New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-30
Everything Ready for
Lawn Tennis Tourney
Except Weather Man.
GRANDSTAND COURTS
COVERED BY CANVAS
Twenty Grass Courts, However,
Are Badly Soaked-Play Starts
at 10 This Morning.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

Everything was in readiness yester-
day for the opening of the thirty-hfth
annual all-comers' national lawn tennis
championship tournament on the
twenty-four turf courts of the West
Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills, Long
Island everything, tina. is, except the
weather, which showed no indications
Of relenting in time to permit the held
of rs entrants to get under way on
scheduled time.
William Tucker, ct D." turf doc
tori, and Julian S. Myrick, president OF
the club. were at Forest Hills most Of
the day inspecting the courts, feeling
the grass and testing the footing. They
were inclined to be discouraged as they
viewed the leaden clouds and watched
the steady drizzle of rain that had rem
dered the clay courts into miniature
ponds; but if the sun comes out this
morning a start will be made.
Tucker was optimistic. He pointed
with pride to the four centre courts
facing the grandstand and protected by
great canvas covers. There is dust on
the base lines" he said. "The courts
are as dry as bone and fast as light
ming"
t was true. The canvas, although
covered with little pools of water, had
kept the moisture off the turf, and If
the rain stops by 10 o'clock this morn
ing the first match will be put on. The
other twenty grass courts, however, are
different proposition. and unless the
sun comes out to-day it is doubtful
whether they can be used.
Tucker has been in almost constant
attendance upon the courts for the last
three DAYS. Last week he received sew
eral of the canvas court coverings from
: the Newport Casino, and, with half
I dozen new ones made for the West Side
| Tennis Club, draped the four grRnd-
stand courts just before the rain began
TO fall on Saturday afternoon.
In addition, the turf doctor slept at
the clubhouse on Saturday night so as
to be on hand in case of an emergency.
Last night he left twelve assistants on
the grounds to guard the turf and make
fast the canvas blankets in case a high
wind should arise during the night.
"If we have = week of dry weather"
said Tucker lou will see the finest
and fastest turf courts in the world
down here"
As stated before, everything else is
in perfect shape for the opening of
the tournament. Large signs have
been placed on the upper balcony Of
{ the clubhouse. with the numbers OF
I the four grandstand courts marked
| thereon and blank spaces left for the
names Of the players who are to APP
pear in :he different matches each day.
THE entire surface upon which the
twenty-four turf courts are situated
has been inclosed by dark green cloth
stop nets, more than six feet IN height,
both as a protection TO the players
eyes and as wind shields. The courts
/ have beer so separated that vide
aisles, fenced off. run between the play
ing surfaces, and those who wish 70
stroll about the grounds and get
glimpses of the different matches can
/ DO so without interfering with the
PLAYERS. 1t gives the club grounds the
l appearance VI Il Eichb WIN
/ footpaths running between the beds
On the western side of the grand.
stand courts are the "bleachers." for
the standees. with a capacity of per-
/ haps 300. Primarily. this stand was
erected for the purpose of shutting off
the wind in case il should blow hard
at Forest Hills this week but by the
arrangements made for standing room
/ - mill odd iucf thar much to tho tOfa
sightseeing capacity.
Every seat in the stands is plainly
marked. and the exits are sufficiently
wide to permit of the rapid filling and
emptying Of the seating spaces. Two
large refreshment tents are situated
in back Of the north and south stands
There was a revision of the playing
schedule at the last moment. At the
Vanderbilt Hotel. the headquarters Of
the players and the officials. Mr.
Myrick designated the starred matches
at the opening session as Cedric A.
Major. the former Cornell player. who
recently won the Connecticut state
championship. VS.. Bernard c. Law. of
Princeton. and Ward Dawson. of Cali
fornia. against J. c. Mckay. An hour
later the starred contest will bring
/ together Alrick H. Man. jr.. former
Yale captain. and d. 6. Waters, Of
Louisiana
Maurice f. Mclaughlin will lead of
the afternoon session at 2:l5 on the
championship court against Ernest
Fritz Kuhn, the German, and Charles
, NJ. Bull, jr.. will meet Lyle +. Mahan
An hour later, or when the other
matches have been finished, Nathaniel
" Mica of the Ton0Wood Cluh Dos-