THISLTEDOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1289, 12 November 1886, Page 3

THISLTEDOWN.

[By the Ciiiel.] No. Vf—BILLIARDS, Travel where we may, we are always sure to find some persons in such travels who ever fail to observe and give eredit for the phi I an thro pie and disinterested actions of certain other folk towards their fellows. Letapeison but disp'ay his interest in the general welfare of the community at large by forming a social club or instituting something of a kindred nature, or introducing something new into the district which is calculated to olease and prolit the m gority of the inhabitants, and the class of people whom we have referred to are uncharitable enough to attach in their ideas of the venture some raeicinary motive to the ac inn of the man. Knowing this, we were not therefore surprised wVen our friend Mr Carey (observing the scientiiio and social wants of a c rtaiu town in which we once live I) had a j billiard table erecte I for the especial b -no- j fit of the community, that his action was 1 regarded by some folks as anything but 1 what, he intended it should bp. It was but natural though that Mr Carey j should feel hurt at the cinstruction thus p it, upon his noble deed. When a man lavs out some scores of pounds of his hard" earned cash ju«t for the sake of fostering a stronger social feeling amnigst, his fellow citizens he hj :S a right to f’el keenly and : even to show bis resentment fof any re- ] maiks which may he made calculated in any avay to call into question his philanthropic action i But Mr Carey survived the first charge which experiences teaches us is generally I the most, severe, and as the talk was principally of the nine day .-wonder style, the uncharitable remaiks were a on foigotteu, i mid the business of the billiard table was j increasing daily. The saloon was in the main patronised by ] the male youth of the town, hut occasionI ally a person of liper years won'd drop in I just to show tin youngsters how to p ay. Sometimes though there would he something of special imp irtance on, and e try assembly of mixed aces, disposition, an I grad,s as players—butchers, bakers, blacksmiths, together with lawyers, bankers, and commission agents. On such an occasion as this we considered it worth while to look in on the performance. A couple of young fellow-, too large to be called beys, an I too young to be men, occupy the tabic. Young Basket is only learning, to I am informed ; he may make a player some- day ; more unlikely tilings than that have been known to happen, but in tbisgame he is pretty much at the mercy of his opponent, a young como, who can. if lie clmse, hold him very cheaply, lint he has a peculiar style of playing to suit himself, and wants watching, else you are likely to be deceived. He evidently wants to run up the other fellow’s nu-nier, but same of the number of nvsses to be counted against him are very harefac-'d indeed ; he com do better, and more than that, he knows it. Another game of interest was between a young groom and a banker’s clerk. They are about equally matched. Of course, like most of his calling, the groom can handle a billiard cue with dexterity, but young Cash, though the son of a clergyman, keeps good pace with him stroke after stroke. Ho has a peculiar graceful style of play, and maintains tho while an almo-t careless manner even at the mis; critical points, pulling vigorously at a huge cigar, anil freely passing remaiks concerning his opponent’s play, hut very reticent about his own. Tho groom shows more form, an 1 has an interest in the gaire which at times borders on excitement, and shows his weakness as Cash gradually draws ahead of him to such an extent as to cause bad play on his part. A game between the lawyer and tho bank manager follows this, in which bur legal friend proves himself ns good at billiard-playing as he is before the Court. The ba k manager, whom we will call Draft, makes his first 25 as a Iran neap, and he certainly needs it, and also lessons from his clerk in tho science of playing billiards. Probably the table is too 1 u-ge, for he evidently doesn’t see the balls, at least wc should imagine so, fur he doesn't hit frequently. The butcher and blacksmith try a game together—B ef against Iron—Bjef muuiug out 10 ahead on the 50. Usually there is little or no hotting done in the saloon, and as it is considered wrong to gamble folks only play for drinks—we have legal authmity for it that noih ng is I gambling in «hj ch the money is not s aked, consequently that may not be considered gambling. At this special season, though such a thing is not considered and wagers lost and won, and as freely laid against, and not so much on the merits of the players are they accepted as on tho odds offered on the ch mcc. i Drinks are paid for and drank with relish, and the blushing barmaid has no i great need to say, “And if yon have not i rung the bell don’t you think it’s time yon did ? ” for she is kept running to and fro on her errands, yon know, i 1 Thus in a little white wo pasa into tho

lidiouloua from the aoientifio, and from the interesting into the laughable, as four folks pretty well on arrange a game between them ana proceed to play. Whatever else we ■can stand, we can't stand tins at ail, and bidding adieu wo leave Mr Carey’s social assembly to laugh over tho foolish strokes and nonsense of these four last players.