New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-11
Absence of Miss Bjurstedt
Should Assure Miss Marie
Wagner of Title
By FRED HAWTHORNE

While the East and the West are
striving for supremacy on the lawn
tennis courts AT Los Angeles, Call TO-
morrow we have a national Champion
ship at stake right here in New YORK
where the tenth annual national m
door title tourney for women oeglns
on the board courts OF the 18th Regi-
ment Armory.
Miss Molla Bjurstedt, holder of the
crown. is scheduled 10 meet Miss Mary
X. Browne. of California. former ma
tional champion. at Los Angeles To-
morrow. so. of course. she will not DC
here TO defend her lsurels indoors
What is one woman's loss Is anotherS
GAIN. for it seems altogether likely that
Miss Marie Wagner. who has held the
indoor title FIVE times previously, VIII
81 cain be champion when the hnal match
is finished.
Miss Wagner's string Of victories was
broken By Miss Biurstedt in 1912 ana
the wonderful Norw egan repeated hei
triumph in 1916. We're she to be pres.
ont il is almost a certainty that she
would win the title Tor the tnlrd 'lnie
j., Succession. As il Is. there does ho'
seem anybody strong enough 20 pLe,
vent Miss Wagner from taxing 'he
chief cup.
yonng Talent of Great Promise
But il will be interesting TO "atch
the performances of some OF the heNel
nlayers in the tournament. IL - iiV"'
among these young players thdI Wv
future champions are going 10 I'm
if not this year, then IN me yeat
follow and IL is very hopetul lhul-
lo,;on of the Improvement of lawn ten
mis- among the women that there arc
.eyeraI embryo stars VINO are destined
"a force their way 10 near the TOP III
the immediate future. ,.,-,,
Mrs. Jack Anderson. MISS Eleahoi
Goss and Miss Gladys Downing ali are
nlavers of the utmost promise ana
Miss Helen Bernhard. Miss Helene Fol-
iaE Miss Caroma VIM. Mrs. de Fot-
cst Candee and half dozen otheiH
are messing them closely. NOT III
voars. in fact. have there been so
many women players IN the East VINO
arc approaching the heights.
Mrs Spencer Fullerton Weaver, twice
holder Of the national indoor douoles
cbamnionship-in 1914 with Miss Ciate
easel and in 1918 with Mrs. Marshail
Mclean and runner-up last year win
Mrs. Frederick Schmtz. IS 10 make her
REMEMBRANCE on the courts TINS SeaSo"
after years absence. ID
This will be welcome news 10 lnoSN
who have watched Mrs. W eavers sleaGS
nrocress un the ladder OF Iame. IN,
a few wears ago she had nothing pu'
her persistence to recommend he''
coupled with an admirable iearicsSllesS
at the ret position. But win ao1eu -
nerience Mrs. Weaver gradually de-
reloned and strengthened her game
until to-day she is one of the most e.
fective net nlsvcrs in doubles IN the
Fast She has the knack Of handing
tho hardest OF drives with STEADY
wrist and admirable coolness' ahg
knows how to cut her returns o"
sharply across the court.
Vrs Rawson L. Wood. winner OF the
, Florida state doubles champlonsnlp for
1917 with Miss Margaret II. layioi'
haired with Mrs Weaver some two OF
/ three years ago and won the Metro
politan doubles championship. Ihese
two formed brilliant combination ana
il they should pair of again TINS sea-
son. as seems likely. many titles are
liable 10 fell 20 their proves.
Although the East,West matches are
not finished at this writing. IL looks As
though tho West would win the series
without much trouble. and this was to
he expected. We did not send our
strongest players to the Coast. K. Nor,
ris Williams. I'd. national champion ana
conqueror of Johnston and McLough'
lin. and Karl Behr, two of our most
brilliant opponents of the game, were
no. able to make the long trip. Iheit
absence has been most severely felt al
ready. with the series not yet hall
completed.
Add to this THO fact that the asphalt
courts of Los Angeles. extremely fast
and unyielding under foot, must prove
q great handicap to the Fasteners. and
il is easily seen what a monumental
task confront them. The presence o.
Miss Biurstcdt on the Atlantic Coast
team had added greatly TO the interest
in the matches. Followers Of the court
came in the East will await with anX-