Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1911 — HOPPE DENIES HIS RETIREMENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOPPE DENIES HIS RETIREMENT

Willie Hoppe, billiard champion of the world, and his bride of a few weeks were much excited the other day over a report that he had announced his retirement from the game because of the objections of his wife and father-in-law. The story was that Thomas W. Walsh, a wealth Baltimore dry goods manufacturer, with whose daughter Alice young Hoppe eloped in December, insisted on his son-in-law’s withdrawal from professional billiards to go into the dry goods business' and that the champion of the cue intended giving up the game. “It’s all nonsense,” said Hoppe. “Neither my wife nor my father-in-law objects to billiards. Why, I couldn’t make a living any other way. Dry goods? Why, I don’t know a bale of cloth from an aeroplane. “The way the story started, I guess, was when I told my manager that I wouldn't play any more one-night stande# I’ve been on the jump playing these engagements for nearly a month since our marriage, and naturally Mrs. Hoppe doesn’t like it. I’ll continue to accept engagements outside of New York, of course, but I will not go oh the road for an extended trip. We are going to Europe in a month or two, and I expect to play a series of matches with the French champions, Vignaux, Cure, Cassignol and Addorgan.” Hoppe was born Oct. 11, 1887, in Cornwall on the Hudson. His father conducted a hotel there and the. usual billiard room was a prominent adjunct in the hostelry. When a mere child, Willie and his brother Frank delighted in spending their play time at the pool table and it was not long before both of them could pocket all

the fifteen balls without a miss. Their skill soon reached the ears of the billiard and pool world and invitations to play exhibition games were extended to them from all parts of the country. » Frank developed a left handed stroke, while Willie worked right handed. Their father and mother also accompanied the youngsters on all their trips and gave exhibitions of billiard playing. At the age of 6 years", Willie was allowed to play with the billiard ivories and he developed so rapidly that to those who witnessed his playing it was only a 'question of time when he would be the world's master. His rise in the billiard world tyas not only rapid, but almost phenomenal. No man, not even the renowned Ives, showed such skill in the manipulations of the balls, the accuracy of his drive shofs, and such perfect knowledge of the angles. His playing was watched closely by all the old time champions. Schaefer, who was known as the "wizard” was practically the first to see the gTeat future in Willie and obtained the consent of his parents to allow the youngster to accompany him on his tours. Hoppe attributes his success to close application to practice, regular living, going to sleep and rising as early as possible. He is fond of long walks, which he takes every day in all sorts of weather, after which he will spend several hours in practice. His advice to all players who desire to improve their game, is to take a few lessons from some good instructor. The fundamental principles must be learned in order to develop; the rest will then take care of itself with practice.

Willie Hoppe, Champion Billiardist.