The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-09-02
CONDITION IN TENNIS.
The Part 1t Plays In Winning
Hard Fought Tournaments.
YOUNG LARNED IN GOOD FORM

Brother Of National Champion Has
Displayed Great Skill In Recent
Games-Diseussien Over Net Cord
strokes-Proposed New Rules.
Edwin P, for the middle states tennis
title was regarded us a combination Of
fairly developed skill backed by the
splendid condition Of the player. That
In the latter respect he was the master
Of both William J. Clothier, ex-national
champion, and Raymond d. Little, the
captain Of the international team Of
1906, was regarded as his chief asset
against the two veterans. Larned had
trained himself like Spartan and had
SO carefully husbanded his strength
that he was enabled to endure faster
footwork than either of his two famous
opponents. 1t was this attention to the
necessity Of keeping the physical con-
dition at its perfection and all Of the
faculties so tuned up as not to jangle
at high tension that had contributed to
the young experts success. In meas
ure 1t was the same painstaking care
which had brought greatness upon the
lawn tennis courts, and for that same
reason there was the general opinion
that second member of the Larned
family will be maker Of lawn tennis
history.
Just how the men who are showing
great promise fail Of the coveted at
tainment was illustrated most spe-
officially, Gustave L. Touchard, Ma
thaniel W. Niles and Irving G. Wright
being mentioned in contrast Touch
ard and Wright are regarded as the
most careless Of their physical need.
The former does not observe the needs
of somewhat frail constitution. He
frequently wears himself out by some
zling brilliant effort to win matches
by sheer nerve. The younger Wright Is
much the same. With Niles it is some
what different. He has experienced
the pangs and witches Of rheumatism,
and to this those who know his adroit-
ness as forcing player attribute bis
poor showing against Edwin p. Larned
in the middle states fnal, win Of
only six games In three sets. Actually
in the pink Of condition and on even
terms there are many who believe that
Niles would more often defeat the
younger Larned than lose to him. He
possesses the greatest courage, while
his handling Of the racket is always
backed by excellent and calm judg-
ment, as was evident In his defeat Of
Theodore Roosevelt Pell before he met
Larned.
While it is not mollycoddling that the
players should give themselves, the
followers Of the game believe that the
vigors Of lawn tennis are such that
none may hope to win high honors
except by a sane observance of their
particular needs. Rest, especially In
the way Of regular nights sleep, and
the avoidance of stimulants to sustain
them through their matches are in the
estimation Of the studious ones the
absolutely necessary factors of success.
Aside from these questions, the sub
ject of the height Of the net and the
attendant luck of net cord strokes has
come In for some timely and profound
debate. Carelessly stretched nets
cause all of the top flight of the play
ers more worriment than all Of the
other things which they have to
combat. 1t overthrows the best serv-
ice, no matter how long and patiently
the player has taken to develop 1t, and
throughout is a source OF grievance.
That most groundsmen feel that their
duty is done when they stretch the net
taut to the limiting band in the center
does not suffice. Many of the players
complain that the bands loosen from
progresses and that with month or
two Of usage one or even two inches
are added to the net in the center.
The strange part OF 1t is that few Of
them care to appear finicky by request
ing the referee or umpire to decide
upon the correct height.
The net cord stroke finds an ally In
all loosely stretched nets but beyond
that one point the opinions are as va
rious as the sands of the sea as to
what manner should be pursued in
some way limiting the stroke which
in practically every instance Is bit
Of luck that has turned the decision
in many matches. The majority Of the
players agree that it would be as great
an injustice to forfeit the stroke en-
tirely as to promulgate the rule that
the point be replayed from the serv-
Ice again. There is a growing tend
ency to mark an additional line across
the court parallel with the net at ap-
the distance Of foot
from 1t in either side. In order that
net stroke be fair as return the ball
must drop beyond that line, It's failure
to do so to be considered as a net for
the player making the stroke This ap-
pears to be the most popularity es-
poused method Of overcoming the
vexed question, and so general has the
discussion Of it been of late that some
thing of this kind may at last find its
place in the rules.
Not for many seasons on the Ameri-