New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-12

After his experience on the slippery
American turf, Brookes has evidently
decided 10 wear spikes after all, and
yesterday he was thus armed, or foot
ed and covered his court with more
certainty and confidence. His spikes
are not as long as those worn by our
own players, but are sufficient 20 give
him a safe footing.
Wilding, though. played in the or
binary white canvas shoes with smooth
rubber soles and did not seem TO ex-
perience any difficulty in keeping his
feet, no matter how fast his partner
made him travel TO get the ball.
From what was seen of the Austral-
asisnS' practice yesterday, it is evil
dent they will take many of McLough-
Inns and Wilhams's shots on the full
volley, or at least attempt to do so,
for that was their favorite method OF
handling the ball in their warming
up period. They also practised the safe
handling of smashes. and from far
back of the base line sent the ball
back with low backhand and forehand
drives TO the rear Of the court.
Besieged by Camera Men.
Before they started playing both
the Antipodeans had TO undergo the
ordeal Of facing half a dozen camera
men. who first posed Brookes and his
partner in repose and then requested
that they be allowed to get a few "ac-
ton" pictures. The foreigners seemed
a trifle surprised and amused at the
hustle Of the photographers, but
gracefully accommodated the snapshot
brigade.
Mrs Brookes, who sat in the front
row of seats on the clubhouse veranda.
seemed particularly amused at what,
10 her, was evidently an innovation,
and she kept repeating to friend
by her side: isn't it extraordinary ?
Do look at that one there rushing
about like wild man."
During the last ten minutes of the
Australasans practice Mclaughlin and
Williams went out to the second court
and began playing a single match. The
contrast between the two styles on the
adjoining courts was interesting. Nc
Loughlin, slashing away under a full
head of steam, was the more sensa-
tional and specta. llar, particularly
when it came TO smashing the ball with
the speed of a bullet, but it was no
ticed that he committed many more err
rors than the foreigners.
After getting their rundown, Brookes
and Wilding sat beside Mrs. Brookes
and watched the Americans go through
their PAGES. The captain of the Austral-
asian team, after watching McLough-
lin serve half dozen balls, turned TO
Wilding and remarked:
"They don't serve as hard as they
did last year"
Brookes showed his indifference to
It fpfv h.,
a cigarette as he lounged at his ease.
But his lean face and the 1.-THE manner
in which he gets about his court are
proof that he is trained to the minute.
Brookes Chats with Rival.
While Mclaughlin and Bundy were
playing Hackett and Alexander Brookes
strolled onto the court and conversed
with the red-headed Californian for
several minutes. Wrenn also held 4
conference soto voce with the Vic
torian, and their conversation evident
ly had 10 do with the foot fault rule,
for both men went through the mo-
tons Of serving, paying particular at
tention TO the back foot.
When Mclaughlin faced Williams in
their singles practice he went at the
work hammer and tongs, but Williams
gave as good as he received, and II
anything had slight advantage in the
exchanges. Both the local players
we're as fast as lightning in all their
movements and were plainly in high
spirits as they romped about the court.
When "Mac's" racquet met the ball
overhead the impact, as he smashed il
back with terrific force, sounded Ike
a rife shot, and OF the ground he made
- 4
Californian showed that he is right at
the crest of his topmost form, aud the
man who sends him down to defeas
will only do so because he is the bet
ter player
The fact that he is soon TO engage
in one Of tie greatest international
lawn tennis matches of the age did rot
have any sppreciable effect on the
earefree Williams. who joked and gig
cled like a sehoolboy as he ripped
home speedy passing drives down the
side lines.
Julian S. Myrick, vice-president Of
the West Side Tennis Club and an
official of the international commit
tee, completed the last details for the
holding of the great sporting event
yesterday, going over the ground thor
oughlv and drilling all his subordinatcs
in their duties.
Thirty-four Columbia University stu
dents were massed on the clubhouse
yeranda by Lyle .. Mahan and Myrick.
and after their names had been called
Of they were assigned in platoons of
ten 10 different sections of the stands,
where they will act as ushers on the
DAYS of the matches. Each man was
shown his place and told how TO seat
the spectators quickly and easily.
There will be no practice to-day, it
was announced by Mr.. Myrick, the
members Of both teams feeling that all
they need to do now is TO retain their
nresent condition until The moment ar
Tiyes when they must match their skill
and speed against each other tomorrow
afternoon.