"FRUIT is in, cats is out," as Sam Weller observes. A hot and sultry August is not conducive to grand billiard matches, hot rooms with six burners have no attractions during really hot weather, and billiard players, when they do attempt an occasional game to keep off the ennui at a watering-place, wish themselves with Captain Webb in mid-channel before the game is half over. However, we are not quite destitute of billiard intelligence, and first in importance comes the result of the match between S. W. STANLEY AND F. BENNETT, FOR £200
We are glad to be able to announce that a satisfactory settlement has been made to the unpleasant result of this match, which, it will be remembered, was left unfinished, the game being Stanley, 907; Bennett, 782.
It appears that Bennett was persuaded by some of his backers to refuse to play the following day when so ordered by the referee. Bennett has, however, been since made alive to the folly of attempting to save a paltry stake by a dishonourable subterfuge. He has, however, made the amende honorable, and this disarms hostile criticism. F. Bennett is, however, a fine player, and we should think can have no difficulty in finding backers who will have equal regard to his honour as to their own pockets. Bennett has authorised the stakeholder to hand over the stakes to Stanley.
On the 7th of last month the Brothers Dion and W. Cook gave an entertainment at the Crystal Palace; but for some reason or other the whole affair was a miserable failure.
In the first game Cook received 250 in 500 from Cyril Dion at the four-ball American game; but, as we have before remarked,-the game is not worth playing, and a most uninteresting one to watch. Cook absolutely won by 31 points more than he received. A French game between the two Dions and some fancy shots concluded the exhibition.
We believe the Dion Brothers have left England. Their visit here was unfortunately extremely ill-timed.
It will always be a pleasing duty for us to notice the performances of young players whose feet are at present placed but low on the ladder of fame. In the match that took place between the above players on Friday, the 20th nit., at the Grapes, Little Windmill-street, Golden-square, Archdeacon had the advantage of having played several times in public before, and that too with players of such high class as Roberts, sen., and Louis Kilkenny. On the other hand, we believe that this was Hall's first attempt to play what may be called a real match.
The play commenced with great caution on both sides, ten strokes being played without a score, save from misses. Archdeacon was the first to score, and gradually got farther and farther away from his opponent. At the point, however, Archdeacon 127, Hall 85, the latter made a good break of 29; but his opponent soon after made a still better one of 35, including five spot hazards, and got still farther ahead. On Archdeacon's reaching 527 to Hall's 451, Hall made another plucky effort to win, but failed to score more than 37, Archdeacon ultimately winning easily by 121 points.
The game was carefully marked by W. Ward. The billiard saloon -at the Grapes has been opened only a short period, and is of good size, as it contains two tables.
There was a pretty fair attendance, but it was evident from the first that Hall was overmatched. Great allowance, however, should be made for those who are not used to play in public, and we should not be at all surprised to see Hall play much better on some other future occasion.