New-York tribune., 1914-12-13
Poor Showings of Cassig-
mol and SlOSSOn Are
Example.
BLAME FALLS ON
CARELESS EMPLOYEES
Melbourne Inman Does Not Need
to Defend His Title This
Year in England.

ance Of Firmin Cassignol in his exhi-
bition game against George F. Slesson
at the Elks' Club, Maurice Daily en-
phasized an opinion that all billiard
contests Of any importance should be
managed by billiard players or men OF
practical experience in billiard events.
This inspired Hal Colman, winner OF
the Class B amateur championship in
1912, TO make a few remarks.
at was" he said, "a crime to make
those men play at the Elks' Club under
the conditions that existed. | am an
Elk, and went TO the club, expecting
to see a good exhibition by both Slos-
son and Cassignol, especially Csssignol.
for | knew him 10 be a finished artist.
When got into the hall. about T;<5
o'clock, half an hour before the game
was to begin, | found all the windows
open. That caused me to lift the cover
of the table and feel the bed. IL was
almost ice cold.
The exhibition was not only dis
appointment TO the Elks, but humilia-
tion of Slosson aud the Frenchman.
AZ frst they were almost helpless.
Toward the end, when the ivory and
table began 70 get warm, Slosson did
pretty well and made a couple OF good
runs. But Cassignol was so overcome
that he never recovered"
Edward Kirby, who has charge of
the Elks' Clubs billiard room and
knows what are the requirements for
good billiards, said, 81 had charge OF
the exhibition, and made all arrange
ments for IL. | gave orders TO have
the hall kept warm, but somebody ig-
nored my orders. No one felt worse
than | did over what happened"
Having been informed of what Kirby
said, DAILY expressed the belief that
the iiasco at the Elks' Club caused Cas-
signol TO return TO France and pre-
vented American lovers Of billiards
from seeing what the greatest Of Euro
pean players could do. He also re-
called the championship match be-
tween sutton and Morningstar at
Lenox Lyceum, when on a cold night,
after having seen the crowd in at
tendance seated, the ianitor turned off
the steam and went home.
That" said he, was the worst pub-
lie exhibition in which first class play
ers ever performed. The balls became
so chilled that draw and spread shots
were out OF the question. The PLAYERS
became almost stupefied and spectators
who remained 70 see the finish nearly
famlshed. | wrapped an overcoa.
around my legs trying TO keep them
warm.
when Hoppe and Slosson played az
Grand Central Palace, in 1905, for the
lS-l championship, which Hoppe had
Just won from Vignaux, in Paris, con-
ditions were shocking and the game a
keen disappointment to the largest
gathering that ever assembled at "A
billiard game.
Practising for the match both play
ers showed great form. Hoppe did SO
well that he was a 2 TO ! favorite. He
won by mediocre performance. The
balls lost resiliency, jumped whenever
hit hard and the players had 70 adjust
their strokes 10 meet the situation.
That game did billiards an injury. The
players were blameless. but the public
did not comprehend or appreciate what
they had to contend against.
Interest was revived by the 1879
tournament, which followed. at Madi-
n,
sutton made an average of 100 and
Schaefer and Hoppe performed brill
liantly. When Anthony F. Troescher
gave personal attention 10 arrange
ments for billiard matches and tourna-
ments there were no happenings like
that at the Elks' Club. He was great
on details and saw that every reuuisite
for good playing was as it should have
been"
Melbourne lnman will not be called
upon this season TO defend his title OF
champion of English billiards. The
Billiards Control Club, London, has so
decreed: An official announcement
says: "At a meeting of che general
council Of the Billiards Control Club,
on Thursday. November ie, the ques-
tion Of the advissbility Of holding the
professional championship under the
present state Of affairs In the country
was discussed and on the advice Of the
majority Of the professional advisory
committee IL was unanimously decided
not 10 hold the event for the ensuing
season"
Since the war began the output Of
tables In England has dimin-
lshed 20 20 per cent. Hoppe had under
a professional VISIT 20
England. he viii probably remain az
home.
On November 20, Edward Digsle,
ffty-one years old, the leading active
veteran among the English billiard pro-
made a run Of 642 In a
match of 1000 points
against Thomas Reece. Nevertheless,
Reece, conceding a start OF 800, won
oy 293 points. In a similar competition
finished November 1s Biggle won on
even terms by sos points.
Expert opinion on the following
question was submitted 10 Charles P.
Miller, vice-president OF the Bruins
wick ck-Balke-Collender Company: A cup
vas donated 10 a certain club FOR COM
petition. II was 10 have become the
property Of any member Of the club
Who should win II three times. After the
up had been once won the club dis
Iolved. What Is the proper disposition
of the cup? His answer was, "It
hould be returned TO the donor. The
conditions Of the gift have not been
complied with. There Is no possibility
" compliance"