The Washington times., 1906-06-17
AMERICAN TENNIS
PLAYERS ARE WEAK
Fail to Show True Form
Abroad.
SPEARMINT'S UNIQUE RECORD
Winning Of Derby and Long Champs
by Same Horse Never Done Before.
Baseball Growing.
SPEARMINTS UNIQUE RECORD

LONDON. June l6--This has been
tennis week so far as American inter
est in British sports is concerned.
1t must BE confessed that the develop
n,ents in the international play over the
nets have not been altogether satisfac-
tory 10 the Americans. The defeat of
Miss Nay Sutton by Miss Kate Douglas.
and the narrow margin by which Ward
and Little beat the Australasian experts
and won the right 70 contest in the
finals for the Dwight Davis trophy, IN
oicated that the contingent from the
States was not up to form. and that
the prospect OF carrying International
tennis hOnors across the waters are
slight.
Miss Sutton play particularly was a
disappointmeI Z. She was not UP to her
last years form and seemed to tire
easily.
The play of Ward is superb. and Little
has improved since his defeat by Wild
ing, Of New Z saIand.
The championship play is now in prog
ress at Wimbledon, and on Monday the
final games wiz be played which viii
settle the owners hip Of the Davis trophy
for the next yea. The Americans feel
the loss Of Beals G. Wright keenIy. IL
was hoped up TO the beginning of the
week that he would be able TO take part
In the finals, but his injured hand Is max
ing slow progress and he was compelled
10 participate only as an oniooker.
Next TO the tennis games the remark
aole ieat OF spearrnint, winner OF the
Derby, In taking the rich Grand Prix
de Long Champs was Of most interest
10 Americans Of any Of the sporting
happenings OF the week Expert handf-
cappers had expected w X Wander
bits MaintenOn TO win the race. but
the colt was not placed Spearmint's
win was unique. So far as the avail
able records show no Derby winner has
ever taken the Grand Prix. The spIen-
did ride Of Danny Maher had much to
do with the easy fashion in which
Spearmint took the race. It is an in
teresting fact that Mintlng, the grand
father Of the winner, is on the list of
Grand Prix winners.
The British baseball league season
is fairly open now, and every dav
championship games are PLAYED. The
crowds which are attending the games
are constantly increasing in size. The
rules have been modified so that aac5
club may have an American battery If
II chooses, and all Of the clubs arc
availing themselves Of the privilege.
The style Of handling the ball, both in
pitching and catching, is so entirely
different from anything seen in English
ball sports that the English players do
not seem TO be quite up to it yet In
the other positions the EngIishn7en
seem to be doing good work, though il
is hardly up 70 the first-class Ameri-
can amateur standard as yet.
The fine points of the great American
game, however, are being gradually per-
Ceived. and that its popularity will grow
admits of no doubt. The big American
colony in London are fans almost to a
man, and a woman. too, for that matter
Percy F. Pierce, of Buffalo. the only
American in the race for the Herkomer
automobile traphy in Germany. while
beaten is very much encouraged. He
declares he has learned much, both as TO
machines and races, which viii be OF
great value TO him when he goes home
He was racing against IA of the best
machines and the best chauffeurs In
Europe, and his showing was most
creditable.
Daniels. the American swimmer who
came here from the Olympic games ia
Athens, is amazing British experts by
his wonderful style and speed. He has
beated Derbyshire's record for 80 yards
OF 56 Is seconds, by As seconds. and
that he will lower other British records
seems certain.
Young Jay Gould is clinching the frs
opinion % him as a ciean-cut sportsman
and tennis player Of marked abillt.