New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
World at Arm
Having Effed|
On Tennis Cam
Small Entry for Harle,
Tourney One of the
Many Indications
BY FRED HAWTHORNE

Inc IdFdScS u war az they Afe>4
the game Of lawn tennis. are berinniss
70 make Themselves felt even thus sarIs
in the United States. which has not w..
buckied on its armor. The tournams-s
Of the Harlem Tennis Club last Vs.
comprised exclusively Of events -
men, was chiefly remarkable for ~.
smallness of the entry. While rsv.,
fixture that attracted any Of the nn,.
prominent players, the Harlem siss
generally managed to draw Z sssS,.
field of local players.
Another instance OF the result A..
is seen in the Increasing ditheyltv -
getting high class players in tie n.y.
doubles events. The Pelham Co,....
Club was more fortunate than m,.t.
have been the case a little later ia ~.
season. When the names Of Watssn N
Washourn. George Church, D..,
Mathey, Frank Hunter and other, ~.
are generally relied upon 10 double n,
i'm these events were called there ~,
silence. These men are either =,
Plattsburg or some other Of the tr.i,.
ing camps. and the end is not vet
Besides those men who have answered.
the call 10 the colors, there are. Of
course, others who seem TO have lss.
interes. in the game that all were !.
keen about in years Of peace. This !.
regrettable, for lawn tennis will n,eS
all the help it can summon during n.
coming season.
IL would be unpleasant 70 think that
tho absence Of prizes and titles coui
act as a damper on the keennew Al
those who play the game. Perhaps IL
next few weeks will see a chan9e IA,
the better, with the men making ,
showing somewhat more in keepirs
With the commenda5le spirit dsplsy4
by their sisters Of the courts, who ks,,
rallied splendidly to the call.
Richard Norris Williams, I'd. nstio.s
champion, and without a doubt D.
foremost exponent of the game Aim
to-day. must have enjoyed a QUIZ
smile in his new home at Plattsbvn
last week when he read OF the wild n.
ports printed in several newspaper, A
10 the condition OF his feet.
IL was said of Williams that. vhe,
he came up before the examining scr.
geons for admission 70 the Plsttsburr
encampment, he was rejected because sf
defect in his feet-those wonderful
feet that carried MIN so successfully
through that gruelling fve-set strurrs
against William NJ. Johnston in he
championship match at Forest Hills las,
September.
! This report was the signal for the
, publication of sensational stories, gar
nished with great detail, concerning
I the fatal weakness that the chsmpion
/ had always shown in his pedal extrem.
ties. The glaring faults in his foot.
work on the courts were discussed, and
at last a reason was discovered for his
inability to get his feet into proper
position for certain shots.
1t was all very pitiful, Of ceurss, and
poor young Williams was an object Of
widespread sympathy, and people re.
called, now that their attention had
been drawn TO it, how labored the cham.
, 1t was really remarkable that he had
been able to get along 80 well % hs
had, and so forth, I'D lnfnitum.
Then Williams spoiled it oil. In an.
swer to an inquiry as to Just why he
had been rejected at the 0fhcers' Train
I ing Corps camp at Plattsburg, he wired
back from Plattsbu.g) that he was
enrolled in the corps, that his MANNED
and delicate feet had passed muster
and that he thought the war training
game was great. Zip. goes another
illusion.
Albert J. Ostendorf, chairman OF the
tournament committee OF the NJ"
York Lawn Tennis Club and team
captain, is the busiest hustler in The
Bronx these days, preparing for the
/ holding OF the seventeenth annual opea
tournament, which starts on SATURDAY,
June 2.
Heretofore this fixture was always
known as for the Manhattan doubles
end Bronx County singles champion
ship, but, with the country at war, =
I will become patriotic" tourney, WA
no prizes and titles at stake. Csrur.
Gates to the winners and the glory o.
knowing that they are giving suossss'
tial aid TO the Red Cross will BE- me
spur for the players.
Ostendorf has extended cordisi NJ
vitation to all players, including prs'
ent and past champions, TO take par
in the tournament, believing that u
this way the best interests OF the eeun'
. try will be served. Entries close On
Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock VIA
/ A. J. 0stendorf, No. 2s74 Briggs Ave
nue., The Bronx, or at the clubhouse;
B Columbia Oval and Two Hundred ans
Tenth Street (phone No. $50 William
BRIDGE. Entrance fee for singles, "
and for doubles, SO per team.