The late John Roberts was a boy player, and his son, John Roberts, jun., inherited this talent and had the advantage of starting as a boy, for he was with his father at Savile House. Joseph Bennett's father was a marker at the Eagle in the City Road, and Bennett as a little boy used to climb into the saloon through the window by stealth and play with another lad. Billy Mitchell at 13 years of age was errand boy and sometimes marker at the Angel Hotel, Sheffield; Peall's father was the proprietor of the Clarendon Arms, Brixton, where William started at 13 years; John Lloyd learnt at 9 years; Dawson, when 13 years of age, was at the George and Dragon Hotel, Huddersfield; Stevenson was good enough at 16 to be engaged at the Hotel Metropole at Brighton; Harverson learnt at the"Bonehouse "in Bishopsgate as a boy of 16, his father being the lessee of the saloon; Bateman could play billiards when 8 years old, and was known as the boy champion of the Midlands.
Indeed, it is said that at that stage he could beat men four times his age. Reece started at 16 years old as a member of the St. Mary's Ward Liberal Club, Oldham; Willy Cook was not intended for billiards, and was sent out to business in the city, but, inheriting some of his father's talent, insisted upon becoming a professional player; Inman commenced at 14 years, his father being marker at the Twickenham Club; Osborne at 15, at Leicester; Aiken at 12 years, at Peterhead; and Weiss at his father's saloon in Glen Innes, New South Wales. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but the circumstances certainly point to the fact that, to become really first class, whether one has the billiard gift or not, it is absolutely necessary to start early in life.—Sydney Sun.