New-York tribune., 1919-10-12

A short time ago. in these columns,
mentioned the fact that the women
lawn tennis players Of the United
Of their annual championship tourna-
ment at the Philadelphia Cricket Club
from June to September, together with
their reasons for the contemplated
move. Since then I have spoken to
numbe, of the ranking women stars,
as we'll as those in the lower flights,
and one and all have approved Of the
later playing date, as it was to be
expected they would.
The game, as the woman Of to-day
plays it, has reached that stage in its
development where it demands, and IS
entitled to equal consideration with
pose. there will ba just as many sec
tional, national, intersection, state
and international tournaments for
women as for men, but that is looking
q bit far ahead, although the shifting
Of the womcn's national champion
ship date would be a great stride for
ward.
1t should not be understood that the
women players have been "held back"
in developing their game by the men
represented by the United States Ma
tional Lawn Tennis Association. On
the contrary. George Townsend Adec
vice president respectively Of the gov
erning body. have given their most
enthusiastic support to the movement,
and it is with the full approval Of the
executive committee Of the u. S. n.
l.. T. A. that the women will submit
their plan for the September holding Of
their blue ribbon event Of the courts
Taking it for granted that the new
date is ratified at the next meeting
Of the executive committee, we should
witness tremendous Improvement in
and in the number of those who play
really first class tennis. In place of
possibly ten or fifteen women who
deserve to be considered as the COM
parative equals Of as many men players
in the top ranking classes. we shall
have probably half a hundred, and at
the same time the margin Of difference
between the playing skill and strength
of the two sexes will shrink.
have no patience with those who
disparage women's tennis because, as
they assert, the "ordinary, lowest rank
ing man player can heat the best
woman player that ever lived"
1t might, with equal justice, be said
that men are better trench diggers
than women; that they are more sue
cessful prizetigh ghters, football players,
anything in sport that requires Ger
tain amount OF brute strength and en-
durance.
The only fair way to Judge between
them is with the realization and ac-
acknowledgements that the man is by
nature the stronger physically, and al
ways will be. But, after watching Miss
Mor,- n,o,r,o cy1 Mrc fi'hOp,ns e
Bundy. OF California; Mrs. George ".
Wightman Of Boston. and Mrs. Frank
lin l. Mallory, Of New York, play the
game, it seems to me that women have
made greater use Of their more linn
tied possibilities than the best OF the
men players.
And with the far greater opportuni-
ties for more tournament play before
their annual turf court championship
tourney, tho women will Sill further r
increase the playing strength and eff
ficicncy of their game. | ndcr tho ex-
stng conditions, with the champion
ship decided in the early part Of June,
the women have never been nblo to
play the game of which they are cap
able The time between the opcnin /.
of tho outdoor season and the national
event has been all too short scarcely
more than Il month and with only one
or Two turf court tournaments sched-
! uled in which the players could pre-
pare themselves for the crucial tos:
of the year.
With the premier tourney starting
say, in the first week of September
The women will be able gradually to
work their play up to the zenith o.
/ It's possibilities, with q regular series
of frs. clay court and then turf court
tournaments to put them on edge
when they begin their championship
struggles on the splendid stretch OF
grass at Philadelphia.
This is not tho only advantngc to be
gained by shift in the dates. Uith-
crto the June holding of the national
has practically barred the grent Cali
fornia players from making the long
trip East to compete against our best
But in September. following the first
full week after the playing Of the
mems national singles tourney in the
East, it would be far easier for Mrs