The New York herald., 1922-02-26

tho international championship at 49,
balkline,> held in Philadelphia, from
February 13 to 81. was an eminent sue
cess 1t was managed by the Manufac-
turers Club, in whose auditorium the
games were contested. The attendances
were large and enthusiastic to an ex-
treme degree. Seats for 1850 persons
were arranged in amphitheater order on
the auditorium floor and accommoda-
tions for $50 more were provided in
balcony.
Seating capacity, however, did not
limit the crowds that gathered to wit
ness the series Of competitions. 1t was
claimed that on last Tuesday night
2,4O0 persons witnessed the final game
between Edgar T.. Appleby Of this city
and Percy N. Collins of Chicago.
The home of the Manufacturers Club,
located at the corner Of Broad and
Walnut streets, between the Union
League and the Bellevue-Stratford
Hotel. is a ten story structure with a
frontage of 100 feet on Broad street
and 200 feet on Walnut street. Accord
ing to Howard Read, chairman of the
tournament committee, 1t has 1900 resi-
dent members and between 500 and 700
nonresident members. The ground on
which it stands cost $1,250,0O0. the
building 100000, furnishings $3oo,eoo.
Tha ks Association.
In opening the event President John
S. Fisler made brief, felicitous ad-
dress, accentuated with expressions of
pride and local patriotism. He thanked
the National Association of Amateur
Billiard Players for having awarded the
1nternational event to the Manufac-
turers Club and for having honored the
city of Philadelphia. For" said he,
'the members of this club believe Phila-
delphia is not only just about the
greatest city in the world but really the
greatest" Continuing, he added: "The
members of this club are practical men.
who do things in a practical way. yet
realize that too much work and no re-
taxation do not promote health and
happiness. For this reason, in prac-
tical way we have turned to sports and
have become interested in the beautiful
game of billiards.
"Fanatical reformers would deprive us
Of the enjoyment of this great game,
which the National Association of Anna
teur Billiard Players is fostering and
protecting, and 1t Is my pleasure to
pledge the members Of this club to aid
with every possible influence the Ma
tional Association in resisting such
encroachments."
The participants in the tourney, par
ticularly AIRY Bos of Amsterdam, Hol-
land, amateur champion of Europe, and
Edouard Roudil of Montpelier. France,
champion of that country and European
champion in 1891. did not equal ex-
pectations. A serious drawback to good
playing in the early games was the
stretching OF the bedcloth on the billiard
table. 1t was stretched too tightly. The
tension was so taut that after having
felt it Harry p. Cline. worlds profess
sional champion in 1910. said: Nobody
can play good billiards on that cloth IN
I'll he gets used to IL, and then he can't
play his game" The writer coincided.
RoudiI on Stroke.
Roudll and Frances S. Appleby opened
the tournament. Appleby played one OF
his two good games in the series Roudil
could not gauge the table. The next
day he told Harry Cline he could not
control the balls, and added in French,
II am shot to pieces" He averaged
only z 1923 Practicing at the Union
League with Frederick S. Hovey he
scored 400 points in eleven innings. av-
eraging 36 Ali. Playing at the Conti-
mental Hotel he regularly averaged from
90 to SO. During one weeks play he
made a general average Of more than 2S.
This disparity between playing on
room and tournament equipment reflects
serious condition which the general
public does not appreciate. In only two
instances did the French champion per-
form In manner even suggestive of his
ability: Once, when he defeated Bos
again when on Monday night, he de-
fcated Edgar T. Appleby and made 16S
points in his last four innings. The re-
spcctive averages were II 1-27 and
JIG 1918. Compared 60 his average of
:5.71 in 500 points, against Darantiere,
and his grand average of H.6 in $500
points, when he won the European
championship in 1921, they are insignih-
cant.
Bos was not in condition 90 demon
Etrate his real ability. He had not fully
recovered from the illness he expert
enced in Brooklyn and was weak
Nevertheless, some good Judges OF bill
iards who saw him perform assert that
lie was "the class of The tournament"
lie Is wonderfully resourceful, perhaps
more so than any other billiard expert.
amateur or professional. Generally his
game Is all execution. System is to him
negligible.
Art BOSS Tactics.
Although he invariably plays the right
shot he Is indifferent with respect to de-
sirable results. He strives 20 get the
object balls near the cue ball and, II
successful. INDUCES In an inlmitabie dis
play OF masse. draw and driving opera
ions. His alert mentality combining
with active and harmonious muscular CO.
ordination, amazed spectators. 'I can't
understand how any person can visual
iZe position and act on it so quickly
Another answered. II can't understand
how he can think so quicfly"
Reckless as he seems TO ho respecting
close positions he - marvel at 1inc
nursing. In his game with Edgar 7.
Appleby. he made "A run of So, of which
AZ were made in space OF about two
feet and n half on the left line at che
lower section of the table During the
run he kept tho white bal on the edge
az thc balkline and drove the red with
sudi delicacy and precision that the po-
niton was maintained until the lower in
tcrscctinE line was reached. There he
made faulty effort TO turn the balls to
that line. It was the most exquisite
liTc work witnessed I'm many years.
Speaking about his condition Bos said:
~ am weak. I can't give J can't fight
When 7 made that run Of SO against
1ioudiI WAS tired When mako small