New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19
Veterans and
Youngsters in
Star Tourney
National Tennis Singles
Draw Feature Cards for
Forest Hills
By Fred Hawthorne

The national singles lawn tennis
tournament that begins tomorrow on
the splendid turf courts Of the West
Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills, l.. l.,
will be in some respects the most
remarkable ever held in the thirty
seven years that have interviewed since
Richard D. Sears won the first cham
pionship title at Newport in 1881.
Never before have men who were at
the height Of their game twenty years
ago, when they held the championship
titles, competed in the same event with
BOYS who we're not even born when
the veterans were holding uninterrupt-
ed sway. But this condition Of affairs
will obtain in the great tournament
that gets under way tomorrow.
10 is several years since Malcolm D.
Whitman, uational champion in 1885,
1899 and 1900, has appeared in active
ccmpetition. Except for the halo Of
greatness that still surrounds his name
because Of his wonderful play while
champion, the tall Bostonian would be
unknown among the younger generation
Of racquet wielders.
Veteran in Singles
But Whitman will make his reap
pearance on tie courts on Monday
when he starts in the national singles
with another veteran, Irving c. Wright,
Of Boston. as his opponent in the hrst
round. The former champion Is TAX
ing up the game again after a lapse
of nearly twenty years, 10 help IN
crease the interest in the tournament,
the receipts from which will be turned
over 10 the Red Cross Ambulance Fund
Another whose name was as famous
as Whitman's q score OF years ago,
Holcombe Ward, national doubles
champion with Dwight +. Davis, IN
1899, 1900 and 1901, and again in l9Ol,
1906 and 1906, when Beals G.. Wright
was his partner, will also be con-
tender at Forest Hills next week. Ward
Dlaved i'm the recent tournament at
Seabright and demonstrated that he
stil retains much of his greatness as
q court general His opponent in the
opening round will be none other than
5. Howard Voshell, national indoor
champion, who is regarded by many
as the eventual winner OF the tourna-
ment. Wards test will be severe
one in what promises to be the feature
match Of ,he frst day Of play.
Youngsters Also Play
So much for the masters Of the past,
and now q word as to the masters OF
the future. Probably the youngest
player in the tourney will be Benjamin
II. LetsOn, jr., national boy champion
and just past sixteen years. In spite
of his youth, LetsOn is one of the
most promising of the younger school,
and seems destined TO take high place
among the great players OF the next
few years. lie is drawn against the
famous John K. Strachan, OF California,
in the first round.
Still younger in The scale of years
is Vincent Richards, a Yonkers school
boy Of fourteen, who will be contend
er for the boys national title on the
West Side courts. Vincent has just
donned his first pair of long trousers,
vet he has scored victories over tourna-
ment PLAYERS Of twice his age.
Marshall Allen, a youthful prodigy
from far-of Seattle, Wash, although
entirely unknown in this section Of the
country, is a player who will be close
~ watched when he goes into action
against Nathaniel W. Niles, the Boston
veteran. Allen won the junior section
al tournament in the Pacific Northwest,
and will now try his skill against stern
or opposition in the national event.
The tournament committee plans to
get the field Of siXty-tour players under
wav with rush tomorrow, and each
man will be called upon to play two
rounds, thus reducing the number Of
survivors to sixteen before the sun sets.
Matches in the first round will be start
ed in the morning, around 10 o'clock
probably, and after stopping for lunch
con the players will resume the strug-
gle in the afternoon.