“ When one has won a stroke his score is called “Vantage”; if he wins the next, he wins the game; if he loses it, the score reverts to deuce. The score of the player who won the last stroke or made the last chase is called first. In handicapping the usual odds are (1) bisques, which may also be given in addition to other odds, or to balance odds received; (2) half-fifteen, or one point to be taken at the beginning of the second and every alternate game; (3) fifteen, or one point in every game; (4) half-thirty, or one point in every odd game and two points in every even game ”

“ Technical Terms.—Some of these have already been explained, but the following may be added. “Bisque”: the privilege, given as a form of odds, of scoring a stroke during any part of the game, except after the delivery of “service” or after a “fault.” “Boast”: to hit the ball on to the side wall first. “Cut”: to strike the ball with the head of the racquet held at an angle to the ball's course instead of meeting it with the full face, thus causing backward rotation of the ball (similar to-the “screw” in billiards) , which alters its natural rebound from the wall. ”

“ Scoring and Handicapping.—A match consists of three or five “sets”; a “set” of eeven games. The winner of six games wins the set. If a player wins six games consecutively he wins a “love set,” even though his opponent may have won several games. The loser of a love set, by an old custom, gives the marker a shilling. Should the score be called “Five games all,” the players may arrange to play a “vantage game,” the set in that case not being won till one or other has won two games in succession. ”

“ Other handicaps are:—“Round services,” the giver of odds having to serve so that the ball hits both the side and end penthouse; “half the court,” the giver of the odds confining his strokes, except service, to one side of the court as divided by the half-court line, a stroke played into the other half counting to his adversary; “touch no walls,” the giver of odds confining his play except service to the floor; “bar the openings,” the giver of odds losing a point if his ball goes into a gallery or into the dedans or grille ”

“ The height of the court to the tie-beam is 30 ft., the height of the play-line, above which the ball must not go, 18 ft. at the sides and 23 ft. at the ends. The roof of the penthouse, which is made of wood, slopes downwards towards the court, the lower edge being 7 ft. 11⁄2 in. from the floor, the upper 10 ft. 7 in., the width 7 ft. The illustrations show that each of the walls has its own peculiarities. The “dedans” is an opening in the end wall on the service side, under the penthouse, where provision is made for spectators, who are protected by a net. It is 21 ft. ”

“ A point is scored by that player whose opponent fails to make a good return stroke in a rest, or who strikes the ball into a winning opening, or wins a chase, or to whom two faults are served in succession. A player loses a stroke who strikes the ball twice, or allows it to touch himself or his clothes. ”

“ In 1427 we hear of a woman named Margot, who was a skilful player, both her fore handed and backhanded strokes being commended; hence we may infer that the racquet had now been introduced. Tennis was at this time frequently played in some crude form in the moats of castles, where Charles VIII. used to watch the game. Henri II. is described as the best player in France, and worthy of the silver ball given to the finest players. Later, Henri IV. and Louis XIV. (who kept a regular staff to look after his court) were patrons and players of tennis ”

“ In France very large sums of money were wagered on the game, especially at the end of the 16th century, the stakes being deposited under the cord or net, while in England, about 1750, there was so much betting and swindling, especially by professional players, that the game as played in the public courts fell into disrepute. ”

“ In attem ting this service it should be remembered that it is better for tfie ball to hit the floor first than the wall as this allows the cut to act. It is wise to cultivate one sort of service to perfection, if possible, with a reserve of others to suit the occasion. Again, the tennis “stroke,” differing essentially as it does from the racquet stroke, can only be learnt in the court from a good teacher; but it is an axiom that tennis is not a game in which ard lnttmg necessarily tells, though force may be usefully employed in trying to “find” the winning openings. ”

“ The Implements.—The balls, for which there are no regulation dimensions, weigh 21/2 oz. and are 21/4 in. in diameter. They are made of strips of cloth, no twine being used except to keep the outside layer in place, and are covered with white Melton cloth. ”