LAWN TENNIS.

Evening Star, Issue 12732, 5 August 1907, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

ABTICLE Y. [By A. F. WiLDrsc] LONDON, June 12. I have at last returned to England; perhaps a short account of my doings in Austria may interest some of my fellow tennis playens in New Zealand. After the tournament at Wiesbaden I was lucky enough to witness a parade of troops before tbe Emperor. Tho size .of the soldiens -was, in this case, a little disappointing, and their kit and general smartness fell a good deal short of a good regiment of English Tommies. However, they seemed a good, hard, serviceable little article* and no doubt excellent fighters. My last night at Wiesbaden I wont to a supoer party, followed bv a ball given bv Frau Von Meister, wifo"af the President of the district, in honor of the Emperor's suite. It was a brilliant and interesting function, and I was very much struck by the magnifioenco of the Emperor's various generate and officials resplendent in their different uniforms. Thev all wore medals and orders. You tell a .Gorman officer's rank by tho number of stars on his collar. After three stars a gold collar is worn, and a general has a red stripe down his trousers. _ All the Emperor's suite are, 60 my host informed me, not only chosen for their physical beauty, but also for mental excellence. The finest-looking man present was General Von Plessen, who, I believe, is the Emperor's best and favorite general. Tho women present also were, in numbers of cases, very beautiful. Mv hostess, Frau Von Meister, easily gained' first prize in my humble opinion, although I am supposed to be a better judge of i/eonis than of female beauty. Frau Von Meister enjoys the somewhat rare privilege of being a great personal friend of the Emperor. I have never seen such beautiful jowellerv as was worn that night. Pearl collars and diamond tiaras were worn by almost all women present. Add to this a delightful orchestra, and a more charming scene it would be impossible to imagine. Nearly everyone present was past the frolicsome dancing age, so no abnormal energy was displayed in this direction. Tho Lancers were even more formal and stately than thoso which used to be performed at the Cluistchuroh Jockey Club ball when Lord Kanfurly was present. While mentioning dancing, it may interest and surprise you to hear that the Austrians and Hungarians can dve, in tennis language, at least fifteen to the English as far as dancing is concerned. My travelling companion to Prague and Vienna was young Baron De Struve. a Russian, and a very good chap. He is in the diplomatic service, following his fathers footsteps. De Struve per© formerly being Russian Ambassador in America. De Struve is a. very keen but not very cWc- tennis pi aver! He has many interesting talcs to tell of the late war. in which he fought. We got to the final of the open doubles in Vienna, but there pot snuffed out by Von Wesseley and Kinzel, the Austrian pair. This combination is coming to Wimbledon, and will, I hope and think, give a very fair account of themselves. Of course grass will be dead against them, as they have played all their lives on the hard Continental courts. There was an excellent entry at Prague, and manv good matches took place— Razny, Kinzel, Yon Wesselev (Austria), Kroozer (Germany), Simond, Crawley, Adams (England). Kreuzer, tho young Gorman player, easily ocoi W. C. Crawlev, the old Oxonioji, at scores reading 6—2, 6—5. Of course, Crawley was not prooerly used to tho oonrts. Prague is ono of tho" niost interesting and picturesque towns in Europe, and is the capital of Bohemia. About four hundred years ago Bohemia was a. country bv itself, and claimed as its inhabitants the sturdy czkjeks, pronounced "cheque." Tho rulers of Bohemia were native princes who used to inhabit the Racchine, a lovely palace overlooking tho town and river Moldau. This place is still kepi in perfect repair, and is one of the Austrian Emperors favorite homes. Let us now come back to the tennis at Prague. Tin tournament is quite the event of the year, and great interest, centres on each day's play. No less than 150 enter for the handicap singles, and they are drafted into three classes. I won the singles, beating Kreuzer (6—l, 6—l, 6—l) in the final. The doubles provided several interesting matches. Razny and Zanskv defeated Adams and W. C. Crawley, a'modpratelygood English combination. G. M. Simond was my partner —a cunning old plaver, especially in a double, and has been playing for some twenty years. We won the final (6—2, 6—4, 6—ll. The mixed doubles fell to Razny and Frl. Madarasz. The latter is a prettv and graceful Hungarian lady plover. She took part in several of the Riviera tournaments this year, and by no means gave a bad account of herself. "The ladies' championship singles were won by Frl Martuch, a local production, who is very seldom, if ever, to be seen without a cigarette in her mouth. Another pernicious habit she indulges in is ejecting little squeaks when she finds it impossible to reach a short ball. She was by no means the best lady player at Prague", but stuck to her task well and pluckilv through many a bard set, and deserved her win. Nearly ail the Austrian, Hungarian, and German ladies volley a great deal--too much to be effective* I think. I would say Miss Nunnerley could give Frau Neuesheim (Germany) or Frau Amende (Austria) about £-15 provided the New Zealander was playing at her best. During our stay at Prague no stone was left unturned to make our visit a most delightful one. We were entertained both singly and collectively in the most hospitable marrer. Baron Ringhoffer, president of th» club, not only arranged the entire tournament admirably, but also saw to the entertainment of his English guests. My father accompanied me to Prague last year, and it was his first Continental tournament. If anyone doubts the high standard of play shown by these young Bohemians and Austrians, I refer them to my father, who was surprised beyond measure at the efficiency thev had" attained. On the conclusion of tte> Vrr,,i e meeting De Struve and T journey 'o Vienna, which is only some seven .-, by rail. Here we were met by a ->r of the Athlctik Klub men, who d us to our hotel. Having safely inst"!l d our luggage, we sallied forth to Venedig, which is, as its name denotes, supposed to be Venice in Vienna. No doubt all of yon know, or rather knew, Wonderland at'the CkrigMmiyh iSsfaibiiioA. \£*lL W Yeacdijr.

ia after the same style, but, reluctant as T I am to admit it, I must say Venedig is ! a little superior. It has been in existence over eight years, so at the present time is as near perfection as possible. Floating ahnnt on the beautiful lake are gondolas filled with those world-famous bands of Venetian singers. There are at least ten beautiful Viennese orchestras at the various out-of-door and closed restaurants, and of course a large • military, band. I did a lot of sight-seeing in Vienna, as I have quite a number of friends there, I most of whom I have met at Marienbad and other Austrian watering places. I did a certain amount of motoring and a lot of driving, however, my greatest delight of all m Vienna was the opera. It is the best in the world. «i: