Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-02

ments. Tho celebrated American re-.
verse twist, tho stroke that baked the
| first invasion of an EnElish team for
the Davis CUP. was invented by the
then youthful player. Roi .ombe Ward.
Tho Californians were responsible for
tho effectiveness Of tho high-boundinz
service. which brought about the high
~ spectacular effects OF not attack ana
rcpulse. In many ways the younger
men have always added to the game.
and they have been tho ones who have
boon chiefly responsible for its phe-
non1enal risS in popularity In tho last
few years.
WILLIAMS BEGAN At
AGE OF TWELVE YEARS
In the group named as having carved
their records indeiibly upon tho Amer
lean game, Williams. for instance. began
to play under tho watchful eye and d.
rection OF tho European professional.
Burke. at tho tender nge OF twelve
years. Williams was born Of American
parents In Geneva, Switzerland. on jan
uary 20, 1891. That means that he was
twenty-six years OF age his last birth
day. In everything that he docs Will
liams shows tho careful results OF his
European coaching. When ne first ap-
peared In this country. tho smoothly
drives which earned his points was the
wonder OF the tournaments. Tho stroke
was distinctly English in It's method.
Due to tho training he had 80 early re-
ceived he was quick to add the smother
ing shot whom he met the Californians.
1t made him champion despite little
attention to footwork.
Mclaughlin. with his phenomenal
record at lawn tennis. clinches the ar
gument In favor OF professional coach
Ing and its part in the rearing OF fu-
ture champions. AT twelve years OF age
Mclaughlin invented his own game. He
became master. Likewise an artist
II you please. OF the smash. His use
OF the stroke was at first forced upon
him because his playing exclusively
upon hard courts. which resulted in
the high bounds OF the ball. Probably
no player can defeat Mclaughlin to-day
who Will permit the Comet to make
use OF his smashcs FROM all parts OF
the court. Every ono who has at
tempted to outsmash Mclaughlin has
gotten the worst OF II. 1t can't be
done.
The carly start that Mclaughlin got
at welve years OF age made IL possible
for him to accomplish wonderful things
With one stroke. When others learned
to check that stroke Mclaughlin re-.
hnaufshed his pedestal. Professional
coaching was called In too late to re-
construct the game that had become
as natural to him as breathing. II was
his start at the dawn Of youth that
made him great. Bob wrcnn and Karl
Behr began az schoolboys. The nrst
great victory OF each was the winning
OF the national interscholastic cham
pionship. Wrenn. In one year. was ma
tional lawn tennis champion. rated as
Harvard's greatest quarter gack at
football, and star infielder on the base
ball field. Professional coaching made
natural ability perfection
Letson is one OF the best OF the
younger players who has come along
with natural ability assisted by pro-
fessional coaching. He Is Of the r.
hindley Murray type. At seventeen
years OF age he is moving down some
OF the best and most experienced of the
tournament campaigners While in
clined to place greater value upon his
overhead shots than upon tho depend-
able drives of the ground. those direct
ing him In the school OF experience are
building him into one of the strongest
players in this section Of the country.
Tournament campaigners are agreed
that there are now more players in ac-
ton nearly approaching the top ten
than ever before. The time Is at hand
when the national championship, and
all other titles for that matter will be
an open question. Youth Is recruiting
the game. 1t is ripe experience AT
from eighteen to twenty years OF age
and with tho addition Of capable coach
ing 1t is performing on the courts In
ways not dreamed of few years ago
Surviving members of tho famous
Harvard crew Of forty years ago. which
defeated Yale and Columbia, were en-
! tertained at New Rochelle. n. Y, re-
Gently by Lucius NJ. Littauer at his
crew who are living are Frederick IT
Allen. co1swain: Brigndier- General w
y. Bancroft. OF tho Massachusetts Ma
tional Guard stroke: Frederick w
Smith. Of Boston: William n. Schwartz