AT last there is a prospect of some activity in billiard circles. We publish this week a challenge from Cyrille Dion to Maurice Daly, the present holder of the champion medal. This sets the ball in motion, and now we hope there will be a steady stream of first-class matches.
It is full time that the billiard experts in this city awoke from their long sleep, and got to work. A champion game between such experts as Daly and Dion will create much excitement throughout billiard circles. They are old time opponents, and both of unexceptionable skill.
Izar is creating quite a furore wherever he goes. He is now doing the Eastern cities, and the "Hub," judging from its "dailies," is very cordial in its reception of the finger expert. His seances are crowded, and his shots greatly applauded. The fever of finger playing seems to be spreading everywhere, and bids fair to blossom into a perfect epidemic. One advantage, if no other, it will accomplish, and that is, it will develop the muscles of the hand and wrist, and if it does become general we shall have literally strong-fisted youths. As a variety of the regular game of billiards, it is pleasing, and serves as a dessert, or perhaps still better, as an appetiser.
Once become a good finger manipulator and our American youths would at once strive to grasp the game with the cue. With the French it is different, for they seem content to excel in one branch, and do not attempt to compass all. Izar, with the cue, is only a medium player; no one knows the angles more perfectly than he, yet he is satisfied to hold the position of champion fingerplayer, and entirely neglects practising the full game of billiards. We are glad to chronicle Izar's success, for he is worthy of it all. He holds himself in readiness to play any one who desires to test his claim to the championship, but says that no challenge will be noticed unless accompanied with a forfeit.
This celebrated campion finger player of the world gave four entertainments at the Woodlawn Billiard Parlour, Sixth Avenue, on Oct. 20, 21, 22, and 23.
M. Izar had crowded audiences at each entertainment. He played each evening against several gentlemen amateurs at once and won all the games. M. Izar also showed his brilliant exhibitions of fancy shots with, fingers and with cue, which were much applauded. The proprietors, however, failed to keep their contract with him, and paid him but half the amount agreed upon. We fear that M. Izar, if he meets many such experiences, will not hold his former high opinion of this country.
Our visitor plays this week at several clubs in this city and Brooklyn, and on Monday at Stamford, Conn.
Another unfortunate thing happened to Izar on Tuesday evening. He dropped into the Columbia Billiard Hall, on Broadway, with a friend to show a few shots. He thew his overcoat on a table, and played on the adjoining table about three minutes. In this short time a sneak thief had vamoosed with his overcoat, which was an expensive one. A handsome revolver with a number of letters were in the pocket of the coat, but not a trace was left. Truly, Izar seems of late to have fallen into the hands of the Philistines. The habitues of the Columbia would have done a handsome thing had they at once made up Izar's loss by subscription.