The character of an age or a country is to be seen not only in its pursuits, but also in its pleasures. A national pastime is a good test of the national spirit genius, or disposition. The progress of a people, moreover, may be gauged not only by their advancement in art and science, but equally by the kind and quality of their amusements. I need only call to your mind the Spanish bull-fight to place before you at once a country -which lags far behind its European neighbours in the inarch of civilisation. That brutal and brutalising amusement is alone sufficient to indicate the rank and position, of Spain in the social and political economy of the world., There was a time when our own country occupied a similar position—when bear-baiting and cockfighting were our national recreations—and you need only open the page of history to discover that these cruel sports were indicative of the character and disposition of the time—a time when property was less secure and life less sacred—and not only were animals oppressed and tortured, but man was less just to his brother man. Thanks to the beneficent influences of education and culture, the sight of misery can no longer awaken our pleasurable emotions, nor butchery in any form make an English holiday; and if, on the turf, we still "delight in the strength of. the-Horse," yet we justify our pleasure and reconcile it with ourselves by the reflection that he is the object of incredible attentions, and that this is but his annual payment for food^and lodging, care and kindness, to which his hardier brethren are total strangers.
Now we think we may fairly claim for BILLIARDS a high position as a national pastime. That it is a national pastime we have no hesitation in asserting, honoured as it has. been by the presence of Royalty, and graced with the smiles of the noblest and fairest of the land. Of its champions may be said what Milton said of the knights of old in the gorgeous tournament—
And we contend, moreover, that it is a pastime worthy of the nation—worthy of its refinement and progress—a pastime that indicates its culture, and tends to increase the culture which adopted it—a pastime that combines science with pleasure, intellectual perception with manipulative skill, that imposes temperance and moderation on its professors, and exacts from them judgment, knowledge, and precision, with other highly intellectual qualities ; a pastime, therefore, only for gentlemen— understanding that word in its literal signification of men who are distinguished by high breeding—the opposite, in short, of the brutal and vulgar.
Nor let it be forgotten that it has elevated its surroundings, and created for itself a purer atmosphere. A few years ago a game of billiards was not considered respectable, and the presence of ladies was out of the question. And why ? Because the game itself was degrading ? Nothing of the sort ; but because the players were disreputable. The evil was riot in the thing but in the men. .But, like all good things, it gradually gathered to itself its own company—attracted the purer elements of society, asserted its blameless character, and achieved a position as an intellectual and elevating amusement, until it became, what it is to-day, the favourite diversion of every gentleman of social influence or educated taste. Nor do I think I shall prove wrong if I predict for it a permanent existence as a national institution. For it has an advantage which we, as Englishmen, cannot afford to despise. It is independent of those vicissitudes of the weather which so often spoil our cricket matches and other national sports. In this variable climate it is no small gain to possess a pastime which may be called weather-proof and perennial—a pastime that combines the advantages of both chess and cricket—provides at once the intellectual entertainment of the one and the physical exercise of the other—and these independently of the caprices of the weather or the changes of the season. This fact alone must go a long way to ensure its position as the GREAT NATIONAL PASTIME OF THE FUTURE.