The sun., 1918-09-08
WAR NO HANDICAP
TO TENNIS LOVERS
World Strife Links Enthu,
siasts Closer and Adds
Test to Sport.
SOLDIERS SEEK COURTS

An interesting sidelight on the ~.
markably successful tennis season,
which ended with r. Lindiey Murray
of Niagara Falls as the champion, 10
found in the August 10 issue OF the
London Field. The Field carries long
cable article with big headlines. telling
OF the plans for the championship
matches at Forest Hills and detailing
the splendid war record OF the tennis
players OF the United States.
Then in It's editorial comment this
paper, which is recognised as the lead
ing organ OF British sportsmen. offers
the following tribute to tennis empha-
Sizing particularly the breadth Of its
appeal. Under the caption "Other
Tlmes-Other Manners the Field says:
Five years ago Queens Club would
have been virtually deserted In the FIRST
weeks OF August, and none but an am
bilious ball boz, seeking fptively to
improve his own play, would have used
the covered courts in the close season.
But the August OF 1918 Is as rich in
patrons as the June OF 1914: there has
never been such rush on the courts
grass. hard. and wood Much Of this
abnormal activity IL doubtless due to
the presence OF American and Dominion
soldiers In our midst, TO travel reytric-
lions which keep even non-war workers
In London. and 10 the facilities which
Queens offers for common rendezvous
OF allied sportsman.
4 Common Bond.
Yet. II the truth be known, 1t has
required the shaking up properties OF
world war to reveal the universal
vogue OF lawn tennis and the extraor-
binary expansion in its army OF votar-
les. The war has set all the world
a-travel. and the travellers have brought
their habits with them. When strang-
, ers meet their first instinct is to hnd
common bond The young armies OF
the empire and Of America. temporarily
! free from the stern battles which
brought them to Europe. have gravitated
to the lawn tennis court. 1t is a healthy
sign. a guarantee OF confidence In the
martial issue, az well as an augFy or
camaraderie in the days to come.
Almost as remarkable a this general
! zest for play has been the manner in
| which players. even the most fastidious.
| have reconcued themselves to war con.
ditions with labor fallen to an irre-
| ducible minimum, with many c.ub
| deprived Of its executive, with balls at
premium and the stan for making
| them sadly dlsorga mixed with almost
| every Other restriction. including a linn
itation Of baths. imposed, the provision
! OF equipment has been extremely dim.
cult---in some districts the task has
proved insupersble,
But the permanence OF games, like
races. is tested by their capacity to sur
| vive the forces OF dsntegration, BY
their power to adapt themselves TO adj
| verso circumstances.
Thus one las found a perfect readi-
ness on the part OF champions to gather
Grant balls in the w!lds beyond dilapi-
dated stop netting, an almost passionate
desire by the owe30 man to pair up
with the plus-l5 three man. left court
players quite amefabIe TO try the right
court torn nets with gaping holes re-
garded rs natural hazard, lines so
time washed az to be undiscern!ble. ana
turf SO varied in its residence as TO
cause permanent inconsistency OF
. bound. No matter, the conditions OF
lawn tennis to-day are still Ear superior
to the conditions OF the sos, and II
those were good enough for men Of le's-
ure these o! to-day will not be de-
spised by men Of action concentrated
! on a great achievement