Charles Dawson's reappearance in London reminds me that just before his retirement, some four years ago, I played the Yorkshireman six day games, and during that time Dawson mentioned some humorous reminiscences of his long career. Dawson told how, before he became a professional, he once won both the first and second prizes offered in a big Christmas handicap played at Huddersfield. Asked how he accomplished this apparently impossible feat, he explained it by saying he won the first prize, and the man who won the second sold it to someone who offered it as first prize in another handicap which he, Dawson, also won.
Dawson and Peall once got a week's engagement in Paris to play English billiards. Dawson told me he did not wish to play there any more. English billiards was too deadly dull for the excitement-loving French. The only thing they would look at was pyramid playing, for they could understand a ball being potted, and, besides, they could bet on the short games. So pyramids it had to be and two French bookmakers were installed, who quickly became more important personages than the players. Before each game the players had to wait whilst the two bookmakers invited the public to back M. Dawson or M. Peall.
As soon as all the money was got on, the game had to be played.
I think Dawson has played for more money in England than any living player, but he did not fancy the French style of betting, which treated the players much as though they were numbers in the game of rouge et noir.
A more kindly experience of Dawson's was at Harrogate, a place he was very fond of staying at. On one of his visits he strolled into the billiard room of the hotel he was staying in, and there encountered a party of five monks from one of the conventual establishments. One of them, not knowing Dawson, challenged him to a game. Dawson declined at first, but, on being pressed, offered to play all five of the holy fathers a 100 up level. These gentlemen, who were fair players, thought they would teach such a presumptuous player a lesson, so promptly took him at his word. All the five followed each other, and did their best to leave the balls, and only mustered 35 at the first attempt.
Dawson then just missed a cannon and the monks next, by more careful manipulation, took their total to 76, but left Dawson a good opening, which he utilized to get position for the "spot" stroke, from which he ran to game. On being told who Dawson was they were highly amused and delighted at what they evidently thought was a very good joke.