The standard of play of men in statu pupillari at either Oxford or Cambridge has never been very high for a variety of reasons. I propose to discuss these shortly. In my time, that is to say, some fifteen years ago, the "all in" game was in vogue, and I can well remember at least one break of well over a hundred made by a member of Jesus College in the annual inter-Varsity contest. The break was really a fine one, was made without the semblance of a fluke, and contained 27 consecutive spots. This, as compared with the mammoth breaks compiled by Peall and Dawson, sounds insignificant, but was by no means so if viewed in the light of former and also later achievements in these games. In those days it seemed to me that in any of the men regularly playing for the cue were considerably older than now, and this has, I think, a great deal to do with it. Nowadays, 18 is the general age of freshness, and many a man is a graduate almost as soon as he has reached his majority. Undergraduates, as a rule, do not take billiards seriously, they merely look upon it as a pastime to be indulged in when there is nothing else to do, when it is wet or in the evenings.
They are quite content to go on in the same old sweet way, never getting any better or worse, and not knowing or caring why. In the case of many men, their first introduction to a billiard table is made when they come up as freshers in the October term, and consequently they have to learn their billiards from their pals who in most cases do not make very efficient coaches.
It is a great pity that there are not one or two really good coaches, who would, for a moderate fee, give instruction in this, our king of indoor games. I can remember at least one marker who was a really good player. He was employed at Thurston's (no connection with the famous Billiard firm of that name) Rooms in Market passage. I used at one time to go in a lot with the idea of playing him and getting some hints. But I soon gave it up as a bad job.
There were five tables in the room, and he had to look after the lot, and his lot (no pun meant) was not a happy one, as he had to be here, there, and everywhere, so one got very little billiards out of him, and if it happened to be late in the evening he was generally too tired to care whether I did right or wrong. It was never a safe thing to bet Tommy—as he was called—-five shillings that he wouldn't pull out a 100 break in a game of 500-up, as he invariably did.
The 'Varsities are plentifully supplied with public Billiard Rooms, but in most of them the tables were of an indifferent sort, although the prices charged were high. This was necessary, I suppose, as undergraduates are only in residence for about six months in the year, and most of the rooms were closed, or did virtually nothing during the vacation. It is safe to assert that the majority of provincial towns, more especially those in the North of England and Scotland, are provided with much better tables than either Oxford or Cambridge. Soon after I came down Mr. J. P. Mannock, the great billiard coach, opened a very nice room indeed in Cambridge, but most unfortunately that was burnt down, and he, as far as I know, never rebuilt it.
It is a very great pity that 'Varsity Billiards has no organisation whatever. The College authorities take no interest in it, and the men themselves very little, probably from want of opportunity. The annual competition for "the cue" is arranged by one or other of the proprietors of one of the rooms, at least they were until quite recently, and the same remark applies in the inter-Varsity contests, themselves. Nearly every other sport is officially recognised, and there are inter-collegiate and other contests, consequently a man is keen on doing well, but with Billiards it is different. If only some body would promote games between the various Colleges, and each of the latter could have its own handicap or championship, an incalculable amount of good would be done. Every college has its own sports ground, reading and writing room, etc. Why not its own billiard room, where proper matches could be played?
In conclusion, may I express a hope that these few words may be the means of causing a start to be made, as I think that it would be very much welcomed, if only someone would take the initiative.