Tear-Stained Tilden

The sizzle of criticism against William T. Tilden, II, tennis champion, which has been simmering on the hot stove league of tennis for several seasons, burst into a cloud of live steam. Fingers burned: Tilden's, Harold H. Hackett's (of the U. S. Davis Cup Committee).

In the Sept. 15 issue of American Lawn Tennis, Tilden remarked regarding the recent doubles match against Australia (TIME, Sept. 10) : "Suggestions on the methods of play would come better at any other time than between the third and fourth sets."

Retorted Hackett in a letter to the same publication: "Unfortunately Tilden considers himself not only the greatest singles player, but also the greatest doubles player. . . . He absolutely fails to understand the great fundamental of the doubles game which is position play. . . . The Davis Cup Committee is responsible for results. . . . Tilden was believed capable of playing the doubles match, in spite of an atrocious performance in the 1922 Davis Cup Doubles. The fact that he chose to park his intelligence outside the stadium was naturally unexpected by any of the committee."

Tilden rebounded with a threat to withdraw from Davis Cup play and a searing indictment against the Davis Cup Committee system. He alleged that the players were not selected, in some cases, until a few hours before their match. They were given no plan of play. "I feel I am right in refusing to obey instructions given between the third and fourth sets of a match."

Said The Sun and The Globe (New York) : "The threat . . . never to play Davis Cup tennis again seems a bit operatic."

Lyricized F.P.A,, famed colyumist of The New York World, himself an able tennis man and linesman at the Davis Cup matches:

Said William Tilden to Harold Hackett:

"I might get mad and chuck my racket."

"You act like six' or seven child'en,"

Said Harold Hackett to William Tilden.

This somewhat sullied bit of linen will be washed out, probably privately, at the annual meeting of the U.S.L.T.A.