The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-07-23
LAWN TENNIS SAID
 ID BE MORE POPULAR A Revival of Interest in the Skilful Game is
 Assured.
PLAYED EVERYWHERE
Europe as Much Interested in the Revival as
 America.

provision in it's schedule for more tournaments than for many seasons before. There has been an increase in the number of clubs in this country formed for the purpose of playing the game. and leagues for interelub match es have been springing up everywhere. This reflects the condition on the other side too The Field of London finds the matter worthy of leader in a TO- cent issue. The English publication takes ocasien at the same time to point out that the American method of en- couraging lawn tennis in the schools is having it's improving effect on the quality of the game in this country.
 Lawn tennis undoubtedly did fall off in favor in the United States, but since has come back strongly. It is eonsid- rred by many persons here to be a lafe prediction that the game will in- krease in popular favor to a surprising extent in the next three seasons. Lawn iennis is regarded as having shown lmazing vitality, because there are few sports which have come back so once they have dropped from public liking.
 What the Field has to say is inter- nsting to persons here because what ever may have been the conditions here a couple of years back the boom Is on in lawn tennis here, too. The English sporting paper says in part:
 From many points of view the an- nouncement that all the reserved seats at the championship tournament now proceeding at Wimbledon had been booked some weeks in advance may be regarded with satisfaction. There are special reasons why in the case of this game the number of non-combatant visitors to the great tournament of the year can be taken as rough measure of it's extension, and why the spectators of the championship match es may be believed to be for the most part representative of solid growth in the multitude of those to whom the introduction of lawn tennis has afford ed wholesome exercise and recreation. Little experience of such gatherings is required to convince one that no mere craze or propensity is fostered by att tending them. No cause can be alleg- ed for suspecting great gulf between playing and looking on no need for the lawn tennis apologist to plead that the crowd Is diverted from some more or less vicious manner of wasting time pr gratifying a craving for excitement.
 Tt must be remembered that lawn tennis owes nothing to external as- Bistance During the greater part of the last twenty years it has received much ignorant derision and but little praise from the press of the country. 1t has been declared again and again 10 be dead or dying, while it's solid merits have all the time been gaining for 1t hosts of recruits in evry part of the civilized world, In fact the growth of the annual tournament list, Itself an index of the increasing sup ply of players, the gradual and quiet progress which has at last made itself felt and the voluntary accession of hosts of fine athletes preceded the burst of recognition which occurred but two or three seasons back"
 The number and spread of the en- trants for the recent All England cham pionships also impresses the writer of the article. He speaks of the Amer icans and others in the recent tourna- ment, which for the first time was won by other than an Englishman It is curious to note how the sort of pro- pheey in this article written before the tournament has been verified by the victory of Norman E. Brookes an Australasian in the championship round. The writer continues:
 A glance at the program of the All England championships may suffice to suggest a number of questions con- corning the present and future status of lawn tennis in this country. There was a date in the history of the Vim bledon tournament when it was almost as popular as it is at present owing to the sudden and wonderful develop ment of the skill of a small band of players, of whom the late Messrs, William and Ernest Renshaw were the leaders. By way of contrast it would appear that we have now reached d lean year in respect of British talent inasmuch as the holders of the cham pionships, who ave to no small extent repeated the personal attraction of their famous precursors have retired from the arena. The game originally created by the brilliant feats, the chivalrous sportsmanship the unfail- ing enthusiasm of the Renshaws, and kept alive by a succession of admira- ble champions, is now in such a posi- tion as to be able to run alone.
 'Of the numerous candidates for the vacant titles 1t may be said that not Britons but colonial and foreign visit ors engage the largest amount of pub lie curiosity. The fact that lawn ten- his has become a universal rather than a national game, capable of af- fording what are now called Olympic contests in a more complete manner than any other, is indicated by the Wimbledon lists of names. For the Renshaw cup not only are aspirants from the United States contending with the flower of Australasia but h. dia and Egypt are represented by their champions and Austria has to be reck- oned with.
 Among the ladies who are candi- dates for the honor of challenging Mrs. Chambers for the title is Miss Sutton from the Pacific Coast who has once before carried the championship to CT distant home, together with Cana dian. South American and Austrian players. Though France is unfortu- nately without a delegate, it is not that she is destitute of players of the first rank A Belgian contingent has previously visited us with distinction, and will be heartily welcomed on it's
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