Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-11
THE NEW BILLIARDS.
Can Cushion Car0ms Come I'm rs q Reg
ular Match GameLThe Way to Beat
Schaefer.

A telegram to the New York Sun from Chicago
| December 4, says: The recent match at cushion
caroms between Slosson and Schafer, played al
| ST. Louis Nov. 81, must have brought to all fail
minds the conviction that at this style alone car
any expert expet to meet Schaefer for every Other
| contest but that would be virtually conceded tc
| "The Wizard" The conditions by which the sup
port of the public can be assured exist at no game
OF "ball to ball" billiards. They consist largely OF
the desire In witness the spectacle OF each player
passing and repaSSng the other, but such eXpec-
fancy would scarce enter the breast of any billiard
lover save in the event OF SlossOn and Schaefer
| match. That general opinion is voiced through
the medium OF the betting Is an axiom. Now al
st. Louis Schaefer was 100 to 20 fayOr1te, even
though by public performance the adversary he
was about TO meet certainly OutclaSSed him near
ly half point at custom caroms.
II is only reasonable TO suppose that, having
SloSsOn TO beat at "balk line" or the ''champions
game" the odds would be as long as possibly 1OC
to 40. And the public can never be made TO pat
ronize match concededly over before ball is
struck.
Nothing to the disparagement of the Chicagoan,
who long ere this had become through energy
and perseverance, the worlds champion but for
the coming OF the meteoric Schaefer. However,
to-day the latter is considered the better player to
an extent that any match is scarcely possible by
reason or the lack OF backing in SloSsOnS case.
"Let him play for his own money" he cried.
This looks well, but when and for how much has
any player backed himself?
Even the first professionals, with che exception
OF Maurice DAILY, are not known to have any loose
$500 notes and for no lesser amount would Schaefer
play. Therefore. Ii matches are TO be made OF
widespread interest, cushion carOmS must be the
style OF game.
1t is wonderful how the antfpathy to this game
has gained such sway. 1t is because people have
been used TO witnessing large runs and high
averages that cushion caroms meets with dis
approval
''No one wants TO listen to Wagner's music The
beauties of the game are only 10 be seen by profess
sl0nal, chimes In anOt her.
Yet there would be no tr0Gting "free for ais"
with Maud S. eligible, no professor perfect
without a knowledge of the great composer,
and the turf would be In bad shap but for handi-
Gaping.
Cushion caroms is simply an evolution, and,
like all progress, Will gradually commend itself.
anything quantity Is better than quality. "The
game lacks rarity" 1t Is said. Just so far as
played by poorer players th; might be said to
beyond that taught by any book, and excels the
world And so at cushion carOm billiards time
viii show that just as certain will be the work OF
the first great expert to discover invent and carry
the game TO its completion.
The writer takes Issue with all such as claim
'emasculatiOn." Certain strokes may seldom
come In play but the masse alone is rendered
valuelesS, and IL is only question OF time when
such stroke will be "barred," just as was the
push shot," because Ii allowed It makes Jacob
Schaefer all but fnvincible. De1cacy of touch is
not precluded, but the trouble thus far has been
to combine open play and nursing.
The ST. Louis game cOncluStvely proved the
open style, first worked so successfully by VIM.
SEXTON is almost sure to beat ''nurser," but the
II
be stated that In the recent match there were
more counts effected from difficult breaks than in
any other game ever played. The average was
lower than the record because both players
wanted to safety play. And again the strain on
each was tremendous, as for nearly 200 points
only few buttons separated them.
Such TO cushion shots are generally COM
manded. although known to be about as easy as
a direct carom, met with no favor; but real
billiard shot such ''cOse draw" or ''fOlow," a
ground the table" when great care must be eXer.
cised 10 escape kiss and the tinesse displayed in
cueing the ball and avoiding feint, brought
down The house. No unScenely demonstrations OF
JOY or the reverse. No public betting.
The hall contained more people than ever before
attended match in ST. Louis, yet there were only
about 600 persons present.
Richard Roche had the utmost confidence In his
mans ability, and quickly announced himself
ready to wager $4,000 the result. Oliver Wise
man would give the odds of 10 TO for large
amount, but there being no SOSsOn money, it was
necessary to give $1,000 500, and such was the
bet made by Harry Howard.
MI. Roche offered the latter $500 to S. 900 that
Schaefer would win both games, and 500 &c
81, 600 that the wizard would Win by 100 points
but neither proposition was accepted
The table and balls were not OF the best there.
fore Mr. Roche is still willing TO wager $50 600 that
Schdefer wins at Chicago December II.