The sun., 1908-09-13
HISTORY OF TIE DAVIS CUP
HOW TIE INTERNATIONAL
4 TROPHY CAME TO BE.

| hVW MI HN bH+V ~
TROPHY CAME TO BE.
Lawn Tennis Prize Has Beea Held by This
| Country. the United Kingdom and
Australasia I'm Turn Since lo0o-Pre-
Iiminary Tie This Week at Longweod.
1t 10 for the privilege of going after
lawn tennis trophy something like 10000
miles away that the American and British
players will do battle at the Longwood
Cricket Cub next Thursday. Friday and
Saturday Dwight F. Davis probably
never conceived when he gave the trophy
that bears his name that 1t was going to
be international in the sense that 1t has
become. Since 1900. when the Davis inter
national lawn tennis bowl first was
played for. the United States. the United
Kingdom, Australasia. France. Austria
and Belgium have challenged for it.
IT was held from 1900 to 1908 by the
United States. from 1908 to 1907 by the
United Kingdom and last year the men
from the downunder country carried 1t
of to Australasia After the matches at
Longwood this week are over the win
ners will. prepare for the trip aoross
country TO take q Pacific steamer TO
Melbourne, there to struggle with the
holders.
The Davis cup. a. II ID commonly called.
has become the gilt edged trophy Of the
lawn tennis world. 1t has engaged all
the crack players Of this and other coun-
tries for the last seven years and has been
fought for bitterly. Dwight r. Davis.
formerly Harvard man, travelled abroad
in 1899 on lawn tennis trip. He was
one Of the leading players of this ooun-
try. While he was on the other side
he suggested the plan Of an international
trophy and the British received IL with
enthusiasm. When he returned to this
country he completed the plans and In
1900 the trophy was put up and the British
challenged for 1t.
The English sent over A. w. Gore. E.
D. Black and H. Roper Barrett. very
excellent trio. but not the best men In
England. The Dohertys did not make
their invasion until later. Against the
British three America nominated NAL
colin d. Whitman. Holcombe Ward and
the donor. Dwight F. Davis. The matches
were played. as thie weeks will be. at
Longwood. The first day America took
the lead. Whitman easily did away
with Gore and Davis put out Black The
next days play was In doubles and Ward
and Davis won from Black and Barrett
In very easy style. The third day there
was rain, after Davis and Gore had about
played two sets. America had the bowl
sure. with three matches to none. and as
the British players were eager to get
back home the other matches were left
unplayed.
There were some unfortunate complica-
tions the next year. The British players
challenged. but at the last moment with
drew the team although all arrangements
had been made here. That did not in
terrupt the good feeling for more than
a brief time. and In 1902 there were Davis
cup matches here again. DR.. Joshua
PIN and the Dohertys. Reginald F. and
Hugh L.. came over to meet the Ameri-
cans at the Crescent Athletic Club grounds
in Bsv Ridge Again Whitman and Ward
and Davis were on the team. and to Il
was added William A. Larned. national
champion that yea.
r. F. Dobe-ty and Larned faced OF
in singles for the first day and Whit man
ensaseo III TN IN oon 's'es Iain
s'oppeu 'ho nuee .u wv" s
hmer"e was lupnen' oo'au1o ha'"eo
was , ,esons Dvpo '"o 90 " Dole
anu "h"nan n.u ~" IN ss"s WY
however. inc neA, oAy' e.oh Hse, har.s
got away IN INC 'hra et AZ ioNe. 'ne
inimi'aoie ~ Non game a'.er ssme
from nun aha won @ ,nr se's IN . Tow
ana tne inaecn, whitman al ee ios,ns
10, 10 LII. rim 'ooA ohe rom n,n' ,,
oh me .sme uay Larheo oeiea"u I,n
ana "h'ihan oes' Doher,y' go tne cup
again resteo WIN AhercaI however
to hnsh out the strinG, tne Doner'ys
won 'ne oouoies from "aro anu DAN"
after four fets.
II was at Longwood the year following
that the British lifted the bowl after
go. ,arv a,o;,,ng incidents For ono
so,ne ve'y nu gs c - ms .s
tning the Dohertys, VINO came osor
with the late Harold y. Mahoney. seemed
| 10 Re due for hard luck. Whi,e playing
st Nabant Ave days b,fore the matches
:" Da..r,x -,no,had hi. oho,,ldar
" ney ~ 81 :.
an was unable 10 90 mneh Win ".
On the first day II. l.. Doherty faced
Robert d, Wrenn and beat him easily
In STRAIGHT sets. r. F. Dohertv de-
n,.N, "a. .os ., w,,,,.r, Ta,n.a
'an,'eu ~, hi' ila. a.Sn W a.