Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-11
OF WORLD INTEREST
BILLIARDS AND THE BALK-LKNE
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKlN

fond of Il. and under his patronage inc
game became a most popular pastilns
in France. 1t had it's advent into Amer
lea through the Spaniards. who brought
table over in 1910. Washington and
Alexander Hamilton were deVotees OF
the game as were most of the men OF
that period. Michael Phelan may pc
said to be the father of the game III
America. He was one of the best art
lists with the cue that tho world mas
ever produced. Along about the seven
ties most of the newer features OF the
game We're added. 1t was changed
from four-ball to a three-ball game
about that time, and the dimensions OIL
the table were changed from by IL to
6 by 10 about that time. The balk-line
and cushion carroms are features tnat
have reached development since then.
The English game of billiards varies
somewhat from the American game, be-
ing sort OF combination of billiards
and pool as played here. Under those
conditions, Ii has been hard to arrange
championship games between the yam
kee and the Brlton. Some years ago a
game was arranged between the then
American champion, Ives, and the Brit
ish champion, Roberts. Concessions
had to be made on both sides Roberts
agreed that smaller poskets should be
used, while Ives conceded the use of
smaller balls. 1t was hard fought
contest. but Ives won.
Unlike most games. there is little or
ganization among billiard players
Most of the prizes and trophies that
are put up come from manufacturers of
tables and their accessories. Another
thing of note about it Is that most of
those who hold the honors of the bill
Hard world are past L . meridian of
life. Years of playing are essential to
the expertness it requires to travel in
the championship class. Some of the
champions of today are past the six
tieth milestone of life and declare
themselves to be living refntation of
"oslerism,"
1t is an interesting fact that men who
excel at one variation of the game may
be in turn excelied at another. This
is the case of Schaefer and Sutton.
Schaefer is champion Of 1871 and SUIT
ton at 1872 Last year Schaefer chal-
-ienged Sutton's hold on his champion
ship. AS Is usual he had to post $500
to get the game. They met and SUIT
ton defeated him by more than two To
one--5O0 to 241, with highest run of
2S2 to 9S. The year had begun with
sutton as the champion in 1871 as we'll
as 1872, through the forfeiture of the
championship by Willie Hoppe--who Is
trying TO get it back today, In n
tournament In March. Schaefer defeat
ed Sutton 500 to AS, and last Deeem-
ber repeated the performance to the
tune of 500 to 4S6
The Napoleon of the billiard world
was +. C. Ives. AS an all-around play
err, one who was always at himself and
one who never lost his head In a pinch,
Ives stands at the front. He was
worlds champion for n number of
years. His average of 31.35 In game
at Chicago in 1897 at 1871. stands as a
record that has never been equaled.
Ives died of consumption In 1899 in
Mexico.
The first large American billiard
room in the United States was con-
Quoted by +. d. Bassford on the site
where the New York Herald building
now stands. II was established in 1882
and for many years thereafter was one
OF the most popular billiard resorts in
the country. Pin pool and fifteen-bal
pool had their origin in this place. The
iirst match game for a money stake
was played in New York in 1854. be-
tween j. N. White of New York and
George Smith of Syracuse. The first
worlds championship game was played
at Madison Square Gafden ana the
honors went TO George Slosson.
Many are the statesmen in washing
ton who take relief from the political
burdens Of the day In a game of bill
liards. A few years ago there was q
little congressman from the west by
the name of Cochran. He was less
that feet 8 tall. but when II came to
playing billiards he was a good one.
He boarded at the histori old National
hotel. Its billiard parlors were under
the direction of Frank Sherman, HIM
self player of championship caliber.
In the billiard room that had been
made famous by Henry Clay, these two
players were t, be seen night after
night for several years. And dozens of
the nations lawmakers found solace
from their res by looking on Cochran
was the champion billiard player of
congress throughout his whole term of
service.