Evening star., 1938-11-25
Richards Fails in TN
To Bring Pal Back
To Homeland
Success Is Near When
Winnie Is 1hwurted
By Cob injury
BY PAUL NICHOLSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

NEW YORK, Nov. 25 CP.-It Is a
very sad duty to report that our
modern Stanley is back without his
Livingstone. Vincent Richards
found big Bill Tilden in London.
but Big Bill didn't come home with
him. He may never return.
Such trivial items as a little finger
and a taxicab door ruined Richards
small but gallant plot to bring Til
den, perhaps the greatest tennis
player who ever lived. back to his
American homeland. Just as he had
Big Bill tingling with Joy, his old
competitive spirit kindled to high
flame, Richards jumped out of
taxicab in Copenhagen and slam
med the door on the little finger Of
his right hand. The tip of the digit
was clipped of, and so was the tour.
Richards returned home, Big Bill
went back to London.
Il hate to say this" said Winnie
with gulp, "but I'm afraid Big Bill
never Is coming home If I hadn't
injured my finger in that dog-gone
cab door 1t might have been differ
ent. Now Bills back in London and
I'm afraid he's going to stay. What's
wrong? Oh, guess Bill has some
financial troubles over here. It's
too bad We can't get him back. To
almost everybody Tilden means ten
mis- and tennis means Tilden."
Still a Wizard at 46.
Big Bill, reports Winnie, is plav-
Ing amazing tennis for a man of As.
For a set and half he thinks Bill
still can lick any man alive, but
after that his legs give out on him
and he can't stand the terrific pres
sure at which he always drives him.
self.
Richards. however, asks that none
OF Big Bills pals over here worry
about their hero's three squares
day. Bill always lived in BABY
lonian splendor He does even now.
He has a very large and yerv
swanky apartment in the ritzy Nav
fair section Of London. a flock of
servants and the looking
chauffeur in town. Winnie hasn't
been In Buckingham Palace lately
out from the way he talked Big Bill
certainly Is living in hut or lean 40
that compares favorablv with his
malesty's in everything but expanse
and silver service.
AT present. says Winnie. Tilden is
fighting nostalgia feelings for Broad
way, Germantown and Philadelphia
by writing and arranging a play soon
10 open In London. It's a comedy
with tennis background. For the
first two or three nights. Winnie
understands, Bill will play the main
role, after which a professional
English actor will carry on.
Bill Actor on Court.
III the actors lucky he will" pre-
dicted Winnie. "One of the beet
actors ever saw on a tennis courA
was Mr.. Tilden. He could play pos
sum better'n any man I ever saw.
III bet he can play anything from
Hamlet to Snow White and play it
we'll"
But while he didn't succeed In his
guest, Mr.. Richards did bring back
encouraging news for the profes-
sionals who are trying to do as we'll
IN tournament tennis as the am
ateurs do with their expense ac-
counts. All the good pros in Europe
are interested in the coming pro
tour to be conducted by Mr.. Bob
Harlow of Pinehurst, N. c., and
Richards predicts a great campaign
winding up with a real world pro
championship at the New York
World Fair some time next summer.
Hans Nusslein of Germany. per-
haps the greatest tennis player in
the world today. and Robert Ramil-
lon of France are coming over in
time for Harlow's first tournament
at st. Augustine, Fla, in February, :"
hes aid. Others plan to come over,
too, maybe a bit later. Only"
Go one" I said. What dye
mean. only?
Richards sighed.
"Only I wish Big Bill were back.
Curse that taxicab door Maybe III
go back and try again. Bills got to
l.