New-York tribune., 1919-08-26


o1 'ne west Side Tennis Club at T
ehe sixty-four matches in the first !
AFTERNOON at 1 o'clock, when the st
followed, as regards the featured m
Julian S. 'Myrick, vice-president Of
the U. S. N. L. T. A. and acting ref
cree OF the tournament, after inspect
ing the turf, decided that it would be
impossible to start the tournament on
'ime' even if the sun should come out
later which it did. Yesterdays rain
means that the final round match for
'he championship will probably be
played on Tuesday, September 2. in
stead of on Monday, Labor Day.
Although there was no activity on
oRe courts yesterday. there was much
TO see and to talk about around the
clubhouse, and most of the talk had to
DO with the chances of the various
formidable' contenders for the crown
at present adjoining the blond head of
Robert Lindley Murray.
For one man who was positive that
Murray would be successful in retain
ing his title you would find another
equally convinced follower of the game
ton as prophet that William r. Til
den, I'd, Of Philadelphia, runner-up to
Murray last year for the championship,
would be the victor in the final round
next week. Then, of course, there we're
those who believed William M. Johns
ton, Of California, champion of 1915,
would go straight through the field,
and others who fancied the chances of
Norman Brookes, of Australia, his
doubles partner, Gerald Patterson,
Richard Norris Williams, I'd, or
Maurice Z. Mclaughlin.
Sentiment Favors Tilden
On the whole, however, the prevailing
sentiment seemed to be in favor Of
Tilden, with Johnston as his most
probable opponent in the final round;
vet the thing is such an open PROPOSE
tion this year that your guess has just
as much weight as the next mans
Williams, who was defeated in de-
cisive manner by Murray a week ago
to-day in the final round of the Green
wich tournament and who has not been
playing anywhere near his best form
this season, was reported yesterday as
having worked a tremendous improve
ment in his game within the last few
days. The champion of 1914 and 1916
has been practising daily on the turf
courts Of the Field Club of Greenwich,
and in the opinion Of so sound Judge
as Johnston the Bostonian is apt to
make a far more serious bid for the
title than a majority OF the critics be-
ieve possible.
Brookes, was among the few players
who showed up at the courts yesterday
Ihe Australian examined the turf
closely and with a critical eye, and
then remarked when asked what he
thought of the championship court:
It's very fine; it's wonderfuli"
Edward c. Conlin, chairman of the
National Tennis Umpires' Association.
who will have entire charge of the
oaerous duty Of providing competent
umpires and linesmen for every match
in the tournament, took advantage of
the postponement Of play to further
perfect his own arrangements One of
the things at Forest Hills that at
tracted great deal of attention yes
terday was the new umpire's chair.
invented by Conlin and said to be the
most complete affair of its kind in
existence.
Perfects Umpire's Chair
The chair, or stand, is built entirely
of wood, stands about eight feet in
height and looks like a small house
raised on four legs. The umpire sits
on the roof, and inside the house are
q dozen different compartments and
drawers for holding racauets. balls,
sweaters. towels, etc.
One special compartment has been
set aside by Conlin for what he calls
an "emergency kit This kit contains
everything imaginable that might be
needed during a match by the players.
For instance, there are scissors, safety
pins, spike cleaners, adhesive tape,
aromatic spirits of ammonia, sawdust
smelling salts, resin, grip wax, shoe
laces, sponges, chewing gum, a ham,
mer. pair of pliers, a shoehorn, tai
cum powder, belts, handkerchiefs,
pocketknife and sliced lemons.
Brookes went all over the contrap-
ton, while Conlin gave a lecture on
the merits Of the trick chair The
Australian appeared greatly impressed
by the merits of the invention, but
made one or two suggestions for minor
changes and these were followed
Keep your eye out for Conlin's chair
this afternoon; it will be one of the
features at the West Side courts
The United States National Lawn
Tennis Association will hold a dinner
this evening at the Hotel Vanderbilt,
the official headquarters during the
tournament, at which all the players
will appear, and at which there will
be speeches by officials of the asso-
citation, music, some discussion of
plans for next year and q dance at
the end