Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-25
MISSBJURSTEDT
AREAL PATRIOT
Singles Champion, an Alien,
Sets Example for Sacrifice
in Red Cross Tourney
MISS BROWNE A HEROINE
BY WILLIAM r. TILDEN, I'd

BY WILLIAM T. TILDEN, I'd
Miss Molla Bjurstedt, an alien but an
American patriot.
The brilliant tennis star this girl from
Norway who came here three years ago
and in that time gained monopoly on the
women's national singles title has been
doing her greatest work this year. With
the women's national tennis tourney called
off due to the war she engaged in many
exhibition matches for various benefits.
After the playing of the national pa
triotc tourney at Forest Hills she was
asked to join the Red Cross tennis workers
and tour the country for the benefit of
that organization. She acceded willingly,
and with everything to lose and nothing to
gain in the way of reputation in tennis,
she made the tour,
Playing against Miss Mary *. Browne
California girl and former holder of the
national title she was facing one OF the
most finished and most adept of tennis
exponents in women's ranks. Miss Blur
stedt suffered many setbacks, at one time
losing seven straight matches to the coast
wonder and with these defeats she suf-
fered the loss of much prestige. 1t was
while playing here that Miss Bjurstedt
struck her winning stride and since has
been playing the same style of tennis that
made her the sensation and the champion.
From Coast to Coast
From the Atlantic coast to the Pacific
they have played for the Red Cross. Last
spring Miss Biurstedt made the trip to
the coast and the tourney was a benefit
one on this last tour Miss Browne was
forced to leave the team at st. Louis, being
called home through the illness OF her
father Miss Bjurstedt is still playing and
when she is unable to find competition
among her own sex she plays the stars Of
the male world Only a few days ago
she gave 2 remarkable exhibition against
Fred B. Alexander.
Miss Browne and Miss Bjurstedt have set
one of the most remarkable examples of
sacrifice sportsmanship and patriotism that
the athletic world ever has known. Miss
Browne is an American to her finger tips.
Wonderful as has been her spirit and will
ngness it has been no more than that
shown by and expected OF all American
girls at this time. But Miss Bjurstedt was
not citizen of this country. The sacri-
fees she has made, indeed. show her TO
be real patriot
Since July o. when the Fed Cross tennis
players opened the big tourney In Utica,
Miss BjuTstedt has been playing daily. She
has given up all her time and worked and
played for the Red Cross Ambulance Fund.
The matches were arranged by President
George T. Adee, Julian S. Myrick, Paul b,
williams and headed by Frederick 3. Alex
ander, under the auspices OF the United
States National Lawn Tennis Association.
The names of such players as John
Strachan. Charles S. Garland, r. Lndley
Murray, Karl Behr S. II. Voshell and
others could not fail to draw crowds, but
1t was the magic of Miss Bjurstedt and
Miss Browne that proved the greatest single
factor In the financial success Of the plan,
No Easy Task
Miss Bjurstedt had no easy task. She
had everything to lose She was playing
an American, one of the most popular play
ers who ever stepped on the courts. The
crowds, no matter where they played, while
according Miss Biurstedt every respect and
showing their appreciation of her wonder
work clearly were roofing for Miss Browne.
In Philadelphia alone this was not true.
II is here that Miss BjuTstedt won her
greatest triumphs in the three national
championships, and she deservedly is the
most popular player in America with a
Philadelphia audience. Against the handi-
cap of a hostile crowd and the mental strain
Miss Bjurstedt has played her best.
Miss Bjurstedt had played three consecu-
tive months Of tennis before opening the
Red Cross trim.