Beschreibung:

TILDEN WILLIAM: (1893-1953) American tennis player, Wimbledon Champion 1920, 1921 & 1930. A.L.S., Bill, three pages, 8vo, Barracks 19, Saugus, California, n.d. ('Monday'; 15th November 1949), to Marrion Anderson and her son Arthur ('Dearest Marrion & Bratto'). Tilden writes in bold pencil from prison, in large part, 'I am starting this before the mail comes so I haven't the Babe's letter yet telling how he came with Gibby. I have no news at all really except that Pat Rogers broke three fingers playing baseball last night. I'm darned sorry about it. I still find myself grinning with pleasure to know the Brat is out of the frat situation. I am sure he will be very glad too in the end. Don't forget, Pal, that the next few weeks you should use to prepare to be in shape for a really hard work with me at a highly concentrated pace on special shots. I will have a pretty good idea of just what we need to do & after about two days checking with you we'll get down to the real business. Between now & then store up all the weight & energy you can & above all keep your training perfectly please. I'd like to see you get back to at least 160 by the time I get out. Babe your letter just came & I'm proud & delighted. That is a fine performance with Gibby & I must say even better than I expected. You have really come on a long way to judge by your scores…..That gives me a real basis to judge on and I am very pleased. Now keep up the good work but in slightly smaller packages. 3 sets a day tops is enough for the next two weeks & then we'll see what we both think….' Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Tilden and signed ('W. T. Tilden') by him in the return address panel.