The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-13
When Twelve Years, Willie
Causes Ripple of Surprise
by Fine Playing.
DEFEATS SAYL0R. SEASONED
OLD BILLIARD PLAYER
Plays Uphill Game for Cham
pionship With Vignaux
in Paris.
BY WILLIE HOPPE.


AT n time when 1 wore knickerboclScrs
and long stockings, | played game of
billiards that many s man who was 4
voter could not duplicate, and the i'm
preston seems to have been created
that l was dressed in a manner to give
the appearance Of youthfulness. SO far
as l personally was concerned, l was
more than anxious to don trousers, in
which respect l did not differ from all
other boys. Nevertheless, many per
sons who saw me play, reached the con-
clusion that | was considerably older
than the family Bible Indicated and in
many instances, the doubling Thorn.
ases were willing and ready to back
their opinion with cold cash.
An example of this sort occurred
when | was meeting all corners at ISL
to my 1872 balkline billiards in the
Academy of Cation and Greene in Chi
cago. At this time l was II years of
age, and l was playing a very stiff
game. On the first night of my ap-
was Ben Saylor, a shortstop of consid
erable ability. Some of the spectators
were so confident that Saylor would
beat me that they wagered heavily on
the result. Many of them were sorely
disappointed with my easy victory. and
one of the losers, who had dropped a
large roll, was clearly disgruntled
Somebody made the remark that it was
remarkable performance for a boy Of
u years of age to beat a seasoned vet
eran like Saylor.
''Boy OF u, eh7" queried the loser
with an incredulous look. ''Why. that
kid will never see Is again. ''I think
who was standing near the stranger. |
The latter was unacquainted with my !
father. and turning on him, said:
''What do you know of it7 You |
see / know the facts. I know the whole |
Hoppe family like book. Why, I have
known Willie since he was knee high |
to grasshopper, and his father and
mother are warm personal friends of |
mime. Why, used 10 live at the same
hotel with them, and many a game
of pool have had with Frank Hoppe.
Why, [ know every one of the chill.
dren, and when / say that Willie is
IS, am ready to bet on it," said the
stranger
Ny father never even cracked a
smile but Billy Cation, who was stand
ing near, said 10 the stranger:
'Well. Just TO settle the point ! will
bet you 500 that Willie is not 49,
"Well, Catton,' said the stranger.
of course you may have some inside
information, but I will wager that the
box is 16.
E'You are on, said Cation
This scared the stranger, and the
best he would do was to bet the wine
and cigars for all present that ] was Is
''Who VIII decide the bet7" asked
the stranger.
''Willie's father, of course" said
"But here can we find him7"
asked th stranger.
"Wen You have been talking with
him for half an hour replied Cat
ton with chuckle.
Rcalizine that he had been complete
}" Tanqulshed, the stranger paid the
,er and retired as gracefully as pos
One of the interesting things about
the game Of billiards, is the fact that
it can be played well by youth or age.
No doubt as man increases in age he
loses much Of the keenness Of vision
that is so necessary to successful play,
but unless q younger opponent possesses
great steadlness, the experience OF the
older man may give him an advantage.
When / played Maurice Vignaux for
the Isl balk line championship in Paris
IN 1906 he was nearing the 60-year
mark, while / was but l8. In the early
innings, he played very strongly, and
had [ been easily discouraged, he would
ter he played the harder I worked, and
I soon took the lead away from him.
The great Frenchman played fine
game to the finish as is proven by the
average, but it may be that it was my
youth and keen eye that enabled me
to WIN, but Vignaux played desperately
to the last shot, and had I been lack
ing in either technique or courage, /
would never have won that game. l
naturally was very much pleased with ;
my victory over so world-famed a play-
er as VignauS, but I would have been
more grateful If the play had been
three nights and $500 points. However.
he was the challenged champion. SET
the conditions and had no recourse
but to comply with them But the re. !
suit of that match gave conclusive
proof that a man Of advanced years
and youth in his teens can both play
billiards with the highest quality Of
skill and with the greatest courage.
There are few other forms of contest
In which keenness of eye and pliability !
OF muscle are required that would per :
mlt, OF competition between persons Of !
such contrasting years |
:. question if in the history Of bill
lIards, three such notable competitions
as those decided during the past week
have ever taken place
The three nights match between
Champion Hueston and Challenger 7
keough, for the pool championship. in
New York
The three nights match between !
Champion Demarcst and Challenger {
Cline for the 1872 bnllsline title in Chi.
cago.
Also, the three nights match at 1872 5
ballIline billiards between Ora Morn.
ingstar, former champion. and myself in {
Pittsburg. which indicates clearly the 4
wide and diversified interest in the i
game all over the country. {
Tho rno1 ba /.
was the first game for the title held in
New York IN many years, attracted n
great deal Of attention, and gave de-
cided impetus to the game in New York
City The attendance was very hatter. e
that the interest in that form of hi. $
Iards Is now on solid basis Hueston :