Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-09
THE WHOLE TENNIS WORLD
MOURNS WILDINC'S DEATH

Requieseat in pace" breathed the
lawn tennis world mournfully as it
read the sorrowful, announcement that
Anthony Frederick Wiiding had been
claimed by the death-dealing demon
WARM the vicinity of the Dardan-
Giles.
OF the millions Of men engaged in
the worlds bloodiest conflict, the cal
cfum of death could not have placed
in its morbid spot one more promi-
nent than the magnificent Antipodean.
But few outside of their own country
men ever heard of Generals French,
Joffre, Won Hindenburg and others who
have occupied the stage in the worlds
theater of events since the advent of
the European war Yet Wilding was
known over the length and breadth of
the earth, not onlysby tennis men, not
only by those interested in every other
branch of the sport, but by men who
INDUCED in no sporting activity.
Popular King Of Tennisdon.
While his death will he universally
mourned, it will be most keenly felt
by the tennis world, from which his
untifnefy passing removed one of its
most popular kings, leaving a void
which may never be filed. For dec
ade Wilding7 was one of tennisdom's
star triumyirate, and his fame as play
er and sportsman has flashed over
the entire world.
Those who we're unable to visit the
West Side Club last August, upon the
occasion of the Davis cup challenge
matches, missed the final opportunity
Of seeing the wonderful Wilding play.
Eclipsing the 10y felt at Mclaughlin
triumph .Qverih both Brookes and Wild
ing, and despite sorrow at the loss OF
the Davis cup, thought excursions into
the "reminiscences sof those matches
have been invariably to the altar of
admiration Of Wilding.
This AItipodean Apollo, despite his
hugeness, was the personifcation OF
grace on the court. 4 j His footwork,
stroke, styles-tempeFament, behavior
ard sportsmalShip totaled the highes.
point of efficiency ever seen in the
arena of athletics
Even in practise matches, in every
line of sporting endeavor. occasional
displays OF temper on the part of one
or more of the contestants are not in
frequent In match play, with more at
stake, and where defeat or victory
means much to the club or locality
represented by the player, there is a
greater tax upon the nerves, and dis.
plays of feeling are Outlines attributed
to this. If this is so, how much great.
er it must be IN International compe-
tition, with millions of ones country
men hoping for and in many cases
betting upon his chances to win.
Mental and Physical Strain.
1t is doubted If one who has never
appeared in international competition
can realize the tremendous strain
both mental and physical, which the
players undergo and which reflects it
self upon both their play and behav.
ior under fire. -
Virtually every prominent player in
the game is given to some idiosyn
cratic movement or expEession when
his shots are going badly or an occas
ional decision displeases him. In the
former case. Mclaughlin often throws
his head back, accompanying it with
momentary expression of agony
National Champion Williams upon oc
casions snaps the fingers of his left
hand when his shots just miss the
mark This is not mentioned in any
sense of criticism 1t is not consider
ed a breach of tennis ethics. These
cases are cited of two VIGOROUSLY per
feet sportsmen merely to emphasize
that Wilding's court manners were pal
excellence. Not once, either in his
match with Williams or with Nc
Loughlin, did the Antopodean show