New tennis courts built in Minot the summer of 1904 gave area athletes an opportunity to better enjoy the sport. The old courts were made of dirt and only four or five people regularly used them. Now, however, the new courts drew in large crowds each evening.

The increased popularity gave the city of Minot reason to host its first tennis tournament, and the Ward County Reporter reported that “every player began practicing up on all the fancy drives they had ever heard of or seen.” The tournament took place over the last two weeks and finished up today. Sixteen individuals entered into the singles bracket, which was won by John Gammon who “played a very steady game throughout the tournament and with the exception of a match with Lewis, won easily from all his opponents.”

Six teams entered the doubles bracket and Gammon again made a good vie for the title with his partner Dr. Storey. Yet, play went too late into the night and the game was resumed today. The teams were up early to resume play, and the game drew on for two hours before it was called on account of the rain. Gammons had to leave for Minneapolis at noon, and it was decided that both teams made a good show in the tournament, and the doubles championship was announced as a draw.

The big news of the day, however, was not only the tournament, but the language of the players. Because the new courts were built behind the Catholic Church, players were careful to control their profanity, though there was not a lack of “cussing.” Their “toilet” tongues were substituted with “tennis” tongues that generated phrases such as “Fiddlesticks!” and “Oh sugar!” in times of excitement in the game. The Minot Daily Optic attributed the not-so-dirty language not only to the “religious geography” of the tournament, but also to the “wave of reform” that was sweeping the town.

“Editor Zimmerman was heard to break forth yesterday and say ‘Shucks!’ ‘I’ll slap you on the wrist,’ and the like. This is going too far,” reported the Optic. “Mr. Corbett also insists on an operatic ‘Good coffee’ when in a state of exultation. We are unaware at this time what restaurant he is referring to in this city, but if this is a specie of an oath, we would demur.”

The Optic also said one man hurled this “dreadful taunt, ‘Fiddle-de-dee’” at an opponent. Although these “cuss words” were abundant at the tournament, the Optic applauded their use. “These reform oaths are all right in their place and only represent what good vigorous Anglo-Saxon can occasionally come to and let us say right here that we welcome them all. O Shaw! O Fie!!”

By Tessa Sandstrom

Source:
“Oh, Shaw! Oh, Fie! Cuss words as they are coined at the tennis tournament,” The Minot Daily Optic. August 30, 1904: 1.
“Tennis Tournament,” The Ward County Reporter. September 1, 1904: 1.

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