Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-05
GOOD DISPOSITION AN ASSET
Many Old Lawn Tennis Men Learn
Lesson from Robert Murray.
wEsTERNER MAKES SHOWING
Tail Californian shows Good SPORTS
mansbip and Never GETS RuffINd
when Things DO Not co
Just Right.

NEW YORK, July i--Many OF the old
est and most experienced lawn tennis
players have recently learned an ir1por-
tant lesson from one OF the newest and
youngest recruits TO the courts. The
value OF an evenly balanced temperament
and a good disposition have been exem-
plified by Robert Lindley Murray, the
player from Leland Stanford university.
II seems sufficient 20 say In these days
that such and such a wielder OF the
racquet comes from California 20 imme-
dlately surround the object OF the remark
with oil the glorification Of the golden
west II has certainly been amply proved
during the last few seasons that lawn
tennis players OF the top class-for they
hold all OF the national and important
championships. and three are named
among the honored ten-oome east from
| California and win with amazing regu-
| larity.
! Many reasons have been given for this
and also as to why the eastern courts
produce 80 few young players OF great
promise In fact, II is being deplored
that unless the eastern men bestir them
selves nothing will be left for them In
way of honors except paltry lot OF
mediocre championships that nobody IN
! particular cares anything about But the
thing that has impressed the thoughtful
mon OF the courts Is the remarkably fin"
disposition OF the tall Murray, the latest
wizard OF the racquest to hail from Cah-
fornIa. His good sportsmanship and his
perfect poise and balance which allows
nothing 70 ruffle him Is so different from
| the "prima donna" temperaments of some
! of the most famouB OF eastern men.
Has Genuine ABILITY.
Leaving aside all contemplation OF
Murray's skill, which IL considerable, the
thing that has impressed those who have
studied him most carefully IL his genuine
ability to completely discard all bad de-
cisions and harrasslng elements OF the
game He is master of himself. and moth
ing disturbs him. II was pointed out by
| such men as James 8. Cushman, Karl
II. Behr, and Frederick y. Alexander that
| in this respect Murray greatly resembles
Maurice B. McLoughlln. There are also
elements which are TO be noted in the
games OF Mclaughlin and William M
Johnston, the youth from the Pacific
coast who created such furore last year
and that OF Murray. Chief OF these Is his
ability to lift his game always n little
| bit above that of his opponent. He al
ways seems TO have something in re-
serve, and no one knows the full extent
OF his armory OF weapons.
Because OF the fact that for so many
years the most important tournaments
were played without officials in the way
OF linesmen and umpires-and conditions
are only slightly bettered-it is almost
impossible 70 secure competent corpI
to pass judgment upon any match. Thii
Is the thing that has tested Murray, but
still he has won, and 20 handsomely al
to awaken an admiration which will b.
more lasting than II he were only 4
marvelously perfect tennis machine, an'
the thing ended there. Murray wen
among strangers at the Sleepy Hollow
Country club. and his wonderful abilit!
to do the right thing at the right tim'
instantly made him a favorite. Th
was all the more remarkable. as he wa
in field which included some of thu
most famous men in the country. T,
cap the climax, Murray defeated Fred
erlcG b. Alexander. Karl H. Behr, ant
Walter Merrill Hall in one day. and Ia
was as modest about II at the end AM
so gracious as to cause the defeated Il
take solace in the thought that 1t Nigh
only be a fluke.