The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-25
|" Tennis First" Is Cry
OF Mad Populdce Now
Every Court in City Is Crowded Daily With Insistent
Players Prom Sunrise to Dark-Many Leagues
in Successful Operation This Year.

Tennis First" is rapidly becoming
the slogan Of all Washington men and
boys. and women and girls II we are
to Judge by the rapidity with which
the various clubs are springting into
being and tho mushroomlike growth
of the courts which have transformed
all vacant lots not occupied by apart
ment houses.
There are many, many cold dinners
eaten or left in the pantry these days.
II used to be amateur baseball which
crowded the evening meal into oblivion.
Following the ecoreboard has be-
come q minor sport now that the ping
Of the tennis, tennis racquet Is heard heard IN tn, the
city and countrywide cry.
Following an insistent demand for
tennis courts lset summer the office
OF public buildings and grounds put
many new courts on the various play
grounds and In Potomac Park this
spring. Permits have been issued from
the office from sunup to dark, and II
would seem that the entire populace is
tennir mad.
The wet weather Of the srring served
in no way to dsrpen tho nrdor Of the
spite the weather until the same Is now
In full blast. The Departmental Tennis
League. said to be the largest tennis
organization in the world. is now IN
ISOLATION, the Women's Tennis Xssocia-
ton. the Suburban League the Homo
Club League. Terminal Rniiroad y. AZ.
G. A., Columbia Country Club, Column
bus. Country Club. Washington Country
having their tournaments and ccmpe-
titions.
Aside from this there are weekly
matches In all Of the clubs making up
inc yarious leagues; Settos In singles
the result that majority Of tho play
ers. or near experts az the case may he,
pass up every opportunity for every.
thing else. And out Of all this comes
youngsters will be developed into 'front.'
rank performers. where this city will he
able to tako its place with several top
The solidity Of the rather natural
growth OF the game may re traced to
the insistent demand for exercise. In
former days there was considerable
pleasure In coptcntsdly sitting and
watching some team perform. Now.
when golf. polo. horseback riding.
canoeing. motor boating and camping
are out ct reach for tho masses on
account or expenditure of time ana
money tennis has come into its own.
Tennis First" that's the cry that Is
abroad in theIand.
Just what can be done with young
sters Is seen in the recent clean sweep
OF the Central High School tennis team.
In the District Junior championship.
Lou Doyle. who. by the way. Is respon-
sibie for the Departmental Tennis
League. the Princeton Club. and the
Central High School tennis team last
Spring. took charge Of the high school
boys with the result that they won
every match In which they participated
and two members Of the team will COM
pete IN the finals for the title tomor-
row. Two doubles teams will also meet
FOR the doubles championship
Practically all Of the high schools
and prep schools have added tennis 10
the curriculum of sports this year. and
1t will be but a question Of time before
several boys will be sent up for the big
interscholastic matches. In independ.
ent circles there are several exception
ally good performers who will gain
strength by competition. What Wash
ington needs In tennis Is consideration
Tor the younger element and this Is
what several public-spirlted citizens
are giving. Excellent results are sure