Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-18
MOLLY THAYER HOLDS
THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Al,cayS Leads in Whateuer
Field She Chooses to
Compete

Molly Thaycr has a protcan role to
play in the eyes Of the public In each
OF them--as tennis champion, a
writer and society girl--she has taken
high place.
As star in the courts Molly Thayer
is the essence of coolness There is
extraordinary case in her deliberate
driving and accurate placing. Though
just shade more than twenty three,
she is veteran and has the veteran =
knack OF diagnosing with instructive
quickness her opponents plan of at
tack.
Championships are nothing new to
her. She has held the city and State
titles. and for five years she and her
brother Alex have had unparalleled sue
cess in the mixed doubles. They won
the Eastern States titles on several oc-
casions and took permanent possession
of the mixed double cups. Then Alex
went stale and slackened in his play
and Molly disposed of him summarily.
teaming up with another brother, Joe.
Alex works too hard she said.
land doesn't play enough, while Joe is
always keen at tennis
She was right, as usual, and Joe and
Molly swept through to victory with
the same spirit and dash as Alex and
Molly had done in the past.
Several times Miss Thayer has fought
her way to a high place in the ma
tional championships. in 1920 she was
the last Philadelphia survivor in the
nationals. and was eliminated more by
a malignant fate than by her own in
ability to climb to the top.
Miss Thayer's Gameness
That contest is one Of the hucst
monuments Molly Thayer ever built to
her courage and fighting spirit She
was opposed by Eleanor Tennant, OF
California, and Miss Tennant--like so
many Of her compatriots of the sun
shine state--is corking good player.
The first set was a whirlwind battle !:
tornado Of brilliant shots, smashing
drives and teasing lobs. Both girls were
| n!strcsses OF the game, and they were
fighting for big stake. With the set
standing at three games all. Molly
. Thayer sprained her ankle. Time was
I then Miss Thayer went back to the
court,
She was in constant pain from the
injured ankle. Her speed, naturally
was cut down to a minimum, and the
! handicap she faced was Il terrific one.
In spite OF that. she carried Miss Ten
nant TO an S-tO-6 count before bowins
10 the inevitable. She was also beatei
in the second ser, 90, but she earned
the plaudtts OF every sportsman by hel
splendid fight against the inevitable.
In the doubles, too, she has gone hgl
in national tournaments, and the fgh
that she and Alex Thsyer made tw,
years ago against Eleanor Tenant ant
Sam Hardy, captain Of the Davis Cul
team, is tennis history.
Despite her youth, Molly Thayer ha
won some measure OF fame in the worlc
Of bellies lettres. Her book, 1.-The In
tellectuals," showed Il power Of gentl
satire and keen insight into tn
foibles Of modern youth that did he
lmmeasurable credit.
In verse, too, her Songs of Youth
shows a color of phrase and warmth
of expression that seems peculiarly op
posed to the coolness she displays in he
tits on the court. When Molly Thaye
has her racquet in hand she IL Ice, bu
when she sits down 10 write her pen j
tipped with all the FIRE OF brillian
spirit.
She has dsbbl.d, TOO, in scenari
writing, and at least one Of her movin
picture stories has been filmed. Ther
Is as great versatility In her writin
as in her tennis play-which Is hig
enough praise for any girl. Prose an
verse and tho technique of the screen
all are embraced IN the wide sprea
arms of her talent.
AS society girl her charm Of per
sonality has made her one of the bes
liked members OF her set. But to he
credit, let 1t be said that she has no
allowed her success in the three field
of her endeavor TO turn her head, o
make her anything but cordial an
happy girl. :.
It Is a big thing to bo a champion j
any line, but 10 show equally well d
three Of them-and three at such wfd
variance--is a feat to be proud Of.