Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-05
COAST RACQUET
STARS MOSTLY
YOUNG PLAYERS

The national fame won by Calitor'
MIA tennis players in recent years has
attracted the attention of experts the
world over and the outstanding fea.
t,Ire has been the youth of the repre-
sentatives of the Golden State. Mau
rice McLyoughlin. William Johnston,
Mel Long, Johnny Strachan. Murray
and the like invaded the East TO win
recognition when hardly at the age to
cast their first vote, This was q
source of much surprise to eFstern
tennis followers who were accustomed
to see mature men on the top rounds
of the tennis ladder With only one
or two exceptions. the present eastern
leaders are much older than the Cali
fornia lads.
- II is matter of record that Cali
fornia players take up the game when
mere boys and desert the courts at 4
comparatively young age. The reason
advanced for this Is that players as
rule have not the means and time thar
are required by important tennis play
ers. In the main they are forced to
devote their attention to business and
as a result drop the sport when their
continue year after year.
Mclaughlin is an example, Al
though only &c wears OF age, he may
be forced to forego the pleasure OF
playing In the important tournaments
this coming season because he cannon
spare the two or three months that Is
required. For the past seven years
the California Comet has been yearly
invading the East and now when
most tennis players are just getting
into their prime he may have to re.
tire.
Stars Quit Early.
DR.. Melville Long, while only &C.
has been practically away from tho
game for three years, because he had
to devote himself to business. Johnny
Strachan, a youngster of 20, made one
"trip East but steps aside because 1t
takes too much of his time. William
Johnston, the champion, is Just reach
ing 81, and is expected to have some
active years on the court ahead OF
him, but he will also likely give up
the game at an early age. Peck"
Griffin is older. being 20, but he is not
rated as possessing the means, to stay
with the game year in and year out
Thomas G.. Bundy of Los Angeles is
SO, and has been forced to curtail his
tennis play BECAUSE of business az
fairs. Carl Gardner, 80, is another
who cannot play as much tennis as
he would like 1t seems to be the
general run that California racket
stars are forced out of the game at
tender ages.
Dating back to the days of the
Hardy brothers-Dr Sumner and Sam
lit was the same way. They dropped
off the courts when around 25 years
of age. Sam took M the sport in Eng.
land after being in retirement for
some eight years, and was rated as
one of the best doubles PLAYERS on
the other side He played until year
or so ago.
Different in the East.
In the East different condition OF
affairs exist w. A. Larned was the
tennis king for years, and he was q
stock broker with the means to spend
the time necessary to defend his title.
Year after year he participated in play
until he was close to 40 before ne
stepped aside. The present list OF
eastern leaders also contains names
of men who are in the thirties and
still playing the game.
Harold Hackett, the veteran doubles
star, is SO. William Clothier of Phila.
delphia reaches "a, and is banker.
Theodore Roosevelt Pell is 35. and he
misses but few Of the important tour
neys. Karl Behr is lawyer around
30 years of age These cases are cited
to illustrate that Californians who
have retired might also have figured
II they had stuck to the game.
There are some exceptions OF young
eastern players such as Norris vii.
liams, Nat Niles, w. NJ. Washburn and
George NJ. Church. They are rated
as men of wealth, and have the ad-
vantage over coast players of follow,