The New York herald., 1922-07-21


quest of the worlds tennis champion
ship. Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory
faced more trying ordeal on board
the steamship Homeric yesterday than
she had encountered on the center
court at Wimbledon when Mile. SUI
zanne Lenglen defeated her so de-
cisively.
A battery of pointed questions CEN
tering about one Of the keenest dis
appointments of her tennis career was
directed at her for fully an hour by
representatives of the press, and Molla.
indignant and then enraged at stories
Of her alleged attempt to belittle the
triumph OF the French girl--stories
which she denied with great emphasis
accused all newspapers in general of
deliberately misquoting Nher time and
again.
| Under the circumstances Mrs. NAL
lory's show Of irritation could well be
pardoned. Her cup Of disappointment
had been flled TO overnowing in Eng
land, and she had not had suficient
time to rouse herself out Of her more
or less despondent mood. She had hoped
to come back to America and avoid all
publicity. to settle down transformations
| ly to her campaign In defense Of her
national title and forget about Mile.
Lenslen for some time to come.
Denies Stories From Abroad.
But It was not to be. The press and
the public seemed to demand some sort
OF statement; she had been accused Of
quarreling with her tennis rival after
the match and Of seeking an excuse. and
her rivalry with Nile. Lengien had been
magnified into an international feminine
spat that only added to her chagrin and
humiliation. Especially since there was
no truth whatever, she declared. In the
reports that had been sent broadcast.
| II was little wonder then that Mrs.
Mallory lost her equanimity and showed
resentment, little wonder that she made
| rambling answers to her interviewers
while her eyes flashed fire at being I'm
Justly accused Throughout the inter-
view Dean Mathey. ono Of the ranking
American players who competed at
4 w 1mDlcuOns attempted 10 calm MIS-. MAJ
| lory and succeeded after some effort.
One point that Mrs. Mallory denied
with particular emphasis was the story
that she had engaged In n quarrelsome
exchange of words with Mile. Lenglen
over the net following the French girls
victory. II made no unpleasant re-
marks and received none. All I did
was TO congratulate her on her success.
she said.
70 f~-Ax
viewers persisted. that Mile. Lenglen
is the best player In the world?"
How can I say that?" she replied.
"I know that she was a good deal bet
ter than / was at Wimbledon, but
cannot tell whether I ever could beat
her again until we meet on the courts.
You never know until you get out on
the courts. or course. I would be glad
to meet Mile. Lenglen again."
Later In the day when Mrs. Mallory
had Gained down considerably she re-
gretted that she had lost her temper
en- board the Homeric during the trip
UP from Quarantine, and she began "a
see the humor OF II all. a statement
she gave out to an ofiiciai OF the United
States Lawn Tennis Association was In
far different vein and did her far
sroater justice. The statement follows
why All the Fussf
ANY one might think I am a grea,
diplomat or movie star or some
equally famous person, to see all the
fuss that has accompanied my playins
In the English championship" she said
apparently the public has been given
to understand that Mile. Lengien and
have some sort of a private feud and
that we have been travelling around
England, eager for each others blood
That makes me angry until think how
silly II is. and then laugh.
II like to play tennis and I have a
good time doing It, SO does Mile. Leng'
len. We meet In tournament and she
wins. am perfectly willing to accept
that result. just as she would be, IL II
were the other way round. OF coure.
am human and would like to win. Who
wouldn't7 But my whole life is moi
ruined Just because l lose tenni:
match, and Il seems silly to put us ir
the position Of being so wrought up over
something that Is only a sporting even,
after all. Also. II seems unreasonable
to make us appear to be quarreling like
a couple of peevish children. We are
both full grown people and don't like
to seem ridiculous.
when I sailed for England In May
to play In the English championship