The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-11-05

IN tennis. He went down before Johnston In
the hnal 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
tonal champion had been put out and carrying
on to the title here in September He confirmed
MIS- victory over Johnston by again beating him In
the East VS. West matches in Philadelphia. More-
over he won an even greater battle than the
on the courts by controlling his nerves, which
year ago imposed 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 a
fight Is a perpetual between attack and
defense. Now the one the other rules the
play and carries of the highest honors. In the
fascinating of lawn tennis the attack at pres
ent seems dominant, 1t did 45 years ago when
pioneer vo1eyers were 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 champions and
their new-fangled service too much for visit
ing English ground-sroke experts; or In 1914
when McLoughlin's superb attack flared up into
glorious moment of supremacy, taking the meas
ures Of Brookes and Wilding-and then left him.
This man Tilden Is attack personihed, through
his service. He is long, lanky able-bodled
specimen, with a strong arm, brains, concentra-
tion and plenty Of time for PRACTICAL of which
has enabled him to develop more kinds Of delivery
than Christy Mathewson ever showed including
one that-for the present, at least-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 hgh-kicking ball that drags in the air
and yet gives the strker-out plenty OF pace to
contend with. But when he feels special need
Of point he Unexpectedly shoots over q nearly
oiUl.tn p6o r-cya}p hall hot
and proves the late Euclid's 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? II it's good. the other man is in luck to get
his racket on It, luckier to block 1t somehow
across the net-and II 1t does come back Tilden
with his fine sharply-angled driving has Dot
shot at either side OF the court.
This "unholy speciality" of Tlden, 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
II the rules should be changed to curb tho sorra
it would not be the first time. But heretofore Tho
changes have been comparatively mild and suc
cessive brigades of ingenious servers have ran
trived to conform TO them and still maintain tho
advantage. Anything further done now wonld
have to be comparatively radical
Some experts say Change the rules: curb tho
server" Others take the opposite view. .sTbe
brilliant services which being develoned vaar
ly" says LIE Roy, add to the interest of the game
and the delight of the spectators 1t is I'D to the
players TO develop equally brilliant cefenses TO off
set the services"
Those who have only seen the great tennis nlav
er In action would probably not recognize him In
work-a-day habiliments, writes William Chenery
in the New York Times The tall. somewhat
STOPPING, boyish-looking young walking slow