THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LAWN TENNIS [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The attitude of the large. Public Schools toward lawn tennis shows in most instances, from recent replies to inquiries on the subject, a marked repugnance towards the adoption of the ganie amongst the- schools' official garites and sports. Except for a few of the Southern schools, some of the Northern shoots of yorkshire, and-the Scottish putilic
schools, the attitude of the authorities is one rather of toleration than of enthusiasm.
They would appear to say, in effect, that a boy may play this game, as long as it cannot possibly interfere with cricket, and then only in his leisure time left over after the claims of cricket, shooting, rowing, corps training, and such-like pursuits have been satisfied. Why ? We used to be assured that lawn tennis was a " soft " game, but nowadays nobody needs to be told that it gives as much strenuous exercise in one minute as a day's fielding at cricket. Boys, again, are given to understand that lawn tennis must always be a mere pastime with them and should never take the place of a sport or an organized school game, because its educational value is supposed to be small and the difficulty of proper organization great.
Is this attitude reasonable ? At least ten tennis courts could be laid on the space taken by an average cricket ground ; and surely tennis is no more difficult to supervise than cricket ? As for the " team spirit " which tennis is supposed to cramp, would not inter-house or inter-school tennis matches bring out all the qualities of that spirit, and cultivate individuality and self-reliance as well ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
A. E. BEAMISII.
5 Russell Court, Russell Road, W. 14.
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