Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-12
Woodtord Rushing Plans for
Great Exhibition of Tennis
in Fairmount Park
BY SPICK HALL

THE theory, of that moss covered
saying. "a prophet is not without
honor. save in his own country" was
exploded years ago. 1t is particularly
inapplicablc in philadclphin with refer
ence to William r. Tildrn. I'd. of the
Germantown Cricket Club. world <
lawn tennis champion. Every one here
is proud Of him and wants to see him
play. Although Bill landed in New
York Sunday from his triumrhs abroad.
he has not been seen, publicly, yet New
port expected to see the famous master
of all tennis strokes in it's invitation
tournament. but Bill decided to do n
little resting and driving in his car
instead.
Next week Tilden will get into ten =.
mis- herncss again to battle with Chuck
Garland on the courts OF the Long
wood Cricket Club. Boston. in the ma :
tional doubles tournament. Until that
event is over. Philadelphians will not
have chance to see Bill play. In fact.
they probably would not have had the
opportunity until the East West tour
namcnt at the Germantown Cricket
Club the week of September o. had il
not been for the progressive ideas OF
the Woodford Courts Club, new or
Ganization that is fostering tennis in
FairmOunt Park.
Made Plans Early
Long before Tildcn was due to dock
in New York the Woodford tournament
committee decided that they would
make an effort to land Tilden for an ex
hibitiOn match or so in the park. sc
they laid their plans and stretched their
nets to get him. They picked on Pau
Gibbons, president of the Philadelphia
and District Lawn Tennis Association
a personal friend of Tilden, to get his
consent to play. The result of the in
terview between Tilden and Gibbons
was that Bill, in almost the same
breath that he refused to be lionizet
by Newport society. accepted the
Woodford invitation with pleasure.
At first it was planned to have Til
den meet either Wallace Johnson oil
! Chuck Garland or both in a two day
session. Wednesday and Thursday, Au
gust - %. bnt now the plans have beer
changed and it is probable that Bill
will BE- seen in action at Strawberr,
! Mansion on Sunady August %.
The date was tentatively changed
because the WOOdford Club and thos,
in charge of this exhibition series wan
every tennis fan and player in this vi
cinity to see the worlds champion il
action and Sunday is the best day fo
that.
The Invitation
The Woodford tournament has jus
! issued this official invitation to thu
people of Philadelphia to see Hildel
play:
To Philadelphia tennis followers
and players:
The Woodford Courts Club
takes this opportunity Of inviting
tennis enthusiasts in and around
Philadelphia to attend the cxhibi-
ton matches in Strawberry Man
sion. in which Bill Tilden, the
worlds champion, will be a parti-
cipant.
Every effort will BE- made to ac-
commOdate the record breaking
crowd which Is expected to be in
attendance. The support Of the
park commissioners has been sought
and il is expected they will 90 Oper-
ate with the Woodford Club in
making it the biggest tennis event
in the history Of the world. If
possible. it woulG be advisable to
erect huge stand to accommodate
many Of the leading men and wOm-
cn Of the country VINO will be in
vilcd to witness the competition,
An excellent start already has
been made here to boost tennis on
the public courts. THIS was shown
when WalIa"" Johnson, Carl
Fischer, Joe ThNyr" and Herman
Dnrrh"im took part in series of
exhibition matches recently. More
thnn 1000 persons witnessed the
competition which war rrpletc with
action and elected great deal OF
favorable comment from the leading
tennis critics in the country.
~ order to make htc coming
event success. it is very important
that the park commissioners set
inside fIc space near tho champion
ship courts to accommodate all
the tennis lovers who will b" anX
iOus to see such well known play
cr as Bill Tildeu in action.
lSignrdl
REX" Reckbrook, president,
George Paul, chairman.
Herbert Jasper, manager.
; Wood Courts Club tournament