Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-10-28

In tennis. He went down before Johnston in
tne maj round for the London championship
MS only real reverse of the year, but since that
June he has been supreme on the courts beat
ing the best of all nations in the all-comers tour
nament at Wimbledon, after Johnston, our then ma
tional champion, had been put out, and carrying
on to the title here in September. He confirmed
MS victory over Johnston by again beating him in
the East VS.. West matches in Philadelphia. More
over, he won even greater battle than the
on the courts by controlling his nerves, which
year ago imposed a handicap on his unquestioned
skill. SO say the students of the game, the ex-
perts who know.
Like the science of warfare itself, the science
of every game that partakes of the nature of
fight is a perpetual see-saw between attack and
defense. Now the one, now the other rules the
play and carries off the highest honors. In the
fascinating of lawn tennis the attack at pres
ent seems dominant, it did As years ago when
pioneer volleyers the cocks of the courts
the Renshaws in England and Sears and Dwight
in America; or as 1t did in 1900, when Whitman
and Ward and Davis were our champions, and
their new-fanged service was too much for visit
ing English ground-stroke experts; or in 1914
when McLoughlins superb attack fared up into
q glorious moment of supremacy, taking the meas
ures of Brookes and Wllding-and then left him.
This man Tilden is attack personified through
his service He is a long, lanky, able-bodIed
specimen, with strong arm, brains concentra-
ton and plenty of time for practice-all Of which
has enabled him to develop more kinds of delivery
than Christy MatheWSOn ever showed, including
one that--for the present, at east-is his own
"Own your own service is apparently his motto
When Tilden wants to follow his service in. he
generally does what other experts generally do
delivers high-kcking ball that drags In the air
and yet gives the striker-out plenty of pace to
contend with. But when he feels special need
of a point he unexpectedly shoots over nearly
straight underspin ball that travels like shell
and proves the late Euclids contention that
straight line is the shortest distance from one
point to another. Moreover, the ball doesn't RISE
He doesn't run in behind that ball why should
he? If it's good, the other man Is In luck to get
his racket on it, luckier to block it somehow
across the net-and if it does come back Tilden
with his fine, sharpy-anged driving has pot
shot at either side Of the court.
This "unholy speciality" of Tilden, his wickedest
service, undoubtedly rules the roost at present
1t puts attack ahead of defense at this writing
In fact some thoughtful devotees including ex-
perts of high authority, are asking whether, under
the rules as they stand, the player with the initial
attack, which Is to say the server has not more
advantage than Is good for the game
If the rules should be changed to curb the server
1t would not be the first time. But heretofore tha
changes have been comparatively mild and suc
cessive brigades of ingenious servers have cop
trived to conform to them and still maintain the
advantage. Anything further done now would
have to be comparatively radical
Some experts say "change the rules curb tba
server" Others take the opposite view "Tbe
brilliant services which are being developed year
w." says lie Roy, add to the interest of the gouo
and the delight Of the spectators 1t is IN 70 tbo
players TO develop equally brilliant defenses to off,
set the services"
Those who have only seen the great tennis plav
! er in action would probably not recognize him in
work-a-day habilimehts, writes william Chenerv
in the New York Times The tall somewhat
STOPPING, boyish-looking young man walking slow