Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-25

A FTER a precocious babyhood in the
n 7O's and SOS, lawn tennis went
through a sickly youth, when even
gloomy forebodings of an early death
were predicted; but, having outgrown
these early weaknesses, it suddenly
came to its full strength, and its man.
hood is as Virile as that of any game.
To lawn tennis must be conceded
the honor of being the most cosmopo-
Titan and the most widely known Of
all games for theer are now few places
in the habitabie glove where ii is not
played. II means even more to con
tinental nations than to America. Here
II is one, and an important one, OF
many games played with a moving ball.
Abroad il is practically the only ex.
listing one Of these games. and there
fore In the modern development of
games 1t has been seized on with
ayidity by the athletic youth Of these
nations. 2
II Is mere commonplace to say
that there is boom" in lawn ten
mis-. The demand for courts, the enor-
nous entries for the tournaments of
the season, the crowds that flock to
see the championships at Newport are
all convincing testimony. II Is equal
ly unnecessary to point out at this
time OF day the many merits of the
game, especially for busy men, for
II combines nearly all the advantages
imaginable, which may be summed up
as plenty OF competitive enjoyment
and good exercise to be obtained in
short time. ~.
Pioneers and Modern Masters.
Whether the greatest modern play
ers are better than those of the past
Is debatable question, but one which
speculation and comparison can bring
no certain answer. The great play
ers Of the past were largely pioneers,
and the discovery aud invention Of
new methods, new strokes, new serv-
ices have all led to speeding-up of
the game. The old irreverent name
Of pat-balis has deseryedly almost
died ont, and though a soft ball can
never be hit with quite the same joy
Gus delight as hard one, especially
in court whose limits must preclude
the fun half.volley, yet how hard the
lawn tennis bail Gamble hit within.
limits is quite astonishing
=
The service and smashing OF Me.
Loichlif, the general pace, the felenf.
less and pitiless accuracy OF Wild.
ing's game, the brilliance Of the me-
thods Of some OF the French and Ger.
man school. the delicaey of placing Of
some Of the elder players. the perfec-
ton OF footwork of Parke, the clever
ness of combination OF some double
players all proclaim II a brilliant
game. A hard fve-set single of to-
day bellies successfully such contemp-
tuous sneers as ~ ~ ~ s
Let indiarubber pellets dance on grass
Where female arts the ruder sex sur
pass. - '.s... !
Natural Ability and Practice.
But between first-ciass lawn tennis
OF the brilliant type and the lowest
rung of the ladder there is a wider
gulf than at most games. and lawn
tennis can be the most feeble and
futile Of things. Natural and inher-
tied ball game ability counts, of
course, and counts for great deal.
The greatest players at lawn tennis,
as at all games, have the genius for
it in them and have learned 1t and
thought 1t out for themselves. But
even they have not become great or
even good without long practice and
hard work There never has been and
never will be really dark horse at
lawn tennis. Nevertheless, it is al
game where practice OF tha- zi4l-A zme-
tho Shich
Is y.-lTies) can
DO - other to pro-
ity. There are players on the verge
OF Davis Gu teams today whose nat
ural physical abilities for all games
are not conspicuous. What brain,
practice, and perseverance can do for
one man they can do for another, and