Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-05
SOCIETY THRONES
TENNIS COURTS
FOUR-DAY TOURNAMENT IS
NOW ON
Merry Ping Of Raoquets Proves lrre-
sistlble, and Large Crowd
Journey to Ocean

with the merry ping of the racduets
the fiuttering of gay garments and a
suitable fusillade Of applause In honor
of the glorious Fourth, the greatest
tennis tournament in the history of the
southwest began yesterday on the ten
mis- courts of the Ocean Park Country
club. and society Of Los Angeles and
Ocean Park turned out en- fete to wit
ness the initial performance of the
four-day event
The play for the day was splendid
and although the work was all in the
preliminaries 1t was soon evident that
during the past season there have been
some remarkably fine players developed
on the local courts and hereafter the
southwest may have some international
representatives.
The first game was called at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning and when the lads
in their immaculate white suits trotted
out to the courts and began to send the
balls spinning about they received an
ovation, for the audience, which was
composed for the greater part of prom
1nent young society women of Los An
geles, was in high good humor
Sun Refuses to Show Itself
The game, however, was to a great
extent with the "mudlarks" of tennis
dom, for in spite of much coaxing the
sun positively refused to shine and the
contestants played their games in a
sort of grayish light which caused many
of them to show faults.
During the morning the open singles
and Junior singles were played and the
performance proved highly spectacular.
1t was worth the trouble of the trip to
the beach and the light admission fee
just to see the youths as they pranced
about the courts, their bare arms and
necks burned to copper color from much
practice in the sun.
Probably the most sensational per-
formance of the day was the contest be-
tween Bundy and Sheldon. Bundy has
been improving rapidly of late and yes
terday was in splendid form.
In the first set with Sheldon the play
was hotly contested, Sheldon finishing
like whirlwind and sending the young
er man back with desperate drives to
both corners of the court Bundys
splendid work with the Lofard stroke
failed him in the crisis and in a last
sprint from the net to the serving line
Sheldon caught a ball which Bundy
had chopped over the net and drove it
back with a back Lofard stroke win
ming the set.
6undy Shows Agility
But Bundy's agility proved too much
for the older man in the two following
sets and he took them into camp rather
handily, covering the ball with ease
and causing Sheldon to fly distress sig
nails on several occasions.
The spectators were given a fine
chance to take points on the play of
the Southern California experts during
the morning.
Way was pitted against Leonard. who
during the past season has developed
speed and good Judgment In his play.
The youth however. was not up to the
standard of Way and the elder man won
the two sets.
with tennis enthusiasts, trimmed Jones
IN two easy sets and 'Braly defeated
Bradford.
Browne showed unexpected form in
the opening games of the tournament
and In two clever matches won handily,
himself in the lists to meet the
in today's performance
Brownies first game was with Young,
a slender dark lad who handled him
self so cleverly that Browne was COM
PEELED to use every stroke in the call
endar to win out.
Pretty Contest Results
In the afternoon Browne met Henry
and the resulting contest was a pretty
one. Both men were equal with the
Lofard stroke and both men drove in
terrific fashion, but Browne proved too
much on the returns when it came to
handing out backhand lobbed balls
and Henry met defeat, although both
men worked hard Henry lost with a
grace rarely ever seen in such gentle
sport as tennis and he received his
share of the applause.
In the afternoon the doubles were
declared in order and the courts be-
came suddenly alive with players. Hor-
ace Donnell in tandem with Noble
played an exceptionally keen game, but
tne team went down to defeat before
the assaults of Way and Bell.
This game was the feature of the af-
ternoon performance and the interest
or the spectators was centered on it,
While careful notes on the play of the
experts were taken by those in the audi
ence who some day hope to be able
TO bang the elusive tennis ball around
some contested court.
Late in the afternoon, just before
play was stopped. the mixed doubles
were called and two preliminary con-
tests were played. In both the CON
testants showed fair training and it is
expected that lively playing will be
brought out in that particular division
before the prizes are awarded.
Program for Today
Today Miss Mary Browne, IA wears
OF age, who from her showing of the
past Few days may some day represent
California before the world as a sue
cessor to May Sutton. will appear in
the mixed doubles. Miss Madge Con-
ger another Los AnPeIes OWL u,bo fs
an expert with the racquet will appear.
Both girls are listed to play with cred
ltable performers from the male as
pirants for r'honors and the play in their
sets VIII be well worth seeing.
In the open single for today Sinsa-
baugh will be declared the winner over
way by default, because Way will be
unable to attend the meet.
The contest of the giants will occur
IN the matches when Variel meets
Braly, Bundy clashes with Gowan and
Lacey crosses racoIqts with prou,y,a