Some Reminiscences of Old-Time Players
With further reference to my early lessons in billiards, the severest thing that Mannock ever said to me in the course of a lesson was, "You are the best bad player I have ever seen." Now it was possible to twist this into a sort of a left-handed compliment, but there was no mistaking Bennett's opinion of my hopeless incapacity.
I ought to have mentioned that, directly Bennett had beaten Taylor for the championship, he was challenged by F. Shorter, who had recently returned to England after a tour in India. The final deposit of the stake money —£100 a-side—had to be made immediately before the match was started, but Shorter's backers left him in the lurch, and he was compelled to forfeit the money already staked.
This was decidedly awkward, as a good many people had paid to witness the battle, so, to make some amends to them, an off hand game was played. To the best of my memory, the champion conceded a start of 100 in 1,000, for £25 a-side, and Shorter won pretty easily It was very soon after this that Bennett met with his gig accident, and, although he occasionally played in public billiard matches, and, indeed, once more tackled Roberts for the championship, he was beaten by no fewer than 1,640 points in a game of 3,000 up, and never displayed anything like his old form.
This was in 1885, and, as he was very busily engaged in giving lessons, and in the management of the Oxford Club, which he had started some time previously, he wisely relinquished playing in public.
The Oxford Club, which I joined very soon after its formation, was situated close to Oxford Circus, and was subsequently acquired by the Salvation Army. During Bennett's occupation there were several billiard tables, including a championship one with three-inch pockets. On this I had many a game with William Mitchell, who used to give me 500 in 1,000. We always bet half-a-sovereign on the result, and there was very little in it in the long run. It was well worth the money to see the contempt with which Mitchell used to treat those cramped pockets. The style in which he used to dash the red ball into them at lightning speed, and from apparently impossible angles, was perfectly marvellous, and I have often wondered if the early champions would not have played better had they not allowed themselves to be so deeply impressed with the difficulties of the small pocket.
Mrs. Bennett—Joseph had married for the second time—was usually in evidence at the Club, in the management of which she took a large share, and I played many a hundred up with her in those days. Her great passion was for the stage, which her husband opposed for a long time, though he entirely altered his mind, and was very proud of her, when she attained the position of leading lady at the Surrey Theatre, where she was a great favourite with the public for many years.
I think that the Oxford Club must have paid pretty well. There was no fixed hour for closing, but the rule was that the charge for all drinks between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. was double the normal price, between 3 and 4 double, double, and so on for each hour on the " nails in the horse shoe" principle. There was quite a "tragedy" there soon after five o'clock one morning. Five of us were gathered round the bar, including the late "Pony" Moore, and it was decided to "sell the pony '' five times, for five rounds of drinks. This we did and, true to his nickname, Moore purchased the expensive animal every time! I have never had time to work out what twenty-five whiskeys and sodas, at "double, double, double, double, "must have amounted to, but I fancy that it would not be less than £7 10s.
The affection we both had for dogs was a mutual bond between Bennett and myself, and we never lost touch with each other. His death caused me very genuine sorrow, and I greatly prize his favourite cue, which his widow very kindly presented to me. It only weighs 14oz., and was sent to me with a silver plate on the butt inscribed," S. Dixon, Esq.— In memory of his dear old friend Joe Bennett."