Billiard Law and Learning

• Probably the most noted literary reference to the game of Billiards occurs in "The Mikado," where it is proposed that billiard sharpers are made to play a never-ending game "on a cloth untrue" with cues more crooked than are to be found in the most provincial saloon, and with "elliptical billiard balls." This is done in order to carry out the author's plan to "make the punishment fit the crime." The late Sir W. S. Gilbert was evidently a player who appreciated the torture of playing with imperfect implements.
• No novel worthy of the name during the latter part of the 19th century was complete without either a billiard room scene or reference of some kind.
• To the billiardist himself perhaps the best-known literary reference to the game is the definition by Josh Billings, but I will not risk the popularity of this column by repeating it. By the way, the generality of dictionary definitions of the game are no more explanatory than the famous one above mentioned. Imagine the man who has never seen the game trying to build up in his mind a picture of a billiard table and other appurtenances from the following— "A game played on a rectangular table with small ivory balls, which the players aim to drive into pockets at the sides and corners of the tables by impelling one ball against another with maces or cues." When we are looking for competitions with handsome prizes for readers, the first must be for a comprehensive definition of Billiards limited to, say, 100 words.
• Talking of Dictionaries! Does any reader know of a dictionary of Billiard slang? Many words used in a Billiard room are not understandable by the uninitiated, and are yet quite good currency in the Billiard world. No covert reference to the special language Golf calls into requisition! Billiards does not require these aids to efficiency, and "Golfy" language only denotes the inexperienced cueist.
• The literature of Billiards, however extensive, is very incomplete. No really full and exhaustive Bibliography of the game is to be found in the libraries, and so far as I can find no Glossary devoted to Billiards is published. And now I suppose some enterprising reader will find an enterprising publisher and they will both make money out of my suggestions. Good luck to them—they will fill a "long felt want."
• Although the practice of the game has attained such a very high standard, the laws under which it is played are but imperfectly known. Doubtless within the experience of every player a dispute has arisen which no one has been able to definitely decide, or which has been decided one way by one expert and the reverse by another. How different in other games! Chess, for instance. Here no point can arise which is beyond the powers of the merest tyro to settle, as he has properly mastered the rules before learning the moves. In Billiards it is only one player in a hundred who knows the rules well enough to settle any point in dispute. The rules are certainly subject to occasional modification, but not on points which affect the average player, so there is no excuse for the very general lack of knowledge. A perfect knowledge of the rules governing the game should be possessed by every player, as although it may not necessarily tend to improve his play, it prevents error in many ways.
• Technical knowledge of the game—a full appreciation of the science of Billiards—is what is required to improve one's standard of play. This is most necessary at the "improving" stage. Many players never get beyond a certain point purely through lack of a little tuition on the more or less rudimentary points. Certain faults and failings are contracted which, never being corrected, develop into serious handicaps against improvement. Tuition is easily obtainable, and at comparatively small cost. To an extent even, it can be got from the text-books, but an occasional hour's chatty lesson from a professional will work wonders, especially if you make notes of your difficulties mean whiles and get his assistance on them. This is the] surest road to permanent success. You frequently hear it said of a man: "He knows the game thoroughly," and the method suggested is the way to make that knowledge yours.
• Billiards is admittedly one of the most popular games, but can any reader explain why it appears so seldom in "Who's Who?" Golf, Cricket, Tennis, etc., amongst our outdoor games. Chess and Cards amongst the indoor variety, but Billiards very seldom indeed. And yet a host of those whose names appear have billiard rooms in their houses, and many are doubtless accomplished players. With but few exceptions their clubs have well-appointed Billiard Rooms, which they frequently patronise, so that the almost total omission of this game from the favourite recreations seems inexplicable.
• It is only one of the many strange things brought to light by a dive into the 2,000 odd pages of the current edition of "Who's Who." if what it tells us is true some of these noted people have very strange forms of recreation. One noted divine gives as his only recreation "change of work." Although easily satisfied, I think a game of Billiards would do him a world of good. A well-known painter's recreation is given as "foreign travel." This is more reasonable, but I wonder whether he gets as much benefit out of half-an-hour's "foreign travel" as I do out of a hundred up!
• A CHESTNUT.—Scene: A provincial Billiard Room, where a game of Snooker is in progress. Spectator who has just arrived notices all the balls are of the same colour, and asks one of the players how they tell one colour from the other."Oh, we know 'em by their shapes," is the response of the habitué.
• Ferraro, the South African player who has been meeting our best men of late, aspires for honours in this country, and almost decided to come over this season. He is a player of no mean calibre.