New-York tribune., 1886-02-15
BILLiARDS And BILLIARD PLAYERS.

sCHAEFER ASD v1GNAtn At rkACilCE-THE BOOK
MAKERS TOURNAMENT At IHK ROsSMoRf.
Billiard matters are rejoicing IN little 4" boom
at present The memory OF the past and the antciPA
tions OF the coming match between Schaefer and Nign
aux keep tho thoughts OF every billiard player upon ting
game and all sorts OF almost impossible matches are
going on in the hotels and other "spos that are al
WAYS barred" by regular license OF the Excise COmmis
siouers schaefer has not into practice yet but
Intends to do week second aud smaller room
Is being fitted up under his place IN broadway. II Will
be opened at end Of this week with hreecushion
carom for amateurs, IN which the prize is a
gold medal Afterward the champion Will use 1t for his
regular practice OF three hours "A day
had about four weeks practice for tho Chicago
tournament" bchaefer taid recently, "whilo
only had ten days for the last match.
Ten days about enough to get me
into good farm and after that doesn't do any good to
play. Billiard playing IS sort OF Rlft anyhow u
isn't much OF All art You see hbOut what you want
player they roll ana twist and stop where you wanted
them to- II you're bad player they do1'ti hardly ~
10 and 40 IT, In preparing for match three hoars'
play day Is enough Nothing else has to be done
we'll and don't get nervous. Sometimes sunday when
there nothing do play TIL fm tired but when you
get all out OF My practice averages only a
little above those made In my match gaines"
pracucing every day In the billiard room at the Ross
more Hotel. Nearly every afternoon aud evening he
Zoo or l.4oO points DAY ana seems
determined 10 win glory and gate money
month, hard work w do It, Crowds stand about
the and reach out to the doorway watching his
skyrOcRet shots and delicate nursing There no appre
cable difference between his play when thousands of
dollars change hands the result ana this quiet
practice work among lrends lie seems TO be more OF
machine than man. and plays along steadily III the
most exciting matches dong Just wo when his oppo-
is ahead When he Ia himself IN the lead. is
this gives him such prominence over Othcr French
players There others who play nearly MS brill
liant a game he. but there Is none who can play
against him for money.
The bOukmaiers' tournament cushion carom game at
HOTEL comes on apncr but the s Tath-
er slow one 10 hurry IL up they will begin to-day play
iDG four games IN place OF two day. Dave" Johnson
and "Sam" Emory In the van, each with
three victories and defeats their
score. "Charlcy" Davis next with two
triumphs. Emory Ia the man who gets
such enormous odds from the handicap.
lie has only sIty-hve points TO rum while johnson ana
OF the others must cover l5O. The confident
Dave" put up 5000 even money that he Wonld make
OF the grand total OF games. but he
hasn't anywhere near IL as yet. The room where
the ncnt ia IN progress Is crowded with men
whose faces we'll known on every racecOurse about
the city. They watch the game with the greatest
sOlemnity ana never give way To applause or disgust
whatever the condition OF the fAvOrites string. Tho
players tramp about the table, cOatess and cOlaress
persprinR freely under sixteen Jets and copiOus
dTHughts OF Ice water and punching tho balls yicOusy
and down the table. After the s there IL
general rauster of cash from pocket To pocket and
making Of bets ON the result OF the next days play.