We wonder how many club tournament winners put together, as an ordinary thing their 300 points in the hour, which is—according to a demonstration witnessed by the writer on Saturday afternoon—Miss Ruby Roberts's usual rate of play. Scoring 400 against Miss Collins, who also scored 250, the game was over in less than an hour and a quarter and, for its brightness and correctness throughout, deserved to have been seen by a much larger audience.
Miss Collins plays a nice game, but her weak point is a somewhat stiff cue delivery. Neither she, nor even Madame Strebor, is in the same class as a player as that now held by Miss Roberts, and the question seems to be: Where is Miss Roberts's vogue as a lady billiardist to lie? To our mind the only satisfactory answer to this question is that Miss Roberts should be permitted—or should permit herself—to play single sessional matches with good gentlemen amateurs —the sort of amateurs who are the best players in their clubs, and who might, if they liked, concede the lady points, although, according to the present writer's view, she would be likely to need them in very few cases.
Such encounters would be good for the game, good for the gentlemen amateurs, and good for Miss Roberts, who has come all the way from Australia to show English ladies that it is possible for members of their sex to play a fascinating and healthful game well, and who deserves to be spiritedly and generously encouraged.
There would, of course, be the question of "professionalism" and of the gate, but these seem to us to be points that are susceptible of very easy solution. It is absurd to question the amateur status of a player who draws no profit, direct or indirect, from any match that he plays, and no gentleman amateur would dream of exacting a charge or desire to do other than pay his own expenses if honoured by being selected to play against Miss Roberts. The gate proceeds would consequently be otherwise allocated as Miss Roberts's managers thought fit or were able to arrange with the hall proprietors, and that would be an end of the matter.
That such matches as we have suggested would attract the public—and especially ladies—can hardly be doubted.
In golf, croquet, and other games, ladies meet gentlemen and sometimes beat them. In all classes of healthful sport and pastime—except billiards—ladies and gentlemen are now constantly meeting in friendly but strenuous conflict.
Why should billiards be the sole pastime in which men and women do not meet in serious encounter or on anything like equal terms?