I have now been in South Africa exactly a month, and in travelling up country from Cape Town to Johannesburg (where my present headquarters are) I spent some little time at Beaufort West, De Aar, Kimberley, and Barkley West. South Africa, is a most interesting country, with bits of scenery that awe and impress, but the railway journeys that have to be made tend to dampen one's enthusiasm. I like the country, but if I had to spend all my time on the railway track much of the scenic beauty would be lost on me.
It is the motor drives out from such places as Cape Town, Kimberley, and Johannesburg that afford the real pleasure so far as scenery is concerned, and the enjoyment is increased by the kindness of the residents to anyone and everyone from home. Entertaining visitors seems to have been elevated to a fine art out here, and most certainly my wife and I have so far had most pleasant experiences.
On my way up here (Johannesburg) the 1,000 and odd miles' railway journey from Cape Town was broken at Beaufort West, where I played Mr. Jack Scagell, the most prominent.local amateur, giving him 400 in 800. Playing my best game since leaving home, I ran to points in five breaks—115, 53, 171, 312, and 133 unfinished—the 312 being my best so far.
Going, on to De Aar, I had a fine welcome at the local Institute, where I conceded half the game of 800 to an amateur, and won easily, my breaks being 155, 149, and 116.
I also gave an exhibition at the De Aar Hotel at a five hours' notice. Again conceding 400 in 800, I won easily with breaks of 166, 151, and 115. My next appearance was at the leading club in Kimberley, where I again won at a difference of 400 in 800. Barkley West, the scene of my next adventure, is quite an interesting place, and its billiardists are enthusiasts, but, as with many of our billiard lovers at home, their talent hardly equals their liking for the game. Thus it was that I experienced little or no difficulty in conceding half the game to one or two of their best players. I had two more games at Kimberley before going on to Johannesburg, and it was nice to feel that I had given satisfaction, as was betokened by the very pressing invitations that were given me to revisit Kimberley when I had concluded my engagements at Johannesburg.
Here I found the billiards section of the community bubbling over with excitement. For almost the first time in their history two matches of first importance were proceeding almost next door to each other. Stevenson (giving 2,000 in 16,000) was playing Frank Ferraro, an ex-champion, and Cecil Harverson, the present South African champion, was engaging Clark McConachy, who is taking in South Africa on his way to England to enter for our next championship at home. Ferraro beat Stevenson by 2,232 (although the ex-English champion made a break of 510), and the New Zealander defeated Harverson in 16,000 up level by 1,008.
He plays very well all round the table, but has the red ball play to turn on if he is losing ground. His entry in the home championship will give a fillip to that event, but with ivory balls Willie Smith and Tom Newman will hold him safely enough. Ferraro is very good, and would be better if he devoted himself exclusively to the game. He runs a stud of racehorses, and is more keen on racing than on billiards. The more is the pity for South African billiards, as he is a very fine exponent of the game.
Cecil Harverson, his friends at home will be pleased to hear, wears well and retains much of his old-time ability. He runs a five-room house, and altogether his lines appear to be cast in pleasant places. I am engaged with Harverson just now, and so far I have made no impression on the allowance of 2,000 that I am conceding, but I hope to do myself justice before the end of the game. I have arranged to leave for home by the "Arundel Castle," which sails from Cape Town on August 5 or 6.