Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-02
YOUNGSTERS IN TENNIS
UNUSUAL CROP OF BOYS
APPEAR IN TOURNAMENTS
Plnyers. to Achieve Future Greatness,
Begin Their Training mt Ago
OF Twelve Years.

OF Twelve years.
Ono of the interesting features Of
this lawn tennis season with all Of its
unusual conditions has been the ap-
pcarancc OF an increasing number OF
youthful competitors in the tourna-
ments. says the New York Evening
Post.
In the absence Of tho greater stars
Of the first magnitude. the players who
I'LL the top ten and the ranks OF the
first class, the youngsters who are
RAPIDLY accommodating their experience.
have received an amount OF attention
that has In other more active season.
suffered an eclipse. Such tourna-
ment rs the recent Long Island patri-
otto singles and doubles. in other years
the historic championship carrying
that title. furnishes an Indication Of
how generally tho boys have como out.
In the Long Island list were Harold
Taylor. Cecil Donaldson. George Throck-
morton. ]. w. Anderson, Gerald Donald
son. Jr.. and two or three others of the
Same standing. They played with re-
markable skill and displayed IN abii-
ity that promises great things for the
lutNTc vi Tie Ga1ne.
The clcverness with which the young
players perform calls attention to tho
fact that they are beginning to take
part in tournaments at an age thas is
earlier than in other years. Now lawn
tennis players to achieve future great
ness under the modern conditions of
the game begin to learn the use OF the
racquet at twelve years of age 1t lis
the consensus of opinion OF such able
masters of the game Of the courts and
teachers as James Burns, Of the Rock.
away Hunting Club. Of Cedarhurst,
Long Island; George Asutter. of the
West Side Tennis Club. OF Forest Hills,
and James Mcneil, the professionals.
that tho age stated Is the best at
which to make a beginning. Further
more, exactly as the athlete trained
under one of the superior track and
field coaches excels tho self-taught and
developed trackmcn. so the true cap
tain Of the courts shows the results Of
direction and guidance received from
competent teachers
Increased Number OF Youngsters.
Ever since the beginning OF the pres
ent season there has been considerable
discussion as to what may be expected
of the greatly increased number OF
younger and hitherto unknown COM
petitors who have appeared in the tour
naments. Each of the meetings has
brought out a half-dozen boys who
have been made bold enough to enter
because of the fact that the over
whelminE stars were absent and that
there was no championship or ranking
at stake. 1t has almost made 1t appear
as II the general cancellation of titles
was n blessing in disguise.
The contention OF the leading pro-
fessionals that twelve years is the
proper age at which to begin to ac-
quire knowledge and ability at the
game is supported by the records OF
such men as r. Norris Williams. H..
the twice holder of the national cham
pionship In singles: Maurice e. Nc
Loushlin. the justly famous and be-
loved California comet. who put the
peppery punch into the game that has
revolutionized IT in every quarter OF
the globe: William NJ. Johnston. one of
the greatest Of the young players from
the Pacific Coast. and a former national
Title holder OF the singles and doubles.
ROBERT d. Wrenn. the former holder of
the highest of titles; Karl II. Behr, the
internationalist. and. more recently.
benjamin II. Letson. the national bow
champion, and Elliott II. Bfnzen. the
junior national indoor champion. The
standing OF the players named IS sun3-
cient TO clinch almost any argument
related to the game Of the courts.
Ihere Is another fact that assum ..
prominence when the youth of the
American tournament rlavaro is
aidered' The younger players have