Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-03
TENNIS HAS THREE .
MILLION PLAYERS
Once Ridiculed as Ladies
Came" Strenuous Pastime
Wins Many Mems Favor.
CITIES BUILD COURTS

New York, Dec. 2.-Tennis, the
same sport that was ridieuled as be-
ing too much of ladies' game few
years ago is now rapidly approaching
base ball as national pastime. This
season, figures Feed Alexander, the
former national champion, more than
100000 men, women and children
played tennis in the United States.
The game has taken such hold on
the sport-loving public that great
tennis centers like New York, Bos-
ton, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San
Francisco have sprung hp and, the
game is spreading like prairie fire
to every section Of the country.
Tennis was so popular this year
that most of the leading cities esta-
blished municipal courts, while hun
dreds Of private clubs installed light
ing systems so that their members
could play tennis at night.
Alexander declares that tennis has
developed quicker than any other
sport in this country, even including
base ball. He gives three reasons
for this-a wonderful form of exer-
else, cheapness and a game that re-
quires but little space.
Sudden Popularity.
"The sudden popularity Of tennis
surprises US ALL" said Alexander, who
as a player and expert ranks with
the topnotchers. Now we have vari-
Gus championships that attract in
terest from thousands Of youths, addi-
tional tournaments for even young
schoolboys and many meets for
women, whose members greatly in
creased this year. The sport is no
longer restricted to a few spots like
Newport and Longwood, but is
scattered all over the land. Philadel-
phia is just as keen for the game as
New York. One club at German
town alone has sixty courts and
they're busy all the time. Chicago
is another city of racquet weilders,
while no one needs to be told about
the tennis sentiment out in Califor-
MIA.
Yet" went on the veteran former
champion, the game started under
the most discouraging circumstances.
Tennis was introduced here from
England some twenty odd years ago,
and it was quickly taken up by So
ciety. 1t was very exclusive. Society
played it, and only society was invited
to the few tournaments at Newport,
Longwood and Sea Bright. The av-
erage sport-goer refused to have any
thing to do with it. He poked fun
at it as being a fad and a ladies
game In those days it was tame
sport, and the best players, with the
gentle tap-tap style, would only be
second or third raters now
Was in Rut.
"The game continued in rut for a
long while" continued Alexander.
Finally it gradually began TO attract
few outsiders, who played the new
sport more out Of curiosity than any
thing else. To their astonishment
they discovered that chasing tennis
bali for about two hours was pretty
ROOu SACiGisc.I Hey lllVllcu Otne1S
to take up the game, and that was the
real beginning of tennis
Dwight Davis in offering cup for
international competition did a great
deal to foster the glowing game
Then came Maurice Mclaughlin,
with his new dashing way of playing
tennis. He put additional action into
the game, and that seemed to please
the younger players, the kind who
delight in taking strenuous exercise.
Mclaughlin was looked up to as
model for hundreds of youngsters
who have been starring on the courts
the last few years. They not only
played a dashing game like Nc
Loughlin, but actually improved OH
the Comets style, development that
is making our leaders some of the
greatest racquet wielders in the
world !
Alexander explains that tennis is
really only beginning to get big.