The sun., 1916-04-09
COURT TENNIS OLDEST
RACQUET GAME IN WORLD
Also Most Expensive and Most Complex-Played First
by Ancient Monks in France-Lawn
Tennis an Offspring.

where the monks were wont to take their
exercise. Be IL understood that the
monks did not have any OF the para
phcrnalia used in the game at the pres
ert time. Their racquets we've barrel
slaves and small blocks OF wood served
for balls.
Theirs was the most modest OF courts.
and of course that beftted the monks
it night not serve for the devotees OF
the game to-day. But In the monks
modest courtyard there was a sloping
roof from one OF the buildings. This
sloplng roof has now become the service
pent house and at the back end OF the
side from which the bail is served are
the dedans. Behind the dedans sit the
spectators, or some OF them at least, TO
watch the match
Dedans is the French word for inside.
Those who sit in the dedans are In the
inside. A netting saves them from be-
Ing hit by the ball. over on the hazard
side Of the net. in the servers right hand
corner. is little opening called the
grille. When the monks played the
game that wac the window which opened
into the grille. A few feet up from the
grille on the hazard. or strikers. side
there Is an abutment on the wall called
the tambour.
plenty OF trouble. They have been try
ing TO find out where the hazard got its
name. and they are as much in the dark
to-day as they were when they first tried
10 'ind II out. II has been suggested
that the tambOur may have been an ex-
crescence erected for the purpose of full
filing the conditions OF hazard and
was made originally OF wood or ma
,erial the resonance OF which may have
called for the name. Re tina, as II may
It Is more than likely that the tambour
was introduced as hazard to bring
more variety into the play. and IL that
was the purpose Il has succeeded we'll
for the tambour to-day is a most diffi-
cult hazard to play from. and II a re-
turn II made from the tambour II Is in
variably a coup de temps.
Few Can Play From Tambssp.
So much for the dedans and the grille.
II a bail is hit in either N those Il An
ishes the point. and the tambour accom-
plishes the same purpose. for a star in
deed Is he who can return from the
,ambour with any degree OF accuracy.
But after all those are only minor
things in the game OF court tennis. and
II they were all that the amateur had
To bother about he would be a blessed
y.
the chases on and the galleries to con-
slider, To those who know the game the
chases are clear and one OF the pretty
features OF the game.
The chase Is nothing more than a
stroke in abeyancc. The chase has been
made by one player and must be won
by the other. II IL is made by the man
on the service side. IL is a hazard side
chase. The chases are merely lines
marked on the foor. and in scoring are
determined by where tho ball -hits. pro-
vided the player returning lets the ball
pass.
To win a chase the PLAYER seeking to
win must score chase nearer the end
wall than where the chase scored AGAINST
him fell, or he must hit the bail into
one OF the openings. the grille. de-
dams. or winning gallery. THE winning
gallery is the last gallery toward the
wall on the hazard side. lie loses the
chase when the ball falls nearer the net
or worse than the chase scored against
him When two chascs are scored
against man, he leaves the service
side and takes TO the hazard.
Nor Is the service anything like the
service IN lawn tennis. The server
strokes the ball along the service pent
house so that II drops into the hazard
de, that on the opposite side OF the
net to the server. When II drops into
the hazard court the striker may return
Il over the net in any way ne sees ~
provided the ball goes over the net prior
30 striking the floor. II the server fails
10 take his return a chase IS called In
with that line on which the
ball falls For instance. ~ the ball
lands on chase one, II is called chase one.
II Il lands nearer the back wall than
chase one. Il is called a chase better
than ono and so on. In the event OF
PLAYER trying TO win his chase haci the
PLAYER placing the ball on the same line,
no c,her better nor worse than the chase
called against him. the chase - declared
off. The hazards are neither more nor
less than chases scored on the hazard
side of the line Sucn are the main
points OF court tennis, tho mother OF all
games played with the racquet and ball.