ten feet in height, kept upright by guy-ropes, which are attached to large wooden pins. The height of the net, the lower border of which always reaches to the ground, is in proportion to the size of the court, the proper elevation for a single game being three feet in the middle, in a double game four feet, and in both instances four and three-fourths feet at the posts. A nice adjustment of the net is of the first importance, and nothing is more difficult than to fix upon an elevation agreeable to all the players. A low net renders the play as easy as a high one makes it difficult, and one who has been accustomed to the former is embarrassed when he encounters the latter. The only way of obviating the difficulty is to determine the height by reference to the established rules of the game, without regard to the predilections of the different players.
Although the sizes of the court as stated have been found the most convenient, it may be enlarged or reduced to accommodate the number of the players or to suit the space which is most available. Indeed, a smaller court is better adapted for young players or any who do not desire very active exercise.
The racket or bat used is an oval band of wood six or eight inches in diameter, dovetailed into a handle. The latter, which is usually from eighteen to twenty-four inches long, is made of wood uncovered or encased in cork, kid or cane. Across the oval band, to form the striking part of the racket, catgut is tightly stretched in single or double fold—a double-strung racket enabling the player to make certain twisting strokes which with one singly strung are almost impossible. Rackets are of English, French or American manufacture. Until this season the English have been very superior to those made here, but I have recently seen some of home manufacture which are fully as good, as regards both stringing and balance, as any imported from abroad. The weight is a matter of taste. I have found a light one more serviceable for all manner of strokes, but a heavy racket is certainly more effective in volleying and in dropping the ball at the net.
The balls, which are about two and a quarter inches in diameter and a little less than two ounces in weight, are made of rubber covered with English felting or with flannel, chamois, canvas or cloth.
Lawn tennis may be played by two, four or six persons. I have never seen a game in which more than two players were engaged on each side, but there is nothing in its character to prevent an increased force, provided the court is enlarged proportionally. A most interesting contest might be had in a larger court than those described with three players on a side, every one of whom has his particular work and an allotted space in his court to cover.
A game is begun by tossing up a racket for choice of court or service. The winner of the toss elects, and thereupon the players take their positions in the opposite courts. The one who has the first service becomes the hand-in. Standing on the base-line of his court, on either side of the middle line, he bats or serves the ball into the inner and diagonally opposite section of his adversary's court. A failure to do this, either by striking or not reaching the net, or by driving the ball so hard that it falls outside of the limits of the whole opposite court, puts his hand out. A failure from any other cause is a fault, two of which in succession make the same result. If his first stroke is successful, his adversary must return the ball from its first bounce, so that it shall go over the net into any part of the court opposite. A failure counts one for the hand-in, who then changes to the other side of the middle line, and serves again. But if the stroke is good the serving party must return the ball, either from the fly or first bounce, or be hand-out. If he succeeds in returning it, but his adversary fails to send it back, he has scored again. When from any of the causes mentioned the server is put out, his opponent becomes hand-in, and the game goes on in the way I have described. From this account it will be seen that no score can be made but by the hand-in, and that the efforts of the hand-out must be directed toward putting his adversary out and himself in as quickly as possible. It will also be seen
