THERE'S an air (all connection with the popular saying of the day respectfully declined) of billiards about everybody I meet just now. The small talk of the saloons is wafted on the breeze. The hazards, winning and losing, the cannons and other indispensable factors to the game of all games come into conversation with the same facility that I miss them. Handicaps of all grades are now entering upon their initiation, and the tearing of the cloth is merrily proceeded with as another billiard season casts its spell upon mankind.
THEY seem to be getting a trifle too independent in America. It is said that in some saloons over there the following notice is placed in a prominent position:— "Masse-shot players are not wanted in this establishment. Live and let live!" There is a world of appeal in that last sentence which should melt the heart of the most hardened table denter.
IN this country, too, I am assured that one occasionally runs up against odd little restrictions in billiard rooms in remote corners of the provinces. One of the most striking of them is undoubtedly this:—"You are requested not to poke the fire with your cues!" How the spectatorate does enjoy a display of trick and fancy shots, to be sure. There certainly is an irresistible attraction about such exhibitions. We have some useful performers in this line among our professionals. The Continental and American professors, however, far outstrip us. They cultivate the art thoroughly. Our men are satisfied to give an occasional show only.
EUGENE CARTER, the American, who was over in 1895, was especially smart. He was a rattling good showman his dry little touches of humour never failing to please the crowd. Perhaps the chief feature of his entertainments was his hand-stroke displays. With a number of small ivory balls, which he termed "Carter's Little Liver Pills," he executed some amazing feats. His power over them was simply extraordinary.
ACCORDING to latest advices, we are to expect a visit in the near future from some of the tip-top trans-Atlantic cueists. The sooner the better, say I. For on their own tables they give such marvellous exhibitions, and bring to light some positively unheard of—from an English standpoint— strokes. Jacob Schaefer, "the wizard" of American billiards, is said to be a sure comer. He has not been in this country since 1892, when in company with the late Frank Ives.
BILLIARDS were first invented, says a facetious old authority, by a pawnbroker. About the middle of the sixteenth century there was one William Kew, a pawnbroker, who, during wet weather, was in the habit of taking down the three balls, and with the yard measure pushing them billiard fashion from the counter into the stalls. In time the idea of a board with side pockets suggested itself. A black letter MS. says:—''Master William Kew did make one boarde whereby a game is played with three balls, and all the young men were greatly recreated thereat, chiefly the young clergymen from St. Pawles, hence one of the strokes was named a canon, having been by one of ye said clergymen invented. This game is now known by ye name of Billyard, because William or Bill Kew did first playe with his yard measure. The stick is now called a kew or 'kue.' It is easy to comprehend how 'Billyard' has been modernised into Billiard, and the transformation of 'kew' or 'kue' into cue is equally apparent."