New Britain herald., 1928-03-27
(BY MARY K. BROWNE) Written for NEA Service

Written for NEA Service
 Little Bill Johnston has passed from the ranks of the big ten of American tennis for the year 1928. but I do not believe permanently, unless he decides not to compete again in eastern tournaments.
 Little Bill told me just after his unsuccessful attempt to hold the fort against the French offensive that he would not join the tennis "A. F. r." on its pilgrimage to re- turn the Holy Tennis Grail' to the United States. He has had enough Davis Cup play. He thought the youngsters should be given a chance. He wanted to devote himself more to business and less to tetnnis.
 Johnston has had remarkable record in Davis Cup matches cover ing a period of six years up until last seaeson's play when he tried something new. entirely new. He thought he could reach top form with only 10 days practice on grass and did not enter any of the pre- liminary tournaments leading up to the Davis Cup matches.
 He felt he should conserve every atom of strength in his scarcely more than an atom of body because he knew the French tactics were to prolong the rallies with the idea of oxhausting him. Big Bill 1'ilden overdid things in the opposite di- rection. He played enough tennis to spread thickly over a period Of two seasons. Funny. We could not have had two more widely different methods of training for the same event.
 Both wer. wrong in going 10 opposite extremes. The French men carefully conserved their en- ergy. holding in reserve their best efforts until the crucial moment ar rived, when they then unleashed their full strength.
 How my heart ached for Little Bill in these historical matches which gave the famous trophy to Ffanct Ills ldSL llldltl 'S"hiS' Henri Cochot decided the issue. Little Bill struggled valiantly against too great odds. Here was youth in it's first flush of Davis Cup play pitted against the tired and frail looking veteran Of seven years of defense
 Bill Johnston was glorious in de- feat as he always had been in vic tory. He never gave way when he was twice within point Of losing the match. He rallied and took the game and the set only to fall victim finally to his own lack of stamina. rather than his lack of tennis equipment.
 I remember then being struck with the thought that here was Little Bill with just as fine strokes as ever, one of the ercattest match players the game has ever had, just as keen of eye and brave Of heart but his legs had lost the urge to so.
 Sports history repeating itself. Further proof that legs go first. At that identical moment when John ston was playing a losing game On Foct. the older veterans of inter nationa! polo. Devereux Milburn. Watson Webb and Malcolm Stephen son. were playing q winning game because they Were mounted on fast ponies with young legs.
 bata l-pou-, li+tl, Jt;It fnr n, years and know him to be sensitive about his frail physique He hates 10 be babied. Time and again he has left the east determined to put on pounds of weight. but he cannot do it. He has never weighed over 13o pounds and loses rapidly W hen playing in competition.
 Well I remember the historic match when Big Bill and Littl" Bill, each with two legs" on iha national trophy. met in the finals and the match decided the permanent pos session Of the trophy. Tildens en- tire game was designed 10 exhause Johnston. The first two sets he just kept the ball in play as much as possible. Tildcn told me after wards he dared not bring forth his best shots against an untired John ston. for they would came back and he. 1ildcn, would lose confidence.
 Johnston won the first two sets and many thought that Little Bill would make if three straight. How ever, befor. 1he third set progressed very far if was not hard to see the handwriting on the wall. Bill be- gan 10 tire. His shot lost their sting and depth. Then Tilden started 10 fire over his cannonbalI serHiec and singing drives. and Little Bill wilied under ti~ steady barrage. He played the last set on