The New York herald., 1921-04-23
TENNISDOM PAYS
TRIBUTE TO TEAM
Praises of Davis Cup Players
Sung at Dinner Attended
by Notables.
ny SAMUEL y. BRooKMAN.

Tennisdom. represented by the sports
leading players and ofiicials. past and
present. paid its tribute to the conquer
ing Davis cup team at dinner held at
the Biitmore Hotel last night. Every
one OF the stars Of the court CHOSEN for
the American team last year. with the
exception OF William NJ. johnston OF
San Francisco, who found II impossible
TO attend. heard his praises sung and
had to respond to the cheers OF the
gathering. william 7. Tilden %. world o
champion. who shared with Johnston in
the challenge round triumph at Auck-
land, New Zealand. last December; n.
Norris Williams I'd and Charles .. Gar
land. who were members of the team
that went 10 England for the prelimi-
naries: Watson M. Washburn. who ac-
companied Tilden and Johnston to Aus
tralasia as an alternate. and Samuel
Hardy, the captain " the team. were the
recipients Of the honors.
In the large gathering were men who
had won fame as internationalists In
previous years-William A. Larned.
Beals C. Wright. Karl Behr, Raymond
d. Little. Holcombe Ward. Malcolm D.
Whitman, Dwight d. Davis. Harold II.
Hackett, Robert d. Wrenn and others
officials with the sports phenomenal
growth were there. Old rivals OF the
tennis court exchanged "reminiscences
and renewed old friendships.
There were speeches galore and. al
though the subject varied at times, II
always came back to the sportsmanship,
popularity ana wonderful skill OF Tilden
and Johnston. who had swept all De-
fore them In the Davis cup matches OF
=. hA ho ri =
an absence Of more than SIX years. The
cup was there, too. Of course, and 90
was Dwight r. DaviS Of st. Louis. donor
In 1900 Of the trophy that was to ac-
complish more than anything elso
toward the task of internationaiizing
the sport In short the Who's Who OF
tennis In its entirety.
Sir Auckland Geddes. British Ambas-
sador to the United States and one OF
the greatest friends tennis has had IN
England, was the guest of honor.
Following an opening address by
Julian s. Myrick, president Of the United
States Lawn Tennis Association. who
spoke OF the value Of international sport
IN cementing the bonds OF friendship
between nations, Dwight #. Davis was
introduced to the gathering. He told OF
the Impulse that had prompted the do
nation OF the now famous trophy. His
idea at first was to nationalize the
game, but the sport on It's own merits
had grown far beyond the original con-
ception and had become truly the In
ternational game. He told OF the CO.
operation from the start between Eng
land and America in the development OF
lawn tennis and hoped this cooperation
would exist always, and not only in
tennis Praising the sportsiranship OF
the Davis cup team. Mr.. Davis wound
up by calling Tilden and Johnston the
worlds champions of the worlds great
est game.
Musical entertainment followed and
then a letter was read from President
Harding, who wrote In answer to an in
vitation to be present. 1t follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE,
WASHINGTON. April IL, 1921.
| My DEAR MR.. MYR1CK-
| I thank you and through you the members
| Of the United States Lawn Tennis Aseocia-
| tion for the invitation TO attend the dinner
| 10 be given to the American Davis cup team
| on the 22d OF this month. and regret ex-
ceedingly that shall be unable to be pres
| ent.
Competition In athletics demands the finest
qualitius--rrit, self control. SELF denial. ini-
tiatiye, endurance, kindiiness and chivalry--
all OF which go to make UP what we call
| true sportsmanshtp. These qualities are es-
| pecialiy In evidence In international CONNIE
/ titions-those friendly rivalries which bring
forth the best OF every nation In each par