| No. 6, April, 1911 | Price 1/6 per annum to any part of the world. Single Copies 1d |
Billiard Monthly Portrait Gallery
VI. - JOHN ROBERTS
It has more than once been remarked that the history of billiards, as we know it to-day, might conveniently be compressed into two words—John Roberts. There is more than a modicum of truth in that remark, as those who take the trouble to study the evolution of the game, since when, as a mere stripling of nineteen summers, the subject of our portrait this month took his place among the great professors, will readily observe. That was just on 47 years ago —to be precise, in 1866—since when the name of John Roberts and Billiards have been synonymous terms.
He was the first to discern the almost illimitable possibilities of billiards as a spectacle, and, in taking the game from the "pot house" to a clearer and purer environment, conferred a benefit, the full extent of which has only been reached during the past few years. As a natural consequence the support of the elite in the land followed, and from the day when his late Majesty King Edward—then Prince of Wales—witnessed a match between Roberts and the late William Cook for the Championship, at St. James's Hall, in December, 1875, the future of the pastime was assured.
Roberts was also the progenitor of the system of weekly and fortnightly matches still in vogue, an innovation which conferred an inestimable benefit on the game, to the mutual advantage of public and professionals alike. He was also considerably in advance of public opinion when he refused to play public games in which the spot stroke Was permitted, while most of his fellow professionals adhered to the stroke.
It was a case of Roberts leading and the rest following, for eventually the billiard-going public refused to watch the dreary and mechanical displays, and the spot stroke was killed long before the Billiard Association finally buried it.
But the genius of Roberts devised something to take its place in the beautiful winner-cannon movement now universally known as the top-of-the-table game. So much for the "Master's" creative genius.
Born in Manchester, on August 15. 1847, John Roberts has apparently discovered the secret of perennial youth, for he is still as vigorous and active, when at a billiard table, as those of his contemporaries who were in swaddling clothes when he was the acknowledged champion of the world. Moreover, he retains much of his old-time skill, all his old time charm of play, and remains the admiration of the billiard-going public.
The writer had the privilege of a chat with the subject of, our sketch the other day, and among other things gleaned the somewhat startling opinion from Roberts that despite the vast strides in popularity of the game during the last decade, billiards is still in its infancy. "We have," said the Master, "merely touched the fringe of the game from an imperial aspect, but the day is not far distant when we shall see representatives of all that is best in amateur and professional talent in every English-speaking country in the world competing for the world's championship." Then will billiards really come into its own.
He aspires to give the game a fillip among the tender sex' next season, when he will introduce his protege Miss Ruby Roberts, who, he assures us, is the finest lady player he has ever seen. It may be mentioned that Miss Roberts is a niece of Charles Memmott, ex-champion of Australia, and is not, as some might suppose, a relation of John Roberts, who, by the way, has now that other Australian phenomenon—George Gray—under his wing It seems fitting that the master hand, which has been to billiards what "W. G." was to cricket, should have the task of the moulding and polishing of a youth who is, perhaps, destined, in a sense, to succeed himself as a player of worldwide renown.