court on Holly, between Arundel and
Mackubin, which is run over with
weeds nowadays, was used some seven
or eight years ago by George Theobald,
Minnie Theobald. May and Grace
Morehouse, Sidney Thompson, Walter
Cathie, Tom and Lewis Wilde, Carol
Moore
One of the most famous courts was
the Halcyon at Western and Summit
where Walter Hale. Everett Griggs,
Leslie Gilbert, Ben Johnson, Harry
Noble, Gardner Corning, Wallace Win
ter and others used to play each after
noon At-the side of the grounds of E.
FL. Turner's residence on ST. Adams
street was a dirt court where the
Misses Turner and the Misses Strong
were wont to play Ben Hodge had a
good sod court In his yard on Marshall
avenue. and the Misses Pope had an
excellent dirt court. Kate Spalding.
Carrie Armstrong and Nina Wanzer
used to play on the Hodge court. Last
year there was a court at Ashland and
ev xxyJ, To-,