Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-10
CALIFORNIA LADS AFTER CUP
Sail for Australia After Tennis Cham
pionship Now Held There.
UNTRIED BOYS AFTER HONORs
These Two Have been Great Rivals
on Pacific Coast. but Are Looked
Upon a. winners when
Together.

NEW YORK, oct. 9.-In many ways the
battle Of the United States for the return
OF the Dwight f. Davis international Chal-
lenge cup this year may be said TO mark
a new epoch, not only in the lawn tennis
Of this country, but also In the annals
that surround this world-famous trophy
Of the courts. Yesterday Maurice r. Nc.
Loughlin and Melville H. Long, the two
19-year-old Californians, sailed from Van
couver, B.. c.. for Sydney. Australia.
Their arrival in the land Of the holding
nation will probably be about the first of
next month.
The selection Of these two youths. whose
experience upon the lawn tennis courts
had been locally limited until their amaz-
ingly brilliant performance through a line
Of tournaments ending in the all-comers'
national championship stamped them as
Of International caliber. This should not
be taken as a declaration that they have
arrived at the fullness Of their game, for
such is not the case, but it is certain
that both Mclaughlin and Long surpass
any performer the eastern courts have
seen in many years. Coming, as they did.
without much heralding to the all-comers'
national championship, upon which the
California players burst meteor-like and
easily surpassed all other features in in
terest, may be taken as the reason for
their selection by the United States Ma
uonal Lawn Tennis association committee.
The fact that DR.. James Dwight, Robert
d. Wrenn and William ]. CIothier. the
trio in charge Of the internationals.
selected these virtually untried boys to 20
to Australia speaks pre-eminently for their
skill All Of the four players nominated
for the British Isles-United States prelim-
mary ties had refused to go abroad. Such
a decision brought upon the committee a
task which by the records of lawn tennis
must bave been distasteful to them, for it
necessitated the making of the first breach
in that distinctly clannlsh coterie OF east
ern lawn tennis players. who have so
carefully and jealousy maintained their
preogatives.
Mclaughlin by all odds is easily the
more interesting Of the two players, al
though he is the younger, for he will not
reach his goth birthday until the middle Of
next January, while Long will be "a years
of age the 18th day Of the present month.
In temperament, despite the auburn tinge
to his hair, Mclaughlin is the more even,
while he possesses the courage Of a young
lion. He is coolly deliberate, even In the
fastest sort OF play, and 1t was his mar
velous quickness in seeing openings and
taking advantage Of everything in this
way that so won the approval of the gal
leries. Then, although he has been playing
lawn tennis only six years, Mclaughlin
has displayed a particular natural aptitude
for the game. His service, which is one
Of the most remarkable ever seen upon
the American courts, because Of it's great
speed, spin, and his method of placing It
to the corners, completely battles his OPP
ponents.
The first of McLaughlin's victories which
attracted attention to him in California
came by his winning in Junior events on
the Golden Gate park courts, and the able
superintendent there, S. r. Marvin, was
quick to recognize that this tall stripping
was destined to be a remarkable player.
Since those days on the park courts, Nc
Laughlin has carried off California, Pacific
states and northwest championships.
Long is the greatest and strongest rival
that Mclaughlin has upon the Pacific
coast. Whenever they meet there is
usually a gruelling five-set match, the
same as the gallery at Newport witnessed.
But unfortunately Long does not possess
the same sven temperament as McLaugh-
lin, and in the hard stress of a game he
Is apt occasionally to lose his head.
As they stand on the court, both these
young men display the ideal physique for
the lawn tennis player, and II is their
natural makeup in this direction that
causes many Americans to hope that their
aggressiveness, speed and skill may bring
back the coveted Davis trophy from the
Australians. Long stands a fraction of
an inch above six feet, while Mclaughlin
is but a fraction Of an inch below that
height. They command reach which allows
them to cover court so ably that Nc
Laughlln with arms outstretched measures
seventy-three inches. while Long Is only
half an inch shorter of the SANE measure
ment.
Strangely enough, the matter Of weight
Of the two men is deceptive, for Nc
Laughlin appears to be the n and
heavier Of the two, and yet he weighs
seven pounds less than Ions 165, despite
the fact that the latter gives one the inn
preston of being rather slender. Both of
these youngsters are students at the Uni
versity of California, the preparatory
school, entering upon his freshman year
next fall.
Those who have witnessed the playing of
these two boys have been struck by the
exceptional strength Of their game. Each
possesses extraordinary speed, which is
backed up by better physical endurance
and ~tenacity OF purpose than has been
seen among eastern players since the days
Of Bob Wrenn and his holding of the ma
tional championship. Their weaknesses are
rather the weaknesses of inexperience,
but there is the belief that they may make
a fair show in Australia.
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