New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-23
Court Veterans Ideas OF
"Methods and Players
Are Not Exciting.
MASTERS OF GAME
QUOTED AT LENGTH
Good Form Steadfast, Author
Says. Despite Success OF
Brookes and Mclaughlin.
Nv FRED HAWTHORNE.


season. With the grea; heights the
game has attained in this country and
the increasing interest shown in the
lSs: year o. two. those Who have won
the right 10 be considered authorities
on the art snd science OF the sport
seem 10 feel that the public should be
educated 90 a better understanding OF
the inner points Of the game. hence
the Increasing number Of volumes
each year
! Psrmly Paret. who wss a high
ranking PLAYER in 1899 and who has
been prom nently identified with the
game for 4 score Of years. Is the latest
10 bring forth q book devoted 20 lawn
tennis His volume, published by
American Lawn Tennis. lag broad
way. New York City. is entitled Meth
DDS snd PLAYERS Of Modern Lawn Ten
ms" and contains nearly three hun
ored psces. with more than hfty "ac-
ton" photographs or the worlds great
est plavers. caught con the wing.
We have read the views Of WlldinG.
80 NcIouchlin. Of Vale. OF the
pohertvs. Of Raymond d. Little. Of
kidston. "Austral. -" Of THE Sydney Ref
cree" and others who have gwen their
opinions as % what IS right and wrong
I'm the game. but in Mr.. Paret's book
We have not only his own viewpoint de.
c.dedlv worth while). but those OF all
the greatest players in this country
rsst and present. and several from
other lands.
In fact. so comprehensive is the
scope Of the volume in its wealth Of
expcrt opinions that perhaps the lay
reader may become confused IN trying
20 follow the advice Of this and that
authority.
The author -es into his subject
&, orce. intro, q Brookes. Wilding.
Mclaughlin. ANS and Parke as
che fve resl. sreat masters OF the
game al this tine" William VI. John-
ston. present national champion mad
not won his way 10 the topmos' ruhS
81 the ladder al the time the pook was
written.
Concedinc the place these men oc-
cnnv in the world Of lawn tennis Mr'
paret points out that at least two ana
rerbaps. three. do not play IN the form
accented for many years by the hlsn-
.s, authorities. and that their success
docs not vindicate their METHODS
"Wbat is the secret" he asks ana
then answers his own question by say
Inc that it is something in the temper,
sehting spirit and logged tenacity o.
the player himself, that brings sue
cess. ...ord-
Constant practice, however accord
ing 10 the author. viii overcome mo u.'
tains and work miracles. some M, ar
horn TO the purple Larned' RIM W
Jams. Behr but don't forget 'hS q. Wv,
Ioughlin. Doherty, Whitman Ieil,'
and Ward and as many more W.
dragged up by hand he conciuoes;
In spite Of the successes ootaiheu ~
WI onoblin and Brookes. the principles
Of good form remain steadlAsD' .
Mr. Paret. who advises the hV'loe ~
foiiou the rules laid down By the mas
tiers. . 90 soroe
~ Tho others who have set 1orth thelr
tJsss on the game through the medluir
- Tho nrinted word. OF Pembroke a
Vo;le's efforts in this line Mr.. Pare
,,atss tba, the New Zealander's books
iose much OF their value because oil 'he
,v,romes 10 which he carries the par
,,cuiar preiudices he has formed ms
nersonal egotism and Mario" point o.
view. E., - Ia
But Mr.. Paret does not lhii 10 "'
stow his need Of praise on DINERS ol
his contemporaries VINO have sought
furrish textbooks for the use OF. the
beginner and the more advanced player
!. OF Litue's Tennis Tactics he De
IA clares: 1T is the best work on the ad-
Yanced principles Of the game that mas
" been published, and IL contains more
liberal education in advanced play thar
Ell the rest Of tennis literature put TO-
While he finds that there have been
number Of books published on ms
net subject. the author of Methods
and PLAYERS Of Modern Lawn Tennis
states that a majority Of these are de
voted chiefly 10 the experiences on y
courts OF those who wrote them ~
attention being given 70 the eduo
tonal value as regards the game.
Mr.. Paret does not make this ms
take. lie begins with the fundamental
and gradually works his way up TO the
moro intricate problems that confront
the EXPERT. In Chapter 2 he devote'
himself 10 the novice. wisely avoidinl
technical terms and setting forth ms
facts in the plainsst and simplest OF
The game IS divided into nine de-
partments. which the author takes up
H. regular order. as follows: j GRIP
O, bat, a. Making the strokes; ~
Use OF feet. legs, arms, eyes and body
weight: 80, Placing the ball. lo),
Technique Of twist or rotation Or ball +;
co.. Position in court; 90. Angles OF
attack and defence; to). strategy ana
90. Deception and Counter Deception.
After giving his own reasons for ad-
,ocatire certain methods OF handling
these problems. the author, az the end
Of each chapter, sets forth before INC
reader Tie opinions Of the fity-odd
PLAYERS on each subject; and there
sre almost as many versions o. the
proper way 10 do each thing as there
eye those giving advice.
Tie old controversy as 20 which Is
the better grip, the unchanging or the
stationary style for the forehand and
hackhand strokes. is gone deeply into.
OF al, those quoted only c. =. Dixon
rud the mighty !. Cecil Parke, the
British players, come out IN favor Of
the same grip for both strokes.
There arc numerous instances IN
which the answers Of the players 20
certain questions put 20 them by the
author are worthy Of being quoted.
For example. K. Norris Williams, I'd,
who lost his title 20 Johnston last
month. in reply 10 the question anent
the backhand stroke, "pO you carry
tho elbow in English style or prefer
the American style, with elbow high ~
comes back thus: "God only knows
v.ha, do here. but shall stick TO
whatever do now. as II Is my natural
yav of doing IT, believe ! do both"
r. Lindley Murray. the Californian,
is equally frank in answering the same
ousetio, 81 preier the low English