the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第27节
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both of them in America。 The first was the appearance of the Davis Cup
team on the court of the White House； Washington； in response to a
personal invitation from President and Mrs。 Harding。 The President； who
is a keen sportsman； placed official approval on tennis by this act。 On May
8th and 9th； Captain Samuel Hardy； R。 N。 Williams； Watson Washburn and
I； together with Wallace F。 Johnson； who understudied for William M。
Johnston； met in a series of matches before a brilliant assembly of
Diplomatic； Military and Political personages。 C。 S。 Garland was unable to
accompany the team owing to illness。 Julian S。 Myrick； President of the U。
S。 L。 T。 A。； and A。 Y。 Leech completed the party。
Rain； that hoodoo of tennis； attempted to ruin the event for it fell
steadily for the five days previous to the match。 The court was a sea of
mud on the morning scheduled； but the President desired play and the
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word went on 〃to play。〃 Mr。 Leech and Mr。 Myrick； ever ready for
emergencies in tennis； called for gasolene； which was forthcoming
speedily； and； while the Chief Executive of the United States interviewed
men on the destiny of nations； the people of Washington watched nearly
200 barrels of gasolene flare up over the surface of the court。 The desired
result was attained and at 2 o'clock President Harding personally called
play。 Singles between Williams and me opened the matches。 Then
Williams and Washburn decisively defeated Johnson and me； following
which Williams and I nosed out Washburn and Johnson to close the
program。
The second outstanding feature was the tour for the benefit of the
American Committee for Devastated France。 The appearance in America
of Mlle。 Suzanne Lenglen was due primarily to the efforts of Miss Anne
Morgan； who secured the services of the famous French champion for a
tour of the States； the proceeds to go to Devastated France。 Mlle。
Lenglen's regrettable collapse and forced departure left the Committee in a
serious position。 The American Tennis Association； which had co…
operated with Miss Morgan in the Lenglen tour； found its clubs eager for a
chance to stage matches for France but no matches available。 Finally； in
October； in response to the voluntary offer of several of the leading
players； a team was organized that toured the East for the benefit of
Devastated France。 It included Mrs。 Franklin I。 Mallory； American
champion； Miss Eleanor Goss； Miss Leslie Bancroft； Mrs。 B。 F。 Cole； Mrs。
F。 H。 Godfrey； Vincent Richards； Watson Washburn； N。 W。 Niles； R。 N。
Williams； W。 F。 Johnson and myself。 Matches were staged at Orange；
Short Hills； Morristown and Elizabeth； New Jersey； Green Meadow Club；
Jackson Heights Club； Ardsley…on…the…Hudson； New Rochelle； Yonkers；
New York； New Haven； and Hartford； Connecticut。 They proved a
tremendous success financially； and France netted a sum in excess of
10；000。
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PART IV： SOME SIDELIGHTS
ON FAMOUS PLAYERS
INTRODUCTORY
P。 T。 BARNUM immortalised Lincoln's language by often quoting him
with： 〃You can fool some of the people all of the time； and all of the
people some of the time； but you can't fool all of the people all of the
time。〃 P。 T。 was an able judge of the public； and it is just this inability to
fool all of the people all of the time that accounts for the sudden
disappearance from the public eye of some one who only fooled all of the
people for a little while。 That person was a sham； a bluff； a gamester。 He；
or she； as the case may be； had no personality。
Personality needs no disguise with which to fool the people。 It is not
hidden in a long…hair eccentric being。 That type is merely one of those
who are 〃born every minute；〃 as the saying goes。 Personality is a dynamic；
compelling force。 It is a positive thing that will not be obliterated。
Personality is a sexless thing。 It transcends sex。 Theodore Roosevelt
was a compelling personality； and his force and ability were recognized by
his friends and enemies alike while the public； the masses； adored him
without knowing why。 Sarah Bernhardt； Eleanor Duse； and Mary Garden
carry with them a force far more potent in its appeal to the public than
their mere feminine charm。 They hold their public by personality。 It is not
trickery； but art； plus this intangible force。
The great figures in the tennis world that have held their public in their
hands； all have been men of marked personality。 Not all great tennis
players have personality。 Few of the many stars of the game can lay claim
to it justly。 The most powerful personality in the tennis world during my
time is Norman E。 Brookes； with his peculiar sphinx…like repression；
mysterious； quiet； and ominous calm。 Brookes repels many by his peculiar
personality。 He never was the popular hero that other men； notably
M'Loughlin and Wilding； have been。 Yet Brookes always held a gallery
enthralled； not only by the sheer wizardry of his play； but by the power of
his magnetic force。
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Maurice E。 M'Loughlin is the most remarkable example of a
wonderful dynamic personality； literally carrying a public off its feet。
America and England fell before the dazzling smile and vibrant force of
the red…haired Californian。 His whole game glittered in its radiance。 His
was a triumph of a popular hero。
Anthony F。 Wilding； quiet； charming； and magnetic； carried his public
away with him by his dynamic game。 It was not the whirlwind flash of the
Comet M'Loughlin that swept crowds off their feet； it was more the power
of repression that compelled。
I know no other tennis players that sweep their public away with them
to quite the same degree as these three men I have mentioned。 R。 L。
Murray has much of M'Loughlin's fire； but not the spontaneity that won
the hearts of the crowd。 Tennis needs big personalities to give the public
that glow of personal interest that helps to keep the game alive。 A great
personality is the property of the public。 It is the price he must pay for his
gift。
It is the personal equation； the star； who appeals to the public's
imagination。
I do not think it is the star who keeps the game alive。 It is that great
class of players who play at clubs the world over； who can never rise
above the dead level of mediocrity； the mass of tennis enthusiasts who
play with dead racquets and old balls； and who attend all big events to
witness the giants of the court； in short； 〃The Dubs〃 （with a capital D）；
who make tennis what it is； and to whom tennis owes its life； since they
are its support and out from them have come our champions。
Champions are not born。 They are made。 They emerge from a long；
hard school of defeat； dis… encouragement； and mediocrity； not because
they are born tennis players； but because they are endowed with a force
that transcends discouragement and cries 〃I will succeed。〃
There must be something that carries them up from the mass。 It is that
something which appeals in some form to the public。 The public may like
it； or they may dislike it； but they recognize it。 It may be personality；
dogged determination； or sheer genius of tennis； for all three succeed； but
be it what it may； it brings out a famous player。 The quality that turns out a
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great
