WHILST on the subject of billiards I may as well take the opportunity of protesting against the extremely objectionable practice that lately appears to be gaining ground, of announcing matches as being for money and other prizes, when such statements are utterly untrue. There were several matches played last year, ostensibly for stakes, which were in reality exhibition matches.
Sometimes it is the players who are guilty of these shabby deceits; sometimes a party in the background who engages the players pays them a stipulated sum for their services, and pockets the gate-money himself; at other times it is possible that there is some collusion between both parties. Nothing is more damaging to the true interests of sport than an atmosphere of lies, and it is most unjust to the public that it should be gulled by mendacious advertisements into paying a high admission fee to witness a match under the impression that it is for large sum of money, and that the players may be relied upon to do their best, when, indeed, the latter have not the slightest interest in it beyond that arising from professional pride.
A game between two clever manipulators—such, for instance, as any of the players have mentioned above—is always worth money to witness, and in any considerable community should always attract a fair gate. But under any circumstances devices such as these deserve to be severely denounced. It is not always practicable, or even safe, for a newspaper to expose these tricks, but if persisted in, it will be necessary to acquaint the public with the instances in which has been hoodwinked.—The Manchester Sporting Chronicle.