The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-15
TENNIS.

sense great superiority of California
tennis players over those who come
from any other section of the country.
Mclaughlin is the greatest tennis
player in the world today. His claim
to that exalted position is unQuestion-
ed. Behind him. each with POSSIBLE
titles as great as his, come Johnston.
Murray, Strachan. Fottrell. Lang and
many youngsters, less developed play
ers, all from the Golden State. and every
one possessed of skill and stamina
rarely found in players ten years their
senior among the topnotchers in the
East
We all know that this condition ex-
ists-is true-but few followers give a
explanation or know the
reason why such a state of affairs. not
complimentary to us Eastern men. con-
tinues and grows.
1t isn't because they play tennis the
year round-because they have no pro-
longed bad weather that keeps them
off the courts for months at a time.
1t isn't because of any physical diff
ference that may exist between Cali
fornia and New York. 1t is because
are more democratic
They are less inclined to separate or
divide themselves into classes-of
players or of other things.
Golden Gate Park is like Central
Park-rather. 1t corresponds or oc-
cupies the same relative position to San
Francisco that the latter does to New
York. and in Golden Gate Park there
are many splendid tennis courts. They
are not like those we see here-full
Of little hills and valleys and so bad
that development is impossible. They
are asphalt. absolutely true and fast
as courts can be.
The little boys in most places play
baseball. Every back lot is a minia-
ture baseball diamond.
The kids" of California play tennis
all of them. Every space big enough
for a court has one on it. And. what
Is very important, 1t doesn't cost any
thing. There are no club dues. no
railroad fares to pay; nothing to make
the California youngster hunt for
funds he has not. His racket and balls
and a pair of "Sneaks" are all he
needs. He is ready for a game then
under ideal conditions.
So, at the age of 10 or IL. we find
him ready to play under most favora-
BILE conditions. He is a veteran at 20.
an age when many in the East are just
beginning.
That Is one reason why they excel
Another is that they draw from every
boy of New York to play tennis the
would stay here. 1t would
not leave during our generation, at any
-ate. The great ball players. runners,
and even football men are drawn from
he ranks and so it is with Western ten
his.
Any manager Of a lawn tennis tourna- |
nent who could get possession Of Alad- !
Inns wonderful lamp for a few minutes |
would fix the entry list to the queens |
aste, and then give an extra rub for |
lear weather. The names in the draw |
would read exactly like the ranking list.
tarting off with Maurice Z. Mclaughlin; |
little lower down would be r. Norris |
Williams second. and Karl II. Behr and |
III of the other wonderful American |
layers. while in between would be the /
and stalwart men who fur |
fish the real interest to all OF the great |
meetings on the schedule of the National
association.
From recent Developments some Of the |
ournament managers have not needed /
nything other than a sharp pencil and
perfectly good imagination to get up an
ntry list. They have practiced a sort of |
elf-hypnotism. Seemingly. it is not only
he children who play at make-believe.
he fact of this somewhat unusual pro-
edure in the way OF getting UP an entry
st recently came to the attention of
,obert D. Wrenn. president of the Ma
onal Association, and of George T.
dee. of the executive committee. They
poke most frankly as against any ar
ansement Of the entry list for any tour
ament in the national schedule where
he name of a player was inserted in the
raw without his proper entry. knowl-
dye and consent
II Is not at all improbable that an on
ial warning will be issued by the Ma
onal Association regarding the unwar-
anted liberties that are 30 often taken
18th the names of more or less promi-
ent players and the methods of making
ne draw. 1t il the opinion Of the on
als that no name should be drawn ex-
ept at the stated consent. either written
r verbal. Of the player in question. The
rheme of guessing that this one and
other will surely enter. and by SO doing
ling up q long list that requires q round
r two OF defaults before the regular
get Strengthened out and in
rder, Is not In favor.
1