davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

for many years president of the United States
National Lawn Tennis Association, brought
the set of lawn tennis over from England.
That the game gained its first foothold in this
country at Newport, R. l., there can be no
question People who had seen the new game
began TO inquire where these sets might be pur-
chased. Two were imported for Sea Bright, \.
j. Enthusiasm began to grow, and courts on
private lawns sprang up all over the Eastern
states. The original sets were crude AFFAIRS
the thought of rolling the turf or keeping inc
grass cropped close never seeming to enter l"'o
the owners heads. Clay courts were unknown
The ball used would have been termed an I'M
possibility to-day, and the racket had pecu-
liar warped shape which was supposed to ana
one in putting cut upon the ball. Then, to
cap the climax, one who did try to exercise TINS
seeming advantage was Immediately accused OF
playing an unfair game.
Nv earliest recollection Of lawn tennis Is
in the early sos, of being carried kicking and
CRYING off my fathers private court, with
tennis ball tightly grpped in one hand and an
alleged racket as large as myself IN the other
n make room for a mixed doubles party com
nosod Of the neighbors who took turns in play
ING at the three courts then in the vicinity
From that time on the popularity Of the game
grew in leaps and bounds, augmented in the
early '9Os by the invasion Of the English
and Irish experts, DR.. Joshua PIN and MIR
Mahonev. DR.. PIN was then champion OF
England and considered the greatest expert OF
that time the game had ever seen. Mr.
Mahoney was only shade lower as to reputa-
ton.
At the famous matches in Newton, Mass
where "round robin tournament was held
for their benefit, our best were ptted against
them. Such men, whose names are now IN his
tory in the United States, as William A.
Larned. Clarence Hobart, Fred Hovey and k.
D. Wrenn opposed them. 1t is only fair to
mention that Mr.. Hobart was the only one to
score against the invaders, and he won his
match against the famous Dr.. PIN, only to
lose the tournament through defeats from his
own countrymen.
This was the first international affair OF any
Importance in lawn tennis in the United States
and lawn tennis history shows us that interna-
tional matches had more to do with the rise OF
popularity Of the game than anything else
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
THE DARK AGES OF LAWN TENNIS
Illustrations by ALBERT LEVERING

d few other small clubs which stood fast The
West Side Tennis Club. Of New York which
was. though small. power in tennis circles,
as it included in its membership all the metro
poiitan experts and the Bachelors Club OF
Washington, were among these.
Promptly from the time when England made
her first unsuccessful challenge for TIE Davis
Cup. sending Messrs Gore and Black over to
turn the trick, to the second invasion OF the
famous Doherty brothers, the game started TO
gain. The tremendous reputation Of Messrs II.
L. and r. F. Doherty and DR.. PIN on their first
invasion drew enormous crowds at the Bay
Ridge courts Of the Crescent Athletic Club,
many Of whom did not even know how to score,
and the fact that the invasion was repealed
successfully added increased interest. When
the cup was finally lifted the United States
buckled down to regain it.
About this time the future of the game be-
gan to take on a different aspect. Nanufact-
urcrs had found there was a call for the neces-
sary outfits. and therefore lent aid and on
enlargement to newly formed clubs. The
clerk in the brokerage office and the boy in high
school began to inquire and find that the outfits
were within the bounds of their pocketbooks
The newspapers no longer confined the ac-
counts of the tournaments to the society col
umns. where one read that Mr.. So and So and
Miss won brilliant match at Sound by
the Sea-" and then gave a full column descrip-
ton of what notables in the gallery wore, but
put complete description of the matches on the
sporting page.
In a word tennis was coming into its own.
The national association meeting from pleas
ant little family party gathering became
seething maelstrom of forensic oratory, and
the old lovers of the game began to rejoice,
but not even they realized to what height this
renaissance would go.
Upon the return Of the victorious American
team in 1913, composed of Harold Hackett,
Maurice E. Mclaughlin, r. Norris Williams
and W. f. johnson, with the prospects of the
most wonderful tennis in the worlds history IN
view, the whole country fairly went mad over
the game. It is conservativey estimating the
conditions by saying that in one year tennis
doubled. Many were prevented playing
through inability Of the manufacturers to sup
ply balls, etc.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

1898 and the departure Of our two leading ex-
perts, R. D. Wrenn and William A. Laraed, 10
the rank Of the Rough Riders, tennis took
decided slump. Outside Of a few leading clubs
it was played by only few of the faithful.
can remember playing final match in a
state championship before not more than
twenty-five human beings and one dog. re-
member the dog well, because he annoyed all
Of US.
Tennis was then at its lowest ebb, and con
tnued so until Dwight Davis presented the
famous international trophy, now known as
the Davis Cup, and negotiations were
Immediately entered into with England for
challenge.
During the famine period it is only fair to
mention that were it not for the unfailing exer-
tons of DR.. James Dwight, Palmer Z. Pres
brey Of Boston, backed by the Longwood Crick-
ct Club, of Boston; Mrs. Gardner, the Ken
wood Club, Of Chicago. and TIE Crescent Attn
lctc Club Of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn the game
might have suffered utter collapse. There were
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

pletely. But ne fails to mention the
presence in the Legislature Of a major
ity of "hold-over' Senators. These
hold-overs. representatives Of the old
regime, have consistently blocked every
effort Of Governor Frazier and the
lower house to call a Constitutional
convention, or otherwise to change the
organic law of the state, and put into
effect the greater part of the sociallstlc
programme Of the Farmers League.
And. as the Legislature meets biennlally,
another two years must elapse and an
other general election must be fought
through before the attempt may be
made again. Then, if it proves success
full, there must be a lapse Of two more
years, by constitutional provision, be-
fore the final contamination.
In other words, the millennium, as the
wheat farmers viewit, is four years off in
North Dakota, and probably at greater
distance in those reighboring states TO
which the Non-Partisan League has
spread. In The meantime we must fight
the Kaiser with wheat even before we
use bullets. And since the winter wheat
crop is failure we are doubly depend
ent on spring wheat, the crop of the
Northwest What the farmer of the
Northwest thinks and feels is therefore
of very grave Importance.
But let us make way for Mr. McTaig:
bring to you the story of one of the greatest
political uphcavals for popular government MAT
this country has ever seen. The long abused
farmers of North Dakota finally turned and
defeated the gang. The revolt is the story Of
the worm that turned. On November we
elected not only our Governor, Lieutenant Gov
crnor, state legislators and all the other
members Of the farmers ticket, but also a ma
iority OF the Supreme Court. Like Abraham
Lincoln we wanted the Almighty on our side,
but we felt that we must have the Supreme
Court. The Coroner was suggested to bury
the old gang. On Election Day the farmers
voted the farmers ticket for the best men.
They went solid and pushed ahead the cause
of clean government a score of years. Why?
Because our leading experts at the agricult-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

rTWAS only seventeen years ago last spring
| Twas riding in an Eighth Avenue car with
q suitcase and two tennis rackets without
.,vers. when | overheard plainly but neatly
dressed man say to his neighbor, what IN time
N YOU suppose that banjo outfit is?' staring at
no across the way. The answer came as quick
as flash from his better informed friend
That's an outfit for that girls game called
tennis This is merely an instance of what
happened to the few tennis players who had the
temerity to carry their accoutrements unblush-
;,cv through the thoroughfares of the metrop-
oils in those days.
It was during the decade Of 1897 to l9o'
hat the game, which may easily be called IN
ne United States the greatest sport for poor
~ rich. alike witnessed its lean years. Prior TO
that time lawn tennis had been a social affair.
The few clubs which had laid out courts USED
hem almost entirely for the purpose OF merely
nnqenial gatherings afternoon lawn parties
and. with the exception of very few, had but
tile idea that the game had the science and
s1ed forth the athletic endurance that have
cen shown since.
We have all been told, and there seems to be
,, reason to doubt it. that Dr.. James Dwight
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

The madness was made clear when, at the
challenge match between Australasia and the
United States for the Davis Cup, played at
Forest Hills last August, for the three days the
great stands that accommodate some $4,000
people. were crowded TO their full capacity, and
this notwithstanding that war had been de-
clared in Europe but a week before.
That tennis has gained foothold in the
hearts of the American people; that to-day 1t is
no longer the society game Of thirty years ago;
that the game is within the reach of every one
no matter what the size Of his purse, is
proved by the enthusiasm shown in the Y. NJ.
c. AS. Y. NJ. II. AS and public schools
throughout the country. If one wishes to see
great sight advise him to go TO Prospect Park,
Brooklyn. and watch hundreds Of players dis
porting themselves upon hundreds OF free
courts; or. to go to the other extreme take a
trip to Forest Hills and view the already his
toric sixty courts though only five years old,
of the West Side Tennis Club, where the ma
tional championships are now played
To conclude the renaissance of lawn tennis
is due in the greatest measure to presentation
of the international trophy by Mr.. Dwight
Davis, thereby giving the game the publicity 1t
deserved as an athletic exercise which could
more than hold its own with the best, aided by
a wise and careful handling of the govern
mental reins by those oldtimers who carried
the good of the game next to their very modus
vivendi itself.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
Bv FREDERICK B. ALEXANDER

Society took up tennis everywhere, and the
popularity Of the game reached its height with
the invasion, in 1897, of DR.. ". Y. Eaves, Mr..
Mahoney and Mr.. Nisbet, who came over the
pond with the avowed purpose Of lifting the
national championship.
| can remember, though only schoolboy,
that year purloining a soapbox to stand on
and Witnessing Messrs. Ware and Sheldon pull
their match for the doubles championship out
Of the fire, after being two sets down to Ma.
honey and Nisbet. A fitting climax occurred
in the singles, also. when r. D. Wrenn won his
famous match from Dir. Eayes in five heart
breaking sets, after Dr.. Eaves had easily run
through the cream Of our experts.
This however, was the top Of the rise. Golf
was gaining in strength Many older en-
thusiasts of the courts were lured away to that
great but milder g, Even the younger ele-
ment we're beginnia- feel the fascination Of
this rather weird noa element in the line Of
sport.
At the outbreaI, Of The war with Spain in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
"The High Cost of Living Hits the Producer end the
Consumer Alike. Food Gamblers Make More ih0" the
Farmer But the Farmer Is No H0g-He ReaIi2oS lA0f
the Consumer Must Be Treated Wh'e and ne agrees 10
Work lgifh the Consumer.

ural college have shown that the farmers of
North Dakota lose over $55,OOO000 every year
because Of the by-products Of the grain going
into other states and the unfair grading Of the
same.
Then. too, in that state the Hog Trust
(you call it the Beef Trust here) has the
cattle and hog business by the throat. We
have no packing plant and are compelled to
shin. on an average about $50 miles. Last
year we got an average of cents per pound
for our steers, which, when made up into meat,
cost you city people % cents a smell. The
hacker makes more of the steer in three
hours than the farmer does in three years OF
raising. We propose to establish state
owned packing plant to fight with money and
with brains the Hog Trust. We propose to
lay down the gage Of battle with these com
bnations and to fight it out in our state
Again. our programme includes tax reform.
We found that special increase Of taxation IN
the past two years on the farmers meant no IN
crease upon the corporations. The banking
laws permit some bankers to evade much taxa
ton. Insurance holdings are not taxed. Specu-
lators' lands are big menace TO our pros
perity millions of acres being held by the'e
SPECTATORS waiting for high prices. We pro-
pose to apply the British Columbia law OF
single tax on farm lands and 70 make the
Spectator pay as much taxes on unimproved
land as the farmer does on improved Along
that line will 90 a state hail-insurance tax. II
will be compulsory on all tillabe land, and the
beauty of it is that the Spectator who refuses
TO till the soil and break Lis land will have to
pay Just as much taxes for hail protection as
the farmer who pl5ughs and CANDLES with the
storm.
4 cold storage plant to take care OF the val
liable potato crop Of the state is part Of our
programme. At one time this year potatoes
were selling at 60 cents per bushel. In New
York to-day Idaho potatoes are selling IN some
of those big stores at cents each. a great
cold storage plant where farmers can ship
their potatoes in the fall, to be distributed over
the Northwest at the mere cost of distribution,
viii not only bring up the price Of potatoes for
the farmer and down 70 the consumer, but will
hit the potato gamblers blow between the
ewes that will be stunning. This is our plat
form This is also the platform of the state
Republican party. This is what we expect TO
accomplish in our farmers revolt. Seattle,
New Orleans and some of the provinces Of
Canada and away-off New Zealand have proved
that they can solve thxse problems. So can we.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
FARMING IN THE NORTHWEST

The reign of popular government has come
to stay in North Dakota. The initiative and
referendum and recall are a part Of our pro-
cramme. And we intend 10 put over a new
and up-to-date state constitution.
How did we succeed in this political up
heaval? The old gang was we'll intrenched.
They owned all the daily newspapers except
one Nine out of ten of the county weekly
papers were against US. Some of the church
leaders preached against us. The nationality
of the voters was appealed to, but in vain.
Farmers read the fiery articles against our
movement, listened to the prediction church
denunciaton, shook hands with the polished
politicians-and straightway forgot all about
IT, The other gang had been too strong for
them. They wanted change, and the State
Legislature was the secret Of 1t all. suppose
that other legislatures had been about the same
as the one Of two years ago. We had good
men whom we did not forget this year, who
had fought our battles. But we also had bad
men there. Insurance companies, the rail-
roads and the corporations went to that Legs
lature and got what they wanted. We farmers
went .here and asked for simple legislation
and We were refused. Much booze was spilled
to defeat our bills
In the previous year SO per cent Of the voters
had voted for a constitutional amendment au-
thorizing state terminal elevator. The farm
ers demanded that the Legislature put it
through. but the farmers were told to Ego
home and sop the pigs" We did so, and we
came back this year and cleaned the legislative
stables. That "slop the pigs" was a slogan
that was like the firing on Fort Sumter-the
disclosures famed the flame Of revolt. few
farmers banded together and organized the
Farmers Non-Part.san League. They elected
4. G. Townley, former school teacher and
farmer. as their president His initials spelled
the word "act." lie is action personifed-one
of the shrewdest, brainiest leaders any crowd
ever had The revolt spread Townley gath
cred about him some brainy leaders. Charles
Edward Russell dug out the facts and fur
nished the ammunition TO shoot against the
old gang He is the Henry Lloyd George of
our farmers movement. Now, how did we
spread the gospel?
One hundred Ford automobiles were bought,
one for each organizer. Every township was
canvassed: farmers were asked to join the non
partisan league. Nine dollars each was charged
for membership. This 50 paid for a weekly
newspaper, all expenses of campaign and can
didates and gave the farmer the privilege Of
participating in all conventions. Never did
spellbnders have a more pleasant platform TO
talk FROM The campaign Of education was
worth the price.
On the 22d day of February, l9l6-Wash-
ington's Birthday and the birthday Of the farm
ers' political freedom-township caucuses were
called in every precinct and delegates were
elected to county conventions. Only genuine
farmers were allowed. Delegates were elected
70 the State Convention, which met the last
day Of March and planned an April fool FOR
the politicians. The State Convention was like
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

apolis. Last fall, for example, While
the news columns Of the country were
acclaiming 81 wheat, the farmers OF
North Dakota were receiving for theirs
an average of less than 81 bushel.
Two dollars a bushel was the price
quoted for No. / Northern only, the
highest grade, and owing to the dryness
of the season, which had shrivelled the
wheat kernels, the bulk of the Dakota
crop had fallen far below this standard,
50 far below, in fact, that the Minneapo-
lis millers felt impelled to create new
grades with which to classify it. These
new grades they called "feed wheat
grades, the inference being that wheat
so classified was unfit for milling pur-
poses.
SO, at least, they gave the farmers to
understand. But they went ahead mill
ing this feed wheat obtained at bargain
rates, and soon they we're advertising
their flour to the public as of eXcep-
tional quality, owing to the peculiar ex'
cellence of this very wheat. 1t didn't
take the North Dakota farmers long to
find this out; indeed, their suspicious
had already been confirmed through
tests made by their own experts.
Such situation would naturally offer
wheat farmers little encouragement to
increase their acreage and yield, even to
help out Uncle Sam. Unfortunately it
still obtains. Within few days DR..
Alonzo +. Taylor, the eminent food spe-
cialjst. told an audience at the Academy
Of Medicine in this city that the farmers
we're selling for S1.30 bushel wheat
which as -four was retailing at Sl4
barrel. Yet wheat, he said, which sold
for $50 bushel, with normal over
turn, giving the elevator company, the
miller and the jobber all a reasonable
profit, should retail for ST barrel.
"The question is" Dr.. Taylor added,
where does the difference go?
The wheat farmers know, and the
knowledge does not enhance their pa
triotism
But there is a distinct and steady
ray of light ahead for them, they think
The clutch Of the octopus on the govern
ment of North Dakota they have def
nitely loosened. Mr.. McTaig, in his
graphic description of the situation be-
fore the Popular Government Conven-
ton, for which this must serve simply
as an introduction would have us be-
lieve they had cast off its tentacles COM
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10

TF THE food supply were still plentl-
full and democracy seemed secure
z if the Golden Age were come
again-we could afford to take some
what less painful interest in what the
farmers of the Northwest are thinking
and doing. But these farmers raise the
greater part of the country's wheat
crop. q resource which may well decide
The world conflict. Certainly, the psy-
Geological processes and reactions are
and will continue increasingly to be
directly registered in the price of bread
throughout the Allied world.
The farmers of the Northwest, more
PARTICULARLY those of North Dakota, the
greatest of all the wheat growing states.
have recently staged political revolu-
ton. But, like the Russian revolution,
It is still in process Of development.
Other strange similarities between these
two upheavals suggest themselves. The
revolutionists in both cases are profound
pacifsts. In both cases they are mere
interested in their domestic victories
than in the titanic war in which they
are taking such an important part.
And in both they are asking radical
concessions to socialistic sentiment as
The price of their continued cooperation
N the war.
Only a few weeks ago a. c. Townley,
president of the Farmers Non-Partisan
League, the organization which capt
ured North Dakota for the farmers, as
Mr. McTaig relates below, issued
statement. almost an ultimatum, IN
siructing the government to seize the
marketing machinery Of the country If
II wished the farmers to respond to the
cry for more wheat. 1t is this market
ing machinery, comprising especially
the milling interests of Minneapolis, the
beef and pork packers Of South st. Paul,
the cold storage men, the chambers Of
commerce and the boards Of trade,
which constitutes for the wheat farmers
Inc real autocracy. The Hohenzollerns
seem 10 them a far-off, half mythical
menace. But the octopus Of the Twin
Cities appears an actually Of giant pro-
portions.
Their proposition is simple one-let
Uncle Sam help us dispatch our tyrant
and we'll lend him vigorous hama
against that other one he is excited
about. It SINNERS down, Of course, to a
natter Of dollars and cents with the
wheat farmers. They have been obliged
" cell their grain TO elevators owned IN
A" controlled from Minneapolis. The
plces they have obtained have been
'a'ject TO grades established in Mime
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-21
LOCAL BOY SCOUTS
TROOP TO MEET

The local troop of Boy Scouts will
meet tonight at o'clock. There is SO
much of interest to boys going on
these days that the regular weekly
greetings on Friday nights are not
enough to clear up the work.
At tonight's meeting plans will be
completed for hike next Saturday.
Every member is expected to be
present at this meeting and all who
have not turned in their Y. M. G. A.
War Work pledge cards will do so
tonight. Company D will have to
hustle to catch up with the other
companies, but they can do that very
thing.