New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

years. Where formerly the tourna
garded somewhat in the nature of a
assigning of these events in charge
due appreciation of their Importance
There are several reasons for this
change in sentiment, OF which the
most important is the steady rise in
the skill of the women players and
the increase in the number of those
Who can play the game as it should be
played BY the women of the greatest
among the nations.
Now that the United States National
Lawn Tennis Association has given its
official sanction for national cham
pionship tournament for girls under
nineteen years of age, to be played at
the Philadelphia Cricket Club next
June during the progress of the wom-
ems national title tourney. the great
est possible impetus has been given
toward the encouragement of the
younger players.
As matter of fact, women's lawn
tennis had approached n stage of stag
nation toward the close of 1914. Miss
Mary X. Browne. of California, had
won the title in 1912. 1918 and 1914,
but she so far overshadowed all those
who opposed her that the tournaments
were robbed of much interest. Outside
of the then Miss Hazel Hotchkiss and
Miss Eleanora Sears there were not
more than two or three women players
who could give Miss Browne any kind
OF competition on the courts. And,
what was more to be deplored, nobody
seemed to have enough ambition to
make the attempt to dethrone the title
holder.
Norwegian Revives Interest
There was no group of younger girls
from which to draw recruits, for the
younger element was not taking to the
great game. A drastic impetus was
needed TO revive interest, and that
impetus came at the psychological
moment in the person of Miss Molla
Bjurstedt, at that time the champion
of Norway.
The Norwegian girl arrived in this
country in October, 1914, but did not
appear in tournament until March,
1915, when she entered the women's
national indoor championship tourna-
ment at the 7th Regiment Armory and
won the title from Miss Marie Wag
ncr. holder. in the final round.
From that time on the Norwegian
marvel swept imperiously through the
ranks of the greatest players the East
could produce. There was none to
stay her progress, and for time 1t
seemed that the fair foreigners abso-
lutelv unhindered path of victory had
discouraged all attempts to stop her.
That was. perhaps, a natural Sc
ouence But there came change after
some months, and although Miss Blur
stedt kept right on winning new titles
and making clean sweep OF practically
every tournament in which she entered,
the fame that came to her and the
splendid and unvarying spirit of fair
play she showed on the courts under all
conditions had the effect of arousins
fresh interest among the women play
erS.
In 1916 it was the same story. and
the Norwegian took the national in
door and outdoor titles for the second
year in succession. But in the mean
time there had arisen a number Of play
ers of the younger school who showed
most encouraging indications of future
greatness All had undoubtedly been
inspired by Miss Bjurstedt's tremen-
dous success
Miss Sheafe Worthy Rival
Among those who gave the great
champion keen struggles for the mas
terry on different occasions were Miss
Anne Sheafe, of Boston, since married,
who possessed a forehand drive of un
usual power and almost equal to the
Norwegian's famed stroke.
Miss Marion Zinderstein, another girl
from Massachusetts. practically un-
n Of h0,> t.,ta 10
her first appearance in the women's ma
tional championship tournament at the
Philadelphia Cricket Club last June,
and created sensation at once.
Her ground strokes We're remarkably
severe, both on force and back hand,
and her service was quite the most
powerful on the courts among the
women. The luck of the draw did not
bring Miss Zinderstein and Miss Blur
stedt together, and the Massachusetts,
girl was put out by Miss Sears, we be-
leve it was. after battle in which
lack of competitive experience was a
vital factor In informal matches. how
ever, Miss Zinderstein almost held her
own with Marvellous Molla. We make
the prediction now that she will rise to
great heights in the world of lawn ten
mis-.
SO widespread had been the revival
of interest in women's tennis in 1917
that Miss Browne travelled across the
continent after the close Of the regular
season and played a long series of
matches with Miss Bjurstedt. These
matches attracted far more attention
than the mems events, and further
added to the prestige of women's play.
Miss Browne won ma ority of these
Matches by the way