The sun., 1919-04-06
AMATEUR GUESTS i
GET SPEEDY TABLE \
Tightly Drawn Cloth Reduces
Glass A Runs and Averages
in Chicago Tourney.
SCHAEFER RESUMES PLAY
Has Completely Recovered
From Illness-Belgian Bill
lard Expert Receives Praise.

The indifferent performances OF the
players who took part in tho rscent
Glass A balkline tourney at the Chi
cago A. A. under the auspices OF the
National Association OF Amateur Bill
Hard Players arc accounted for by Cor :
win Huston. former champion OF the ,
class He attributes the poor allowing
OF himself and other players to the fact
that tho cloth on the table had been
stretched 90 tightly II was dinicult for
the cueists 20 control the worries.
He snid that II was quite impossible
TO hold the ivorles together for line
nursing, as the cloth was so lightning
fast the balls could not b. corralled.
Although each contestant under the
rules was entitled 10 an honr's practics
previous TO q match. not one succeeded
In getting accustomed to the cloth and
holding the balls for good runs and.
averages. -
After Huston had taken his first prac-.
tioe on the table he offered to wager,
$500 that no man In the tourney could
hold the worries on the line for hve
points. While the wager was not ac-
oeptsd. no man In the tournament sac-
ossdsd in the undertaking. Open play
prsdcminatsd, and every player was
compelled 10 reduce tho normal force OF
his stroke. ~
Tho man who set up the table -
blamed for the poor results. but II was
too late TO remedy the fault after Il
was discovered. =.
DR.. Mails Losing Average. g.
Tie low averages. both single and,
grand. at the Chicago tourney attracted
| the attention of DR.. L. i. Mai. n noted
amateur cueist in the days when Pog-
genburg and other great players were
in their prime. 81
'T observe" said tho doctor. that
Class A players now are winning gamea
with averages OF eight or less. II
! man made less than a grand average Of
, eight in my time 1t was regarded as
| poor work / remember one tournament
in which I played that my grand aver
age was ten. and l never won a game.
The amateurs OF the present may
be more proficient than the ones OF
years ago. but the figures are different"
According TO the physician who At.
tended jake Schaafer during his attack
OF influenza IN this city, the young man
had narrow escape from death The
| billiard export had IA temperature of 104
one day, and the doctor told him that
1t would be best for him to get out OF
this climate rs soon as he could travel.
While still weak from the effects OF the
disease schaefer packed his grip and
started for the coast. It appears that
the climate OF California agrees with
the youngster. for he again 10 in play
Ing form. He and Welker Cochran have
resumed their duel which was halted In
the East by Sohaefers illness.
Their first engagement was 1890
points match At Portland, ore, and tho
pair will gradually wor.; toward tho
East. reaching here when the weather
IS nilder. 1t is the expectation of Schae-
fer that he will be matched with Home
for contest next autumn.
Marvellous Belgian.
II the reports OF billiard experts who
have gone TO Amsterdam, Holland. 20
inspect the play OF Hormonse, n Belgian
now In that city. Justify the original
statements made by Morter, the French
amateur champion. there is trouble in
store for Willie Hoppe.
The Belgian was informed during the
war in Amsterdam, and made use OF the
opportunity to start a billiard room
there. =
He also settled down 10 hard prac-,
tice. and the Information that has como
from there is to the effect that his balk
limo Is better than tha' OF any player
In the history 81 The zane. He is said
10 have made runs ana averages in COM
parison with which Hopes perform
| ances are those of q novice.
The annual dinner OF the Billiard
Room Owners OF Now York will take
place at the Cafe Boulevard April =.
and II will be attended by representa-
uves from all over the country
II Is limited that one OF the subjects
to come up at this event will be the for
nation OF a national association to COM
bat prohibition and any other leg!sla ton
inimscal 10 the interests OF the room
| keepers.