BILLIARDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 678, 16 April 1875, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

—o— Tho Saturday Review is particularly hard upon billiards. Speaking of tho young men of tho period, that journal says;— They acquire a passion for billiards. Now there is nothing wrong in this .game, it being essentially a scientific one, but it is not pleasant to reflect that in most largo towns tberojaro'inoro young 'men who know how to handle a cue than know how to talk and write their own language correctly, or are able to enumerate tho principal in English History. Moreover, the associations which surround,billiards, except in private houses, are by no means a satisfactory character, most billiard-rooms being frequented by a greater or less number of scoundrels, who fatten upon the follies of their brethern, and, the game leading to gambling, drinking, and, as playing in public, having a tendency to develop the worst traits in men’s characters.Apart from all this, billiard-rooms arc essentially unhealthy places, and consequently] their “habitues” are frequently injured physically and morally at the same time. The public-house has also beeome’a’popular place of resort of tho young of the present day, while theatres and music-halls are largely patronised. We are not among those who see nothing but wrong in these places. On the contrary, we are of opinion that they are of good service to the community, and that their influence is often healthy. But a man may havetoomuch’of thesortof. thing’ which they provide, and their most persistent patrons are apt to derive an amount of mischief from them which occasional T visitors are not likely to experience. Their constant supporters]are liabletto be brought in contact with company of a certain kind, and exposed to certain associations, and it must be remembered that no man is sufficiently strong to be systematically placed in the way of temptation, and to count on coming out of the ordeal perfectly scaithless.

The incumbents of the Rural Deanery of Oxford have issued a circular to their parishoners acknowledging with thankfullness the great improvement which has taken place of late years in the conduct of funerals and suggest further modifications. ' They suggest the abolition of scarf’and hatbands, and that only wooden coffins should be used and that some useful conveyance should be devised to supersede the cumbrous hearse and gloomy coaches and thus render the ceremony of a more hopeful'character.

Goldsmiths’ Work. The process of fine-art manufacture in this branch of trade is strikingly exemplified in a little work published by Mr. J. W. Benson, of No. 25, Old Bond-street, and of the City Steam Factory, 58 and CO Ludgate-hill, London. It is enriched and mbollished with designs, by Italian, French and English artistes, of brooches, bracelets ear-rings, and other articles, suitable for personal wear, or for wedding, birth-day, or other presents, with their prices. Mr Benson, who holds the appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, has also published a very interesting pamphlet on the Rise and Progress of Watchmaking. These pamphlets are sent, post free, for two stamps each, and they cannot bo too strongly recommended to those contemplaing a purchase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are thus enabled to select any article they may require, and have forwarded in perfect safety.

Holloway’s Ointment and Pills.— The most effectual cure tor Gout and Rheuraatism. A frequent cause of these complaints is in the inflammatory state of the blood, which usually attends bad digestion, producing lassitude and great debility, thereby indicating the want of a proper circulation of that fluid and the impurity of the blood thus induced greatly aggravates these disorders. Holloway’s Pills are of so purifying a nature, that a dose taken in time are an effectual preventive against gout and rheumatism, but whoever may have an attack of either should use Holloway’s Ointment also, the searching properties of which combined with the effects of the Pills, ensures a certain cure. The Ointment should at least twice a day be thoroughly rubbed into the parts affected after they have been sufficiently fomented with warm water to open the pores thereby facilitating atroluotion of the Ointment to the glands