The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-28
TENNIS PLAYERS
ON THE INCREASE.
All Indications Point to a Bic
Boom IN the Net Game
This Season

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
All indications point to a very busy season
for lawn tennis players during the coming
summer. In fact. it now appears that the
net game is on the threshold of the largest
boom 1t ever enjoyed. St. Louisans seem
to have taken it up with as much vim as
they did the bicycle a few years back. Even
at this early stage. sporting goods dealers
can feel the effects Of the oncoming rush
Of enthusiasts who only await warmer
weather to enjoy the game to the fullest
extent. Though the weather 50 far this
year has been anything but %propitious for
practice on the courts, there has been a
deal of business done in rackets, nets and
tennis balls already.
Out in Forest Park Tom Aitken IL BE-
sicged with inquiries in regard to the con.
dition Of the courts. The ct. Louis A. A. A.
had eight courts last season and found that
double that number would not suffice for the
large nun:ber WHO wished to play on Satur-
days and Sundays. The association could
not find room to double the capacity for
players. but has added two courts. It has
been estimated that the st. Louis A. A. A.
alone can count 400 tennis enthusiasts on
its rolls. while the large number Of purely
tennis clubs Is constantly increasing.
Several club tournaments were given BIZ
the st. Louis A. A. A. last season and they
attracted SO much attention that It has been
deemed advisable to promote several open
Journeys this season in addition to holding
the State championship events. which will
attract quite a numerous coterie from Kan
sas City. where tennis has been popular for
several years.
Though several of the best tennis players
In st. Louis deserted the court game for
that OF the links. there are any number OF
them left who can uphold their end and the
honor Of the city in an athletic way against
outsiders. With st. Louis Claiming the sec
ond best tennis player the world has pro-
duced. In Dwight Davis. there is small ex-
cuse for allowing any one to come here and
carry away a title so comparatively insig-
nficant as that Of State champion.
Welcome news has just reached American
lawn tents players from abroad in the shape
OF a complete vindication of the American
management Of last seasons International
matches at Longwood. and the strong report
Of the English committee appointed to in
vestfgate Cores protests is expected to ma
terially increase the good feeling which has
been steadily growing between American
ana English players, and to make future in
ternatioral matches much more harmonious.
1t will be remembered that Gore, Black
and Barrett, the English challenging team.
arrived in America last August. only three
or four days before the International
matches were scheduled to be played. and
then. instead Of practicing. they rushed
CT sightseeing to Niagara Falls. When the
time came to play their matches a days
rain and their neglect Of other opportuni-
ties left them with only ono days practice
after an ocean voyage, and when they were
promptly beaten they complained of q lack
Of practice.
After they got home Captain Gore sub
United Dis Official report OF the trip, and
the defeat. and in this he excused the
pleasure jaunt by saying that the matches
were played several days ahead Of the
original schedule. He also complained OF
the poor courts at Longwood. which did not
compare with those at Hoboken, used for
previous international matches: in fact: he
complained of nearly everything American.
The English Lawn Tennis Association took
official recognition Of Cores complaints by
referring the whole matter to its commit.
tee. which had made all the arrangements
for the international matches, and that
committee brought in its report at the last
meeting OF the Lawn Tennis Association
council. This report was q complete vindi-
cation for the American management. and
to counteract the general impression abroad
that Gore had succeeded in fostering. to the
effect that the English players had not re-
ceived fair treatment In America. the Eng
lish Lawn Tennis Association ordered the
committees report officially printed.
In this report the committee reproduced
the correspondence between Doctor James
Dwight, president Of the United States Ma
tional Law Tennis Association. and q. r.
Mewburn. secretary Of the English Lawn
Tennis Association. From this 1t Is an
parent that every effort was made to give
the challengers .the benefit of practice be-
fore their international matches. 1t was
the announced determination Of Barrett TO
sail for home one week after he arrived
here. coupled with the late coming of the
challengers that forced the hurried arrange
ments and short practice Of the English
players.
The fact that another English challenge
has already been sent over here and &C.
cepted. for another series Of international
matches this umnner shows tina Gore has
been thoroughly d~iscredited at home, for
he declared when he sailed that another
team would not be sent over for the Davis
challenge cup. ~ foreigners could, not get
fair treatment In this country. Az a mat
ter OF fact. Gore was very much chagrined
At his bad defeat over here, ana in his net
tied frame Of mind: n glad to do any
thing he could to injure International re-
lattons IN lAwn tennlA Fortunately, the
good craftsmanship Of the Engiishman pre-
vailed. = hh akoEts have been Without
aas