New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
Healthy Revival in Sport
Due to Activities of Head
of u. S. N. L. T. A.
By FRED HAWTHORNE

Il is possible that patriotism, after
all, will be the making OF lawn tenni-
this season. For the last three or four
weeks there has been a noticeable de-
crease In the number of tournaments
played around the metropolitan district.
Many clubs felt compelled to cancel
scheduled Journeys owing to lack of in
terest among players and the public.
Now there is healthy revival, with
the temperance in our midst of two
Of the most noted of the California
players. Miss Mary Browne and William
NJ. Johnston, both former holders OF the
women's and mems national titles.
George Townsend Adee, president OF
the United States National Lawn Tennis
Association, is the man responsible for
the reawakening on the courts. He
realized that something drastic must be
done if the game was not to die. The
regular patriotic tournaments, with
no definite object in view, were not suf-
ficiently attractive, it seemed. Mr..
Adee and his colleagues hit upon the
scheme of starting a countrywide cam
paign for 100000, wherewith to equip
and man three ambulance sections for
service In France.
Worth Striving For
Here was something worth striving
for; here was the opportunity for the
players themselves, not only to help
along the great fund by playing in the
series of exhibition matches. but to
take an actual part along the fighting
line in France. Only players of the
game will be enrolled In these smbu-
lance sections, and there is no doubt
that long before the fund is complete
there will be more than enough vol
unteers TO man it fully.
Realizing the interest that always at
taches TO the sensational players from
the Coast, Mr.. Adee got into COM
municaton with the Pacific Coast as
ISOLATION and asked If it would be pos
sible TO send couple of representative
players East 70 take part in the "sm-
bulance" tournaments. Word came
back that Miss Browne and Johnston
were willing and eager to make the long
trip for glory. and they started for the
after the request was made.
On the clay courts Of the Yahnun-
OASIS Golf Club, at Utica on Friday and
Saturday Miss Browne made her first
appearance in the East since 1914,
meeting Miss Molla Bjurstedt, the
present national champion.
Ever since the Norwegian girl first
came to this country, in :he early part
of 1915, and made a clean sweep of all
opposition on this side of the continent,
there has been continuous argument as
to how she compared with the former
May Sutton and Miss Browne. Out on
the Coast. in strange surroundings and
on asphalt courts, Miss Biurstedt was
signally defeated by both these great
Californians, but the test was not on
neutral ground and hence could not be
regarded as conclusive.
Now that Miss Browne has returned
to the scenes Of her former triumphs.
and it seems probable that she and Miss
Bjurstedt will meet In a series of
matches on clay and turf courts, the
question that has been discussed from
coast to coast will be positively and
finally settled
Several Special Matches
After Yahnundasis will come prob
ably half a dozen more special ex-
hibition matches between the greatest
players now available. winding up with
the national singles tournament at For
est Hills, starting on August 20. II is
possible that Richard Norris Williams,
End. present national champion; George
Myers Church, Robert Lindley Murray,
Clarence J. Griffin, Watson NJ. Wash
burn. Dean Mathey, s. Howard Voshell