This fascinating historical survey of tennis goes on to say that in the reign of Henri IV the game was so popular that it was said that “there were more tennis-players in Paris than drunkards in England.”  The drunkards of England were so upset by this boast that they immediately started a drive for membership with the slogan, “Five thousand more drunkards by April 15, and to Hell with France!” One thing led to another until war was declared.

The net does not appear until the 17th century.  Up until that time a rope, either fringed or tasseled, was stretched across the court.  This probably had to be abandoned because it was so easy to crawl under it and chase your opponent.  There might also have been ample opportunity for the person playing at the net or at the “rope,” to catch the eye of the player directly opposite by waving his racquet high in the air and then to kick him under the rope, knocking him for a loop while the ball was being put into play in his territory.  You have to watch these Frenchmen every minute.

The Encyclopedia Britannica gives fifteen lines to “Tennis in America.”  It says that “few tennis courts existed in America before 1880, but that now there are courts in Boston, New York, Chicago, Tuxedo and Lakewood and several other places.”  Everyone try hard to think now just where those other places are!

Which reminds us that one of them is going to be in your side yard where the garden used to be.  After you have got the dimensions from the Encyclopaedia, call up a professional tennis-court maker and get him to do the job for you.  Just tell him that you want “a tennis-court.”

Once it is built the fun begins.  According to the arrangement, each member of the family is to have certain hours during which it belongs to them and no one else.  Thus the children can play before breakfast and after breakfast until the sun gets around so that the west court is shady.  Then Daddy and Mother and sprightly friends may take it over.  Later in the afternoon the children have it again, and if there is any light left after dinner Daddy can take a whirl at the ball.

What actually will happen is this:  Right after breakfast Roger Beeman, who lives across the street and who is home for the summer with a couple of college friends who are just dandy looking, will come over and ask if they may use the court until someone wants it.  They will let Myrtis play with them and perhaps Myrtis’ girl-chum from Westover.  They will play five sets, running into scores like 19-17, and at lunch time will make plans for a ride into the country for the afternoon.  Daddy will stick around in the offing all dressed up in his tennis-clothes waiting to play with Uncle Ted, but somehow or other every time he approaches the court the young people will be in the middle of a set.

[Illustration:  For three hours there is a great deal of screaming.]