New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-29
BY FRED HAWTHORNE.

Cold winds and "A drizzle of rain
greeted the opening Of the thirty-sixth
annual national lawn tennis champion
ship tournament on the courts Of the
West Side Tennis Club, at Forest Hills.
Long Island, yesterday. Some 800
men and women sat and shivered IN the
stands for hours, uncomfortable, un-
happy, but they suddenly enthused,
thrilled cheered, when Maurice Evans
Mclaughlin, California comet and idol
o fthe courts, made his appearance and
played his first match in the singles.
McLoughlin's opponent was r. r.
McClave, former Cornell star. and the
Californian walked away with the
match by score of 60, 81, g.
Only three other matches in the singles
we're played, Clarence J. Griffin van
gushing Frederick c. Bagge at Sc,
90, ,; William VI. Johnston, ma
tlonal champion, crushing Howard Not
man, of Brooklyn, at 60, 81, 60,
and Edward II. Whitney, of New York,
eliminating Ward Dawson, of Califor-
MIA, in straight sets at 90, 6-3, 6-l.
Doubles Are Postponed.
The scheduled meeting in the ma
tional doubles challenge round between
Johnston and Griffin, present holders
of the title, and Mclaughlin and Daw-
son. challengers, was postponed until
this afternoon at $3.50 o'clock. All the
other first round matches in the singles
morning, at the same starting time as
originally planned, with the exception
of the Karl Behr-Conrad B. Doyle and
W. ]. Clothier-Hachishiro Mikami
matches, which have been transposed.
In other words, Behr and Doyle will
play at 2 p. m. and Clothier and Mi
kami will meet at 1880 a. m, on the
exhibition courts.
If il did nothing else, the day served
TO show the remarkable hold McLough.
lin has on the public heart. Although.
his opponent offered practically no re-
sistance 20 the victorious sweep OF the
former champion, ali the other courts
were deserted as soon as the Comet
appeared on the stretch Of turf where
on he was TO face McClave.
Mclaughlin was as happy and as free
of care as a schoolboy on a vacation.
The crowd joked with him, glorled
when he scored a spectacular kill
and literally idolized him, and Red
Mac" seemed to enjoy the interest OF
those who lined the court ten deep, and
a smile was always on his face.
Four Matches Played.
Long before the time scheduled Tor
the start of the first match yesterday
the skies were overcast and steady ram
drenched every unprotected thing at
Forest Hills. Great tarpaulins had
been spread over the exhibition courts
on Sunday night, and they were prac-
tically dry. but every time the gang
of men who guard the stretch OF turf
started 70 remove the canvas covering.
as the sun made Intellectual attempts to
peep out. fresh drizzle began, and
back went the blankets again.
II was all very discouraging, and dis
consulate groups Of players, officials
and resigned spectators sat about on
the wet seats or on the clubhouse
veranda and bemosned life in general
When things looked darkest the com
mitee announced that everything was
of for the day. A few minutes later,
when the sky lightened up consider
ABLY. il was announced that Johnston,
Griffin. Mclaughlin and Dawson would
NAV their singles matches at $3.50
O'Clock il it wasn't raining, so that
thev could devote their time to the
doubles this morning.
Half an hour before the hour set
/ the clouds drifted away and the sun
/ bIszed out. Of came the tarpaulin
coverings. ;he nets were put up and