The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-09
RpS.
Experts Giving Exhibitions Under the
New Rnies,

The first public game of billiards under the
new rules was played last evening by George
Slosson and William Sexton, at the new par
lors of the former in Twenty-third street.
Mortimer Humphreys was pressed into SER
vice as referee, a position second only in point
of down right hard work and strained atten-
ton to that of scorer Nobody seems to know
exactly how to count the shots, but by dnt Of
studying the rules at the proper times the
referee managed to keep the record straight.
Even had he not done SO, his error would not
have been discovered.
From the opening of the game, which was
three hundred points up, it was evident the
experts would have to play billiards to count
and the result was that the IuOnotOny of rail
nursing was entirely done away with. In its
place the spectators saw series Of brilliant
rOund-the-tabe, cushion, draw and massa
shots such as have seldom graced u public
game between American experts Still the
com pliGatiOnS in the rules, and the slight
understanding OF them possessed by players
referee and scorer, gave rise to delays and in
spired onlookers with disgust. 1t was claim
ed that at least ne-half of the rules could
have been dispensed with as practically Use
less and cumbersome and the marking off of
the "CrOtches,'' fourteen inches on the short
and twenty. eight inches on the long rail, to-
gpther with the rule allowing only two shots
within crotch limits, We're quite sufficient to
guard against rail nursing.
In view OF former experience it may be
safely predicted that experts, afe1r sufficient
practice, will overcome the obstacles of tine
new game, and make runs now deemed i'm
possible.
The game last night showed some brilliant
round-the-table and position play, but the
players had not praCticed enough under the
new rules to bring the balls upon the side
rail, the only available point for successful
nursing. In lieu of this they devoted them
selves to what may be- truly termed scientific
billiards, and showed their perfect knowledge
Of English. cushions and angles. Sections
play was particularly brilliant, being marked
by several beautiful six-cushon shots.
There is proposition among billiardists.
which meets with considerable approval. to
make the expert game game in which there
shall be no simple carOms. Should this pro-
position prevail the cumbersome and proix
rules, now sought to be introduced, would be
replaced by game substantially the same as
that now in use, except that no shot should
count in which the cue ball failed to touch a
cushion prior to reaching the second object
ball. The proposition in the Sln of yesterday
to spot the objeCt balls after the player has
made ten points, and let him play from the
position his ball occupies Is also under discus
SION IN. Y. sun.
HEtsER MAKES A GREAT BUN UNDER THE NEW
RULES OF PLAY AT BOSTON.
The billiardists of this city did not seem
inclined to Immediately apply the new rules
of the game to their play, and little has yet
been done in the way of testing the benefits
of the new idea. Randolph Heiser who is at
the Grand Union billiard hall. on Sudbury
street, has had o table marked off, however.
and yesterday played game, with prornis-
ing amateur, under the new rules. He won
the game quite handily, made big run Of
$50, and now says he is perfectly satisfied
with the proposed change. He commenced
the run with open play of about thirty five
points. then, getting the balls on the left rail,
beyond the bar line he worked them up the
rail until he turned hundred points; then
dsIcately driving the cue between the object
balls he returned on the rail, came out near
the lower left-hand bar line and once more
played the balls toward the upper left-hand
corner. He scored $50 points, and finally
missed on d masse shot. Most of the work
was very delicate nursing, in which Heiser is
quite proficient. He says the old players will
find that the proposed new rules will have no
damaging effect on the young players, and
that when Schaefer. Slosson, and few 9th
ers have had little practice, they will make
just as big runs as ever Boston Globe.