The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-02
Lawn TENNIS IN 1898
HELPED BY CONFLICT
Malcolm ID. Whitman Product of
Spanish American War, 1t
Is Pointed Out.

New York. April War provided
the foundation upon which Malcolm
Douglas Whitman reared his skill and
fame as a lawn tennis player. Dwight
+. Davis. the donor of the world-fa-
nous international challenge cup,
caught the first breath of champion
ship aspirations while the nation was
actively hostile toward Spain. Edwin
p. Fisher and the late Leonard f..
Ware likewise firmly established their
regulations on the courts in 1898,
when martial things most occupied
the attention of the nation.
These facts were brought a few
days ago during a lively discussion as
to the cancelling of the championship
and tournament schedule. The point
was established that at that time and
following the declaration of war
against Spain the American game
really benefited and did not suffer.
as had been feared at the time would
be the case Applied directly to lawn
tennis, the Spanish American war
served as blessing. 1t brought to
the front Whitman. generally consid-
cred among all competent authorities
as the greatest lawn tennis player this
country has ever produced.
Accepted Opportunity.
Whitman made the most of the op-
when William A. Larned, Robert d.
Wrenn and Ollie Campbell took ser
vice in the Rough Riders under Col.
Roosevelt and entered the campaign
in Cuba. Bob Wrenn was the holder
of the cham ionship. As he was not
at the tournament at Newport the
title went to Whitman by default,
After that season, when he struck
his gait. Whitman held undisputed
ax,I 1nf Cd II ~ -
model all around player and an in
yincible tactiCian of the courts.
Those who believe that ii would be
a serious mistake to- make a sweep
ing cancellation Of all Of the tourna-
ments on the national schedule in the
event of this nation engaging in war
declare that the career of Whitman
justifles their opinion. They refer TO
his record of several consecutive sea-
sons which does not find a parallel
in all the annals of the American
game. for as a winner OF tournaments
and of championships he stands ont
AZ the superior of even the mighty
Maurice f. Mclaughlin.
Produces Guide.
One OF the advocates of the idea
that the absence OF some OF the stars
might result in newer and greater
men coming forth on the America n
icuIts suppci ttu HIS al EhlhtIlt bA
producing a copy of the guide for
that year from which he cleaned the
following:
The absence of Wrenn and Larned
from the seasons tournaments could
not help being a great disappointment
70 all lovers OF the game: yet in some
respects this very fact has done much
TO advance the general interests OF
the game in America. The gap which
last year separated these two players
from the other players was a dscour-
aging one to the younger men, as the
final results Of any tournament in
which Wrenn or Iarned was entered
was considered foregone conclusion.
with these two players away. the
competition has been most spirited
with the result that the standard OF
play among the younger men has ma
teriaily advanced. thus considerably
closing the gap which had previously
existed. 1t is natural for us, however.
to feel that Wrenn and Larned are
still in a class higher than Whitman
and those who Immediately follow
him. vet it is extremely probable that
the difference is not nearly SO great
a is generally supposed