Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-15
TILDEN JOINS
SIGNAL CORPS
Tennis Star Wins Two State
Titles Before Reporting
for Service
NOW AT PITTSBURGH
By PAUL PREP

!
Bill Tilden, I'd, tennis player extraor-
dinary of the Cynwyd Club. of this city,
no longer is in this section. He is sta
toned with the United States signal
corps at Pittsburgh. The former Red
and Blue net star left this city late last
evening and Joined the colors this
morning a few hours after reaching the
| smoky town.
But before departing from Philadel-
phia he played the leading role in a
farewell sketch, Il know you'll remember
me when I'm over there" To say that
he performed the duties required and
expected of him in a successful man.
ner is describing his play very lightly.
His acting was the big feature of the
day, and he made a hit with everybody,
except, of course. the villains in the skit.
The villains this time, however. weren't
as villainous as in other plays and were
the first to congratulate the hero on
his great acting.
Two Acts
The play mentioned above was staged
yesterday on the beautiful courts of the
Merton Cricket Club, at Haverford. as
the grand finale of the Pennsylvania
State lawn tennis championships tour
nament. Tilden appeared in both acts
the singles and the doubles. After three
hours of beautiful playing the specta-
tors were unanimous in declaring that he
deserved the titles in both events.
Everything went along smoothly in
the first act, the singles. but for a time
1t appeared as though the doubles cham
pidnship would have to be postponed
until today because of the slight drizzle
which was falling. Heavy and dark
clouds had gathered overhead to watch
Tilden play his final match as a civilian,
and a downpour wouldn't have been a
surprise. Tilden, however, wasn't anx-
ious to stay over another day, SO he
opened up a few more notches, sent
the pill sailing over the net with Won
derful speed and won the last game
and incidentally the set and champion
ship in quick order,
Hasn't Lost a Match
The two matches yesterday were
fitting climax to a short but exception
ally successful tennis season for Bill
Tilden. He has been competing on the
courts since the seson first opened,
some time ago. During this time he has
faced some stiff opposition in New York,
Brooklyn and elsewhere, but always his
message home was, Il have met the
enemy and they are mine" Not single
contest was lost.
His playing in these many tournas
ments stamped him as one of the favor
ties for the national singles champion
ships. But he didn't want to stay
around and just play tennis while the
9th dniY, thnfr TO hall nnl 10
Sam. He was anxious to do something
for his country. Putting his plan into
effect, he enlisted in the signal corps.
He was given permission to finish the
Pennsylvania State tournament How
well he did the job already has been
told.
Perhaps he will be unable to compete
In the national singles championships
this fall. II he does and is in good
shape. then the others had better be on
their guard. If he doesn't it's different
matter. But his playing throughout the
country has earned him many laurels
and friends and all are pulling for him
to come through in his new job.
DR.. Hawk Outclsssed
He was pitted against DIR. P. B. Hawk
In the final round of the singles yester-
day The veterans steady-going play
was far inferior to Tilden's sensational
driving and lobbing. Time after time
Tilden would come up to the net and
smash drive after drive past Hawk.
Tilden won all but two of the twenty
games played, dropping the third and
fourth games of the first set. The scores
were 6-2, 60, 60. the last two corre-
spending to q perfect game in baseball.
no no-hit. no-run contest.
In the doubles match the going was
more complicated. as the walIa Walla
clubmen would say. Paired with Carl
Fischer, the Lower Merton High School
star. Tilden was forced to four fiercely
played sets before gaining his objective,
the State title. from q. c. Shafer and
John Bell Jr. The scores were 7-6, TO.
'enly the great finish BY Tnden tnrne1
the tAdo In their favor sS <.