Evening star., 1927-08-30
BY CORINNE FRAZIER.

FOREST HILLS. Long Island, Au-
gust 30.-kea Bouman of Holland
tand it is not pronounced Kay Boo
man" as is commonly thought, but
"kee-ah Bau-man') really is a unique
figure in the group of international
feminine net stars who have invaded
the States this season, Others may
have more unusual game--it is
hard to judge of that, for Miss Bou-
man has not been seen at her best in
Amer ica-but she is unique in that
she is the first woman from the
Netherlands to become an interna-
tional tennis figure.
The history Of her career is extraor.
dinary in many respects. Contrary
to that of other international stars.
there is no professional tutor in the
background of her early tennis. In
fact, she was champion of Holland
for five years before she had her first
lesson from pro.
Taught by Her Father.
Her father. an ardent devptee of the
game and one of Hollands veteran
racketers, taught her the funda.
mentals of play when she was still
schoolgirl and her first national cham
pfonship was won while she was in
the junior ranks. But all of this
time Miss BOuman did not take the
game seriously as Suzanne Lenglen or
Helen Wills would understand the
term. She played never more than
two or three months out of the year.
and never on grass until three years
ago, when she went to Wimbledon for
the first time.
Even now, when she is putting more
concentration into her efforts, Miss
Bouman does not expect to get more
than six months play out of the year.
1T is impossible in Holland" she said
when asked about this point. I'VE
have no covered courts in our country,
although / am told there are to be
two this next year. We lay away our
rackets in the Fall not to touch them
again until March,
Even if we could play all year
around" she added, II doubt if /
would, for 1 have my violin studies,
which must not be neglected"
Is Talented Violinist.
Miss Bouman is a talented violinist
and studies her music much more seri.
ously in the Winter than she studies
the game of ball and rackets in the
Summer months.
Last year Miss Bouman had her
first lessons from a pro. G. Scheur-
leer, for many years Hollands leading
net star, suffered an automobile acci-
dent, which definitely put an end to
his career at the nets, as it necessi-
tated the amputation of one leg. Last
year he took the youthful Dutch
champion in hand and gave her a few
valuable pointers. When asked if they
proved helpful, she shrugged her
shoulders, smiled and said quietly,
We'll, l won the championship OF
France this season. 1t was my first
successful foreign invasion"
Scheurleer, who has been coaching
Miss Bouman, also is said to be tutor
ing Henk Thinner and Cor Bryan, the
two most prominent Dutch figures in
mems international tennis.
Coming to America to compete in
our nationals was the realization of
one of Miss Bouman's dearest ambi-
tions, and fate played her an ironic
trick when dealing out the weather
conditions under which she was forced
to do most Of her playing. Continued
dampness played havoc with the
muscles of her back. giving her a very
painful attack of rheumatism coupled
with strained muscles, injured while
attempting to play despite the rheu
matte stiffness
Her Play Is Impressive.
Her performance was sufficiently
impressive, however. to arouse inter
est of the tennis world in America and
to make us all anticipate a second
visit from the blue-eyed Holland las
sic when she will be in condition to
perform at top speed.
Due to the limited tennis season in
Holland stars are not produced in
great quantities who can compete in
the class with kea Bouman. In fact,