,the ,badminton ,library ,,of ,,sports ,,and ,,pastimes ,,edited ,,by ,,his ,,grace ,,the ,,duke ,,of ,,beaufort1 ,k4,g4 ,,assisted ,,by ,,alfred ,e4 ,t4 ,,watson ,,billiards ,illustration3 ,a ,,screw ,,losing ,,hazard4 ,,billiards ,,by ,,major ,w4 ,,broadfoot1 ,r4,e4 ,,with ,,contributions ,,by ,a4 ,h4 ,,boyd1 ,,sydenham ,,dixon1 ,w4 ,j4 ,,ford1 ,,dudley ,d4 ,,pontifex1 ,,russell ,d4 ,,walker1 ,,reginald ,h4 ,r4 ,,rimington-,,wilson ,illustration ,,illustrated by ,,lucien ,,davies1 ,r4,i41 and from ,,photographs also by numerous ,diagrams and ,figures ,,longmans1 ,,green1 ,,and ,,co4 ,,london ,,and ,,bombay #ahif ,all rights reserved ,,dedication ,,to ,h4,r4,h4 ,,the ,,prince ,,of ,,wales ,,badminton3 ,may #ahhe4 ,having received permission to dedicate these volumes1 the ,,badminton ,,library of ,,sports and ,,pastimes1 to ,,his ,,royal ,,highness ,,the ,,prince ,,of ,,wales ,i do so feeling that ,i am dedicating them to one of the best and keenest sportsmen of our time4 ,i can say1 from personal observation1 that there is no man who can extricate himself from a bustling and pushing crowd of horsemen1 when a fox breaks covert1 more dexterously and quickly than ,his ,royal ,highness2 and that when hounds run hard over a big country1 no man can take a line of his own and live with them better4 ,also1 when the wind has been blowing hard1 often have ,i seen ,his ,royal ,highness knocking over driven grouse and partridges and high-rocketing pheasants in first-rate workmanlike style4 ,he is held to be a good yachtsman1 and as ,commodore of the ,royal ,yacht ,squadron is looked up to by those who love that pleasant and exhilarating pastime4 ,his encouragement of racing is well known1 and his attendance at the ,university1 ,public ,school1 and other important ,matches testifies to his being1 like most ,english gentlemen1 fond of all manly sports4 ,i consider it a great privilege to be allowed to dedicate these volumes to so eminent a sportsman as ,his ,royal ,highness the ,prince of ,wales1 and ,i do so with sincere feelings of respect and esteem and loyal devotion4 ,,beaufort4 ,illustration3 ,,badminton ,,preface ,a few lines only are necessary to explain the object with which these volumes are put forth4 ,there is no modern encyclopdia to which the inexperienced man1 who seeks guidance in the practice of the various ,british ,sports and ,pastimes1 can turn for information4 ,some books there are on ,hunting1 some on ,racing1 some on ,lawn ,tennis1 some on ,fishing1 and so on2 but one ,library1 or succession of volumes1 which treats of the ,sports and ,pastimes indulged in by ,englishmen--and women--is wanting4 ,the ,badminton ,library is offered to supply the want4 ,of the imperfections which must be found in the execution of such a design we are conscious4 ,experts often differ4 ,but this we may say1 that those who are seeking for knowledge on any of the subjects dealt with will find the results of many years' experience written by men who are in every case adepts at the ,sport or ,pastime of which they write4 ,it is to point the way to success to those who are ignorant of the sciences they aspire to master1 and who have no friend to help or coach them1 that these volumes are written4 ,to those who have worked hard to place simply and clearly before the reader that which he will find within1 the best thanks of the ,editor are due4 ,that it has been no slight labour to supervise all that has been written1 he must acknowledge2 but it has been a labour of love1 and very much lightened by the courtesy of the ,publisher1 by the unflinching1 indefatigable assistance of the ,sub-,editor1 and by the intelligent and able arrangement of each subject by the various writers1 who are so thoroughly masters of the subjects of which they treat4 ,the reward we all hope to reap is that our work may prove useful to this and future generations4 ,,the ,,editor4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,,page ,,introduction #a ,i4 ,,history ,,of ,,billiards #f ,by ,sydenham ,dixon4 ,,ii4 ,,implements #ee ,by ,archibald ,boyd4 ,,iii4 ,,elementary3 ,,one-,,ball ,,practice #ajd ,with ,memorandum by ,dudley ,d4 ,pontifex4 ,,iv4 ,,motion1 ,,impact1 ,,and ,,division ,,of ,,balls3 ,,two-,,ball ,,practice #acj ,v4 ,,plain ,,strokes1 ,,winning ,,and ,,losing ,,hazards1 ,,cannons3 ,,three-,,ball ,,practice #adb ,,vi4 ,,on ,,the ,,rotation ,,of ,,balls #ahi ,,vii4 ,,miscellaneous ,,strokes #bae ,,viii4 ,,the ,,spot ,,stroke #bfd ,,ix4 ,,safety ,,and ,,baulk ,,play #bhc ,x4 ,,breaks #cjj ,with ,memoranda by ,archibald ,boyd and ,r4 ,h4 ,r4 ,rimington-,wilson4 ,,xi4 ,,the ,,championship ,,and ,,the ,,three-,,inch ,,pocket ,,table #cfb ,with ,memorandum by ,russell ,d4 ,walker ,,xii4 ,,the ,,rules ,,of ,,the ,,game ,,of ,,billiards #cgd ,,xiii4 ,,pyramids1 ,,pool1 ,,and ,,country-,,house ,,games #chg ,by ,w4,j4 ,ford ,,xiv4 ,,miscellaneous ,,notes #dcf ,,index #ddg ,,illustrations 7,,reproduced ,,by ,,the ,,swan ,,electric ,,engraving ,,co42 ,,walker ,,boutall2 ,p4 ,,naumann1 ,,and ,g4 ,h4 ,,ford7 ,,plates ,,artist ,a ,,screw ,,loser ,lucien ,davis4 ,frontispiece ,,choosing ,a ,,cue ,to face p4 #dh ,,preliminaries #ajh ,,opening ,,the ,,game #acc ,a ,,disputed ,,score #adh ,,in ,,or ,,out ,,of ,,baulk #aij ,,the ,,long ,,rest #bfd ,a ,,serious ,,game3 ,,nursing ,,the ,,balls #cjj ,a ,,difficult ,,stroke #cfb ,,are ,,they ,,touching #chf ,a ,,ladies' ,,battle #ddj ,,illustrations ,,in ,,text ,,page ,,mr4 ,,samson',s ,,sections ,,of ,a ,,billiard-,,room #fd1 #fe ,,an ,,outside ,,billiard-,,room #ajc ,,stringing4 #ajf ,,an ,,easy ,,attitude #ajg ,,the ,,bridge #aji ,,using ,,the ,,rest #aac ,,the ,,bridge 7boucle7 #abi ,,instead ,,of ,,long ,,rest #adh ,,high ,,bridge ,,for ,a ,,cramped ,,stroke #ahh ,a ,,push ,,stroke #bbe ,a ,,push 7boucle7 #bcb ,,the ,,leap ,,or ,,jump ,,stroke #beb ,,when ,,player',s ,,ball ,,is ,,near ,a ,,cushion #bfc ,,preparing ,,to ,,play ,,behind ,,the ,,back3 the right way #cad ,,preparing ,,to ,,play ,,behind ,,the ,,back3 the wrong way #cbd ,a ,,nursery #cdi ,,playing ,,behind ,,the ,,back #cfj ,a ,,winning ,,game #dcg ,,billiards ,,introduction ,justification for the appearance of a volume on the game of billiards as it is played early in #ahif is ample1 for no treatise or manual exists in which modern developments are considered4 ,though this is so1 it does not follow that the instruction in older works is unsound2 much may be learnt from some of them1 specially about plain practice strokes1 but the science of playing breaks has been completely changed since they were published4 ,if1 however1 further warrant were needed1 it is supplied in the neglect of most players1 whether professional or amateur1 of elementary facts concerning the motion of balls on a table2 and this1 though ameliorated as regards professional players by constant practice and observation1 obstructs both classes more than they think in the race for distinction4 ,the best ,french players1 from whom we have much to learn1 recognise that the closer and more intelligent the study of the game1 and the more nearly the implements reach perfection1 the nearer do scientific theory and actual practice conform4 ,hence in this book considerable space is devoted to matters which may seem elementary and self-evident1 but which are really the bases of sound knowledge1 and of which amateurs 7for whom the volume is primarily written7 are for the most part completely ignorant4 ,when the behaviour of a ball under various influences is described endeavour is made to use the simplest language2 mathematical terms not generally understood are as far as possible avoided4 ,several matters of importance to the game and in need of reform are discussed1 the opinions of experts1 amateur and professional1 being occasionally quoted2 sometimes opposite views are stated1 and efforts are made to consider duly those of all shades4 ,it is usual1 and most of the contributors have not failed to conform to the fashion1 to insist on the fact that more can be learnt from a player in an hour than from a book in a year1 that an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory1 or some similarly original sentiment4 ,certainly no man can be made a billiard-player solely by the study of books any more than skill in shooting1 fishing1 or other sport1 can be so attained2 but much may be learnt from a good manual1 both by a beginner and by his instructor4 ,by conforming to the arrangement of a book a system of teaching will be followed1 and this1 if sound1 must help master and pupil4 ,the amateur who has played for years and acquired a bad style is more difficult to assist2 he is apt to find1 whilst trying to correct faults and to play breaks1 that he has lost his old certainty1 and scores worse after than before instruction--a result which causes many to lose heart4 ,but there is no need to do so2 the chance of improvement depends greatly on modesty and perseverance1 whilst the case is hopeless in proportion to the presence of presumption and conceit4 ,some give in at this stage and revert to their former methods1 others more resolute persevere and improve2 but it is hoped that both classes will find this book of service4 ,those who devote their whole attention to making the immediate stroke will be assisted by the practice recommended2 whilst the more ambitious will find advice which may in time enable them to play real breaks and thus derive fresh pleasure from the game4 ,personal qualifications have so important an influence in billiards1 that too precise definition of the stroke to be played for is avoided4 ,what is the game for one person is not necessarily the game for another1 and each must use his own discretion4 ,the qualities usually found in fine players are good nerve1 quick and sound judgment1 resolution1 and temper under control1 accompanied by fair sight1 a fine touch1 and sympathy between eye and hand4 ,of these some are the gifts of nature and cannot be acquired2 others may be improved by careful training4 ,nerve is little understood1 but is strengthened by gaining certainty of play1 which creates confidence2 yet there is always that which we cannot explain1 but may call the #8personal equation4' ,it is perplexing1 but must not be ignored1 and persons of the most slender experience will admit that they play better with one man than with another1 though they cannot always account for the fact4 ,much care and time have been spent on the diagrams and figures1 but absolute accuracy is not to be expected2 indeed1 it cannot be attained1 for the size of the table must be limited by that of a page1 whilst for the sake of clearness the balls are shown on a larger scale1 a consequence being some imperfection in the delineation of their indicated paths4 ,in the final chapter many matters connected with billiards are briefly noticed1 amongst which are3 the suitability of the game for ladies2 the ,french or cannon game1 which possesses advantages on account of the smaller size of table on which it is played2 and the duties of marker and referee4 ,the observations about etiquette are specially commended to the careful consideration of readers4 ,it is beyond doubt that the vastly inferior play of amateurs compared with professionals is in no small measure owing to laxity in behaviour1 whereby attention is distracted from the game4 ,if billiards is ever to be played finely in ordinary clubs1 as strict order must be maintained as is usual in the card-room4 ,obligations must be expressed to ,mr4 ,boyd1 ,colonel ,allan ,cunningham1 ,r4,e41 ,mr4 ,dudley ,pontifex1 and ,mr4 ,russell ,walker for assistance in various ways2 and to ,m4 ,vignaux1 whose admirable manual of the ,french game has been of special service4 ,to a less extent the volume is indebted to the works of ,joseph ,bennett and of other players2 but beyond all it owes much of whatever merit it may have to the assistance and advice of ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,r4 ,rimington-,wilson4 ,it is indeed impossible to overestimate the value of this aid1 for his knowledge of the game and practical skill are united to a singularly sound judgment1 and his help is enhanced by the kindness and courtesy with which it has invariably been accompanied4 ,acknowledgment is further due to ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts and ,messrs4 ,peall and ,walder for practical help of great value4 ,the preparation of this manual was a difficult task which the writer would not have attempted without the co-operation just acknowledged2 and readers are besought to recollect1 if disposed to resent an air of authority in giving advice1 or a too evident want of respect for their knowledge and skill1 that on every question of importance the recorded conclusions are the result rather of careful consideration by experts than an expression of personal opinion4 ,passing on from these preliminary observations and acknowledgments1 it should be at once said that no laborious compilation of the results of research is here given on the subject of the origin of the game of billiards1 for the reason that this is obscure in the extreme4 ,many attempts have been made to trace its ancient history1 but little success has resulted4 ,in most books about it1 reference is made to the well-known quotations from ,spenser and ,shakespeare2 whilst in #8,modern ,billiards1' the ,american text-book1 the historian plunges deeper into the mystery of the past1 and tells how ,cathire ,more1 ,king of ,ireland1 who died ,a4,d4 #adh1 left #8fifty billiard balls of brass1 with the pools and cues of the same materials4' ,besides this1 he refers to #8the travels of ,anacharsis through ,greece1 #djj ,b4,c41' during which a game which might have been early billiards was seen4 ,we may1 perhaps1 safely assume that the game is of considerable antiquity1 a development from some primitive form played with balls on the ground4 ,it may1 therefore1 have been evolved simultaneously in many countries1 and have assumed minor differences as it grew older4 ,then1 as intercourse became easier1 one country may have borrowed from another what was thought desirable1 with the general result that the similarities of the games of various countries are greater than the differences4 ,undoubtedly1 in #ahif the two great games are the ,english and the ,french1 and each is indebted to the other4 ,from the lawn or courtyard the game was promoted to a table indoors1 the bed was wooden1 the cushions were stuffed with cotton1 and there were pockets4 ,the balls1 of ivory or of wood1 were propelled by wooden maces tipped with ivory1 silver1 or brass4 ,such a table is depicted in #8,the ,compleat ,gamester1' by ,charles ,cotton 7#afgd74 ,improvement for a long time after this date seems slow to those who contrast the strides made during the last half of the nineteenth century4 ,the first step of importance was the substitution of the cue for the mace1 and the invention of the leather tip by ,mingaud1 a ,french player1 who early in the century was1 it is said1 imprisoned for a political offence1 and during his imprisonment made the important discovery4 ,next came the application of chalk1 with which ,carr1 who had some title to be called the first champion player of ,england1 is generally credited4 ,he was1 moreover1 a player of the spot stroke1 in those days 7about #ahbe7 probably a recent invention4 ,position was maintained by a screw back or by follow1 as the slow cushions did not admit of use after the modern manner4 ,carr is referred to in the following chapter4 ,,chapter ,i ,,history ,,of ,,billiards ,,by ,,sydenham ,,dixon ,just as there were #8brave men before ,agamemnon1' so1 doubtless1 were there good billiard-players prior to ,kentfield2 but we hear very little about them4 ,one of the few whose name has been handed down to posterity is ,john--generally known as ,jack--,carr4 ,he was originally marker for ,mr4 ,bartley1 the proprietor of the billiard-tables at the ,upper ,rooms at ,bath4 ,when business there was slack1 ,mr4 ,bartley and ,carr used occasionally to amuse themselves by placing the red ball on the centre spot1 and attempting to screw off it into one of the middle pockets without bringing the red ball back into baulk4 ,such a stroke would be easier under the conditions then existing of slow list cushions and rough baize cloths than it is now1 and for a long time ,mr4 ,bartley was the only person who could accomplish it4 ,at last he confided to ,carr that he did it by striking his own ball upon its side4 ,it seems pretty clear1 therefore1 that ,mr4 ,bartley was the inventor of the side stroke and screw2 but he appears to have made very little practical use of his great discovery2 whereas ,carr1 who soon outstripped his instructor in proficiency at this particular stroke1 turned his knowledge to excellent account1 and fairly astonished and mystified the frequenters of the billiard-room at ,bath by the ease and certainty with which he brought off apparently impossible strokes4 ,they were naturally anxious to learn the secret1 and1 after ,carr had artfully roused their curiosity to its highest pitch by remaining obstinately silent on the subject for a considerable time1 he gravely informed them that his wonderful powers were entirely due to the use of a certain #8twisting chalk' that he had recently invented1 and had then on sale4 ,the demand for small pill-boxes filled with powdered chalk at half a crown per box was naturally enormous1 and for a long time the wily marker reaped a rare harvest4 ,if1 as some have supposed1 this was the first introduction of the custom of chalking the tip of a cue1 the half-crowns were well invested2 but1 unfortunately1 the weight of evidence goes to show that chalk had been in common use for this purpose for some time prior to ,carr's smart stroke of business1 and that he economically filled his valuable pill-boxes by grinding up some of the chalk provided by ,mr4 ,bartley for the use of his customers4 ,what with the brisk sale of the famous #8twisting chalk1' and the immense advantage that his knowledge of the power of screw gave him over all rivals1 ,carr must have been making a great deal of money about this time4 ,unhappily for his own prosperity1 however1 he was a desperate and confirmed gambler1 and all that he made out of ivory in one form was lost through ivory in another4 ,he never could resist #8flirting with the elephant's tooth1' and every shilling that he made was promptly lost at hazard4 ,at last1 fairly tired out by incessant losses scarcely broken by a single run of luck1 and discontented with circumstances immediately connected with his professional pursuits1 he determined to leave ,england and try his fortune in ,spain4 ,it might have been imagined that the latter country would have proved anything but a happy hunting-ground1 and that the ,dons1 on falling victims to ,carr's powers of screw1 might have taken it into their heads to lay down their cues and to finish the game with knives4 ,however1 the ,bath marker was evidently an excellent man of business1 and the ,spanish billiard-rooms proved veritable ,el ,dorados to him4 ,he made a tour of the principal towns1 and succeeded in easily beating everyone with whom he played4 ,the feats he performed by means of the #8side twist'--as the screw stroke was formerly termed--amazed all who saw him play1 and he managed to amass a considerable sum4 ,still1 the old passion was as strong as ever1 and once more proved his downfall4 ,spain was even more amply furnished with gambling-houses than ,england1 and1 as ,carr's usual ill luck pursued him1 all his doubloons vanished even more rapidly than they had been acquired2 he was compelled to return home1 and finally landed at ,portsmouth almost in rags4 #8,whether'--to use ,mr4 ,mardon's own words1 and it is to his excellent book that ,i am indebted for much of my information as to these early exponents of the game--#8players of those days were less particular than persons of the present period is not for me to determine2 but it is no less strange than true that1 even in so deplorable a garb1 he no sooner made his appearance at the billiard-table than he met with a gentleman willing to contend4' ,in the #8gentleman willing to contend1' ,carr1 in his hour of direst need1 must have found a very foolish person1 for no man of average sense would have lost seventy pounds to an individual whose appearance loudly proclaimed that he did not possess the same number of pence1 and who1 therefore1 could not possibly have paid had the issue of the games gone the other way4 ,the dnouement of this little episode fully confirms this idea4 ,quitting the room with the money in his pocket1 ,carr immediately proceeded to get himself fully rigged out in #8a blue coat1 yellow waistcoat1 drab small-clothes1 and top-boots4' ,a little advice from the local ,polonius was evidently sadly needed2 the attire was probably #8costly' and may have been #8rich1' but it was certainly #8express'd in fancy1' and decidedly #8gaudy4' ,arrayed in all this magnificence1 ,carr paid another visit to the same billiard-room on the following day1 when he again encountered his victim4 ,the latter being1 according to ,mr4 ,mardon1 #8a fine player and devoted to the game1' lost no time in challenging the stranger to play4 ,this match naturally resulted as the other had done1 and ,carr again won a considerable sum4 ,when play was over the gentleman remarked that #8he was truly unfortunate in having met with1 on succeeding days1 two persons capable of giving him so severe a dressing4 ,carr1 making himself known1 thanked the gentleman for the metamorphosis his money had occasioned1 and wished him a good morning4' ,in #ahbe1 ,carr played a match against #8the ,cork ,marker1' at the ,four ,nations ,hotel1 in the ,opera ,colonnade4 ,the latter was considered a very fine player in his day1 and it is curious that no one seems to have known his name1 for he is invariably alluded to under this somewhat vague designation4 ,they played three games of #ajj up1 and1 although ,carr won all three1 he was evidently encountering a foeman worthy of his steel1 as #8the ,cork ,marker' reached #ib in the first game1 and #ge in the third4 ,in the second1 however1 he only got to #di1 as ,carr suddenly astonished the spectators by making twenty-two consecutive spot strokes4 ,this was naturally considered a most extraordinary feat1 and1 as an offer was at once made to back ,carr against all comers for a hundred guineas a-side1 he can fairly lay claim to being considered the first champion of billiards1 or1 at any rate1 the first whose claim to the title rests upon anything like a solid foundation4 ,pierce ,egan1 in his #8,annals of ,sporting and ,fancy ,gazette1' writes of him as the #8father of the side stroke2' and though1 as ,i have previously narrated1 ,mr4 ,bartley was the discoverer of the stroke1 ,carr was undoubtedly the first man who realised its importance and turned it to practical account4 ,i have been unable to satisfy myself whether ,bedford and ,pratt1 two fine players who flourished in the first half of the present century1 were contemporaries of ,carr1 or belonged to a somewhat later period2 this1 however1 is a matter of small consequence4 ,according to ,mr4 ,mardon1 #8each was celebrated for quietude of demeanour and elegance of style1' and ,bedford was #8graceful and unassuming1 excelling in winning hazards1 whilst all strokes8 are made without apparent effort2' his best break was #aei4 ,the same author gives the following amusing anecdote of ,pratt1 which will well bear repetition3 ,one evening1 when most persons were enjoying their claret by the fireside1 a gentleman presented himself in the billiard-room1 where ,pratt was seated alone4 ,to a request whether he was desirous of playing1 he replied in the affirmative4 ,the lights were placed1 and the parties took their stations at the table4 #8,what game1 sir1 would you wish to play8' #8,i will play1' replied the stranger1 #8the game of #ajj up2 and1 as it is my desire that you should be rewarded for your trouble1 ,i will play for sixpence6' ,the game commenced2 and1 after the gentleman had once or twice struck the balls1 he left his opponent's ball near the red1 which1 fortunately for ,pratt1 being on the spot1 he continued to hole in the two corner pockets four-and-thirty times1 beating his liberal antagonist a love game1 #ajj up6 ,to return1 however1 to ,carr4 ,his challenge was soon taken up by ,edwin ,kentfield1 of ,brighton 7better known as ,jonathan72 but ,carr fell ill1 and the proposed match never came off4 ,kentfield then assumed the title of champion1 his claim to which was not disputed for four-and-twenty years4 ,there is no doubt that ,edwin ,kentfield1 who died in #ahgc1 was very superior to most of his profession4 ,he was a man of refined tastes1 passionately devoted to horticulture1 with which he was thoroughly conversant1 and he had the shrewdness to see that the tables and all the accessories of the game which were in use when he began to play were very crude and imperfect1 the tables having list cushions1 wooden beds1 and coarse baize coverings4 ,he spent many years in improving tables1 cushions1 balls1 cues1 c41 and1 thanks to his energy1 and to the acumen of ,mr4 ,john ,thurston--the founder of the present well-known firm of billiard-table makers1 who thoroughly believed in ,kentfield1 and was always ready to support his views and carry out his suggested improvements--the old order of things was gradually superseded by rubber cushions1 slate beds1 and fine cloths4 ,all the newest improvements were naturally to be found in ,kentfield's ,subscription ,rooms at ,brighton1 the appointments of which were wonderfully perfect1 considering the date4 ,in #ahci he published #8,the ,game of ,billiards3 ,scientifically ,explained and ,practically ,set ,forth1 in a ,series of ,novel and ,extraordinary1 but ,equally ,practical1 ,strokes4' ,in his well-written and modest preface1 ,kentfield alludes to the #8many alterations and improvements that have been successfully introduced1 and which have so greatly contributed to the state of perfection to which this noble amusement has at length arrived4' ,compared with the tables that were in vogue before ,messrs4 ,kentfield and ,thurston began their improvements1 their joint production did doubtless seem wonderfully perfect2 yet this extract reads curiously in #ahif1 in the face of the extraordinary developments of everything connected with the game that have taken place within the last ten or fifteen years4 ,kentfield was acquainted with the spot stroke1 and played it well1 considering the then existing conditions4 ,he devotes a very short chapter in his book to it1 and describes four different methods by which it can be made4 ,there are now nine entirely different strokes which may be brought into use in the course of a long spot break2 but doubtless1 in his day1 several of the varieties of the stroke were absolutely impossible1 owing to the comparative slowness of the tables4 ,he did not1 however1 approve of the spot stroke1 nor consider it billiards1 and on this point was evidently of the same mind as the younger ,roberts1 who has recorded his opinion that a constant succession of big spot breaks #8would very soon kill the popularity and destroy the artistic position billiards has attained4' ,the thoroughly genuine nature of ,kentfield's feelings on the subject may be judged from the fact that he caused the pockets of the tables in his rooms at ,brighton to be reduced to three inches1 in order to prevent spot strokes being made2 and this1 unless he materially increased the charge for each game1 must have meant a considerable annual pecuniary loss to him4 ,the table on which ,kentfield constantly played is thus described3 #8,the table in the ,subscription ,room is extremely difficult4 ,it is1 perhaps1 the fastest in ,england1 and has pockets of the smallest dimensions 7three inches74 ,the spot for the red ball is barely twelve inches from the lower cushion2 the baulk circle only eighteen inches in extent4 ,on many tables the spot is thirteen inches from the cushion2 the baulk twenty-two4' ,it seems singular that1 quite thirty years before the first championship table was manufactured1 ,kentfield should have put up almost a fac-simile of it in his ,brighton rooms2 but probably ,john ,roberts1 senior1 saw it there1 possibly played upon it1 and derived from it the idea of the table on which1 in #ahgj1 the championship was decided4 ,it is almost impossible1 after this lapse of time1 to form any trustworthy opinion as to the real strength of ,kentfield's game1 and it would be manifestly unfair to draw comparisons between him and any player of more recent date than the elder ,john ,roberts4 ,let us first take the evidence of ,mr4 ,mardon on the subject2 and ,i may here remark that ,mr4 ,mardon's book--which was a very great improvement on any of its predecessors dealing with billiards--appears to have been primarily written with the view of giving immortality to the author's great game of #ejj up with a ,mr4 ,porker4 ,this was played in ,kentfield's rooms4 ,mr4 ,porker1 who conceded a start of #be points1 reached #die to #dge1 and then ,mr4 ,mardon ran out4 ,a break of #be1 even at the end of a game1 does not seem such a very startling feat2 still1 it was evidently considered as such in those days1 and a diagram is given of each of the nine strokes which were comprised in this historical effort4 ,one or two of these were somewhat singularly played according to modern ideas4 ,in one of them1 for example1 the red ball was near the left top pocket1 into which it was very easy to screw1 and his opponent's ball was nicely placed about the middle of the table4 ,instead of making the losing hazard with a slow screw1 which would have just brought the red ball down to the white1 and left a capital chance of a good break1 ,mr4 ,mardon had a regular bang at it1 doubled the red ball right down the table and up again1 and1 probably more by luck than judgment1 finally left it almost in the jaws of the right-hand top pocket4 ,this1 however1 is #8another story1' and ,i am keeping ,mr4 ,mardon waiting an unconscionably long time in the witness-box to give his testimony as to ,kentfield's abilities as a player4 ,he writes3 ,were ,i to relate all the extraordinary performances of ,mr4 ,kentfield at the period when list cushions and pockets of large dimensions were in vogue1 the reader would imagine ,i was bordering on romance4 ,on one occasion1 when playing the winning game1 #ba up1 ,mr4 ,kentfield gave his opponent #ah points1 and won sixteen successive games4 ,in playing the winning and losing game1 #bd up1 he won ten games1 his adversary never scoring6 ,the games were thus played3 ,mr4 ,kentfield1 in playing off1 doubled the red ball for one of the baulk corner pockets1 placing his own ball under the side cushion4 ,his opponent played to drop it into the corner pocket1 failed1 and left on each occasion a cannon2 that was made1 and the games were all won off the balls6 ,at another time he was playing the non-cushion game1 #af up4 ,on going off he twisted his ball into the corner pocket from the red and won in that manner six games1 his adversary not having a stroke6 ,desirous of ascertaining how many games of #bd up could be played within the hour1 he commenced the task with a player of considerable eminence2#a and they completed thirty games within the specified time4 ,forty-seven games of #ajj up were also played in eight and a half hours4 ,in a match that did not exceed two hundred games1 he beat his opponent eighty-five love games4 ,even allowing that the #8player of considerable eminence' was out of form1 and that ,kentfield had the table virtually to himself1 #gbj points in an hour was amazing2#b and even the longer test1 which works out at the rate of about #eej points per hour1 does not compare at all badly with the rate at which our best players score at the present day2 so it seems curious that a performer of such ability should have continued for years playing games of #ba and #bd up1 in which1 as was almost sure to be the case1 his opponent frequently never had a stroke4 ,when ,john ,roberts1 senior1 was fast coming into note as a great player1 and people were beginning to compare his powers with those of ,kentfield1 ,mr4 ,mardon thus expressed his opinion on the subject3 ,i have been given to understand1 within the last few months1 that ,mr4 ,roberts1 superintendent of the billiard-rooms at the ,union ,club in ,manchester1 is considered by his friends of that neighbourhood to be equal to any player in ,england2 and1 in order to afford me an opportunity of judging of his skill1 balls have been placed in situations of considerable difficulty1 and ,i have been assured that hazards thus presented came quite within his power of cue4 ,i have also been informed that1 in playing a game of #ajj up1 his opponent1 aware of1 and dreading1 his ability1 ran a coup at #if love1 hoping1 by so prudent and cautious a proceeding1 to ensure winning the game4 ,mr4 ,roberts1 playing from the baulk circle1 twisted into one of the corner pockets from the ball upon the spot1 and made from a break so unpromising #ajb points from the red ball alone6 ,admitting1 however1 this information to be correct1 still1 wonderful and surprising execution does not constitute either a sterling or a successful player2 and when ,i take into consideration the advantages to be derived from playing the game called #8,one pocket to five1' and learn that ,mr4 ,kentfield has played upwards of fifty thousand games with one gentleman alone1 ,i cannot but imagine that an experience so great1 united with his matchless skill1 must not only elevate him above all other players1 but fully entitle him to the paramount laudatory remarks with which his name will be found to be associated4 ,when ,i call to mind1 and reflect upon1 the wonderful execution displayed while playing the commanding game over the table1 and the game of one pocket to one pocket commanded1 ,i have no hesitation in saying that on such occasions his power of cue has gone beyond what even the imagination could embrace4 ,i have seen him1 like a man inspired1 accomplish stroke after stroke1 hazards and cannons1 against which ,i1 with my knowledge of the game1 would have laid fifty to one6 ,from his cue ,i have witnessed that which ,i am confident ,i shall never see again2 and1 although luminaries may shine forth in other spheres1 ,mr4 ,kentfield1 the electric light of mine1 must1 ,i think1 dim their lustre and keep them in the shade4 ,the only other witness ,i shall call is ,john ,roberts1 sen41 who has left on record his opinion that ,kentfield #8played a very artistic game1 but possessed very little power of cue4 ,he depended on slow twists and fancy screws1 and rarely attempted a brilliant forcing hazard4 ,he gave misses1 and made baulks whenever they were practicable1 and never departed from the strict game4' ,this was not written until many years after all rivalry between the two men had ceased1 and may1 therefore1 probably be accepted as a calm and unprejudiced opinion4 ,at first sight it is difficult to reconcile the entirely opposite views of ,mr4 ,mardon and ,roberts with regard to ,kentfield's power of cue4 ,the truth probably lies between the two extremes1 for the former's judgment may have been slightly warped by intense admiration for his idol1 whereas ,roberts was possibly comparing ,kentfield's power of cue with his own1 which was almost phenomenal4 ,the highest break that ,kentfield ever made was one of #aif1 and his best spot break #eg consecutive hazards4 ,it may be taken for granted that neither of these breaks was made on his three-inch pocket table2 nevertheless1 they may still be regarded as very excellent performances4 ,if1 however1 there are diverse views as to ,kentfield's powers as a player1 ,i have only been able to discover one opinion as to his merits as a man4 ,whether or not we may feel inclined to accept the dictum that genius is #8an infinite capacity for taking pains1' ,i think there is little doubt that ,edwin ,kentfield was a genius at billiards1 whilst in other respects it is quite certain that he set a brilliant example to the players who followed him4 ,during the last few years of ,kentfield's long and peaceful career1 the fame of ,john ,roberts was rapidly growing1 especially in and near ,manchester1 and it became evident that at last1 for the first time for four and twenty years1 the champion would be called upon to defend his title4 ,roberts was born about #ahae1 and1 as is bound to be the case with a really great player1 had a cue in his hand long before he was tall enough to reach the table properly4 ,indeed1 he was only nine years old when he began to play upon an old-fashioned table by ,gillow1 with a wooden bed and list cushions4 ,this was at the old ,rotunda1 ,bold ,street1 ,liverpool1 and he showed such remarkable aptitude for the game that in six months he could give points to most ordinary players4 ,his precocious ability appears to have been unknown to his father1 until one day the two played three or four games together1 and the youngster won by many points4 ,instead of being delighted with this display of juvenile talent1 the old man1 who was possibly a bad loser1 concluded that his son must have been devoting far too much time to the game1 and1 lacking the shrewdness to perceive the possibilities that lay before so skilful a lad1 apprenticed him to a carpenter4 ,the boy stuck to this trade for a couple of years2 but his passion for billiards remained as strong as ever1 and at the end of that time he ran away1 thenceforth devoting himself entirely to what was unquestionably his proper vocation4 ,his first engagement was as marker at ,oldham1 and it is evident that he must have improved very rapidly while there1 for he could not have been more than fourteen years old when he played home and home matches with #8,pendleton ,tom1' a professional player with considerable local reputation1 and beat him in both4 ,when he left ,oldham he obtained a situation in ,glasgow1 and in #ahdd played a match against ,john ,fleming1 a well-known billiard-table maker of that day1 for #ajjl4 a-side2 and here he met with his first reverse of any importance4 ,they were playing #ejj up1 and when the game was called #8#dhe all1' ,fleming tried for a cannon and missed it1 but fluked a six stroke and went out4 ,roberts then defeated ,tom ,broughton of ,leeds1 and this appears to have been his last match of any note during his sojourn in ,glasgow4 ,this ended in #ahde1 when he became manager of the billiard-rooms of the ,union ,club at ,manchester1 a position which he retained for seven years4 ,this was very fortunate for him1 as he no doubt had far more opportunities for practice than he had ever previously enjoyed1 and it was while there that he learnt the spot stroke4 ,the popular idea that he invented the stroke is1 of course1 an entire fallacy1 for ,kentfield1 ,carr1 ,pratt1 and others were in the habit of playing it4 ,it was taught to ,roberts by ,mr4 ,lee ,birch1 a member of the ,union ,club1 who had seen it played in ,london1 and1 being one of the best amateur players of the day1 soon mastered it to the extent of being generally able to make a dozen or fifteen consecutive hazards4 ,it is curious1 by the way1 how many amateur players attain this standard of excellence and never get any farther4 ,if a man can habitually make this number of spot strokes1 nothing but steady practice is required to enable him to make runs of fifty1 seventy1 a hundred1 or even more2 yet not one in a thousand has the resolution or perseverance to take this necessary practice4 ,with ,roberts it was entirely different4 ,he at once realised that the stroke must give an enormous advantage to any man who could play it with something like certainty4 ,for six months1 therefore1 he devoted himself almost entirely to it1 and spent hundreds of hours at the top of the table4 ,when a man who united a natural genius for the game with indomitable perseverance thus set himself to master a particular stroke1 there could be only one result1 and ,i should fancy it was then--strong in the confidence engendered by his ability to play this deadly stroke--that he first conceived the idea of bearding ,kentfield in his den1 and challenging his long-undisputed supremacy4 ,mr4 ,mardon's account of the first meeting of the rivals is as follows3 #8,arriving in ,brighton1 ,roberts called on ,kentfield4 ,he informed him at once1 in a manly1 straightforward manner1 who he was1 and expressed a desire of playing a friendly game4 ,he neither sought disguise nor secrecy1 and would willingly have shown the strength of his game to all who might have approached4 ,kentfield1 on the other hand1 was very desirous of avoiding publicity1 and1 taking ,roberts into an adjoining room1 locked the door and began a game4' ,then follow a few more lines in ,mr4 ,mardon's usual rather high-flown style1 the meaning of which1 translated into the vulgar tongue1 is that ,roberts speedily discovered that his opponent was not really doing his best4 ,this did not at all suit the man who had come from ,manchester on a voyage of discovery1 and ,mr4 ,mardon tells us that he thus expressed his opinion on the subject3 #8,this1 ,mr4 ,kentfield1 cannot be your game2 to play such as this ,i can give forty in a hundred4 ,if you are withholding your powers for the purpose of obtaining a bet1 ,i am willing to recommence the game and to play you for five pounds4' ,those who knew the elder ,roberts intimately may possibly accept this as the general purport of his remarks1 but will entirely decline to believe that he did not express himself in far more vigorous and forcible language4 ,as1 however1 ,mr4 ,mardon states that the door of the room was locked1 and that no one was present excepting the two principals1 he could only have written his account of the scene from hearsay1 and it differs considerably from ,roberts's own version of the interview4 ,this1 given in #8,roberts on ,billiards1' runs as follows3 ,i remember perfectly my first meeting with ,kentfield1 better known as #8,jonathan4' ,it was in the beginning of #ahdi1 at ,brighton1 where ,i went on purpose to see him play4 ,on entering his rooms ,i met ,john ,pook1 the present proprietor of the ,cocoa-tree ,club1 who was at that time his manager4 ,after sending up my name1 ,kentfield came in and inquired my business4 ,i told him that ,i was admitted to be the best player in ,lancashire1 whence ,i had come to find out if he could show me anything4 ,he inquired if ,i wanted a lesson4 ,i told him ,i did not1 and asked him how many in #ajj would be a fair allowance from a player on his own table to a stranger1 provided they were of equal skill4 ,he replied #8#ae2' ,i told him ,i thought #bj would be nearer the mark1 but ,i was contented to try at evens4 ,he said3 #8,if you play me1 it must be for some money2' on which1 not to be frightened1 ,i pulled out a #ajjl4 note1 and told him ,i would play him ten games of #ajj up for #ajl4 a game4 ,he laughed1 and said ,i was rather hasty2 and eventually we knocked the balls about1 and then commenced a friendly #ajj on level terms4 ,he had the best of the breaks1 and won by #dj4 ,in the second game ,i pulled out a few north-country shots and won by #cj1 but he secured the third4 ,then he put down his cue1 and asked if ,i was satisfied he could beat me4 ,i said3 #8,no2 on the contrary1 if you can't play better than this1 ,i can give you #bj in #ajj easily4' ,he replied3 #8,well1 if you want to play me1 you must put down a good stake4' ,i asked how much1 and he answered #a1jjjl4 ,i said3 #8,do you mean #a1jjjl4 a-side8' ,upon which he told me he thought ,i was a straightforward fellow1 and he would see what could be done4 ,he then sent ,pook back to me1 and ,i explained to him how things stood4 ,he replied3 #8,you may as well go back to ,lancashire2 you won't get a match on with the governor4' ,accepting ,roberts's version of this historical meeting1 one is forced to the conclusion that1 if one of the two was not trying to win1 it certainly was not ,kentfield2 for when a man loses two games out of three on level terms1 and then calmly tells his victorious opponent that he can easily give him #bj in #ajj1 it is certain that the loser must have been keeping a very big bit up his sleeve4 ,evidently ,kentfield was fully alive to this1 for all efforts to get him to make a match proved fruitless4 ,the fact of the matter undoubtedly was that ,kentfield1 who was many years the senior of the pair1 felt that the coming man was too strong for him1 realised that he had everything to lose and very little to gain by risking a contest1 and preferred the title of #8retired champion' to that of #8ex-champion4' ,john ,roberts1 therefore1 attained the first position in the world of billiards in #ahdi1 and the following year1 whilst he was still manager of the billiard-rooms at the ,union ,club1 ,manchester1 played a great match of #a1jjj up with ,starke1 an ,american4 ,the latter was a remarkably fine nursery cannon player1 and1 getting the run of the balls in the early part of the game1 reached #fjj to #dej1 thus securing a formidable lead4 ,then it was that ,roberts first reaped the reward of all the time and patience he had expended on the practice of the spot stroke4 ,wisely abandoning the all-round game1 he devoted his energies to getting position at the top of the table2 a break which included thirty-nine consecutive #8spots' took him to the front again1 and another fine run of thirty-six red hazards gave him an easy victory4 ,in a letter to #8,bell's ,life' on the subject of this match1 one of the best contemporary judges of the game gave it as his opinion that #8,kentfield showed good judgment in declining a match with ,roberts1 for1 had they played upon a neutral table1 he would have been defeated to a certainty4' ,even ,mr4 ,mardon completely altered his mind with regard to the respective merits of the two players1 and to his second profession of faith he probably remained steadfast until the day of his death2 for1 as comparatively recently as the early part of #ahgd1 he wrote a letter to the #8,sporting ,life' on the subject of billiards1 in which he strongly maintained the superiority of old ,john over his son1 ,william ,cook1 and ,joseph ,bennett4 ,it is doubtful whether1 at the period of which ,i am now writing1 the title of champion was of much pecuniary value to its possessor4 ,he could only get an occasional match for money by giving a very long start1 whilst such things as exhibition games seem to have been of very rare occurrence4 ,in glancing over the files of #8,bell's ,life'--the only sporting paper then in existence--of some forty years ago1 one cannot fail to be struck with the way in which billiards is practically ignored2 in fact1 it was some time before ,i could find any allusion to the game4 ,at last1 in the issue dated ,february #bb1 #aheb1 ,i discovered the following announcement3 #8,a silver snuff-box will be given by the proprietor of the ,shakspere's ,head1 ,wych ,street1 ,strand1 to be played for by eight of the best players in ,london1 on ,tuesday next1 at six o'clock4 ,a gentleman from the country will be in attendance to play any man in ,london for from #bel4 to #ejl4 the same night4' ,the most rigid examination of the issue of the following week--in those days sportsmen had to content themselves with one sporting paper1 which came out once a week--failed to discover the smallest record of the doings of #8eight of the best players in ,london' on that ,tuesday evening1 and the destination of the silver snuff-box might have been for ever lost to posterity but for the appearance of the following challenge3 #8,mr4 ,john ,dufton will play ,mr4 ,farrell1 the winner of the snuff-box at the ,shakspere's ,head1 ,wych ,street1 on ,tuesday last1 a match at billiards1 from #ajj to #a1jjj up1 for #ajl4 or #bjl4 a-side4 ,money ready any evening at the above-named place4' ,it is probable that the challenger was a relation of the well-known ,william ,dufton1 #8tutor to the ,prince of ,wales1' as he always proudly styled himself1 though ,i must candidly confess that ,i had never previously heard either of him or of ,farrell1 entitled as each may have been to rank amongst the eight best players in ,london4 ,it was not1 however1 the battle for the snuff-box that interested me4 ,i was anxious to know how the countryman fared on his adventurous crusade1 and had a suspicion that he may have turned out to have been no less a personage than the champion himself1 this being just the sort of little joke that ,john ,roberts always enjoyed4 ,however1 my curiosity on this point had to remain unsatisfied1 and ,i ceased to be surprised that it should be so when ,i found that in the same issue of #8,bells ,life'--which in those days was supposed to devote a good deal of its space to events of general interest other than sporting--the death of ,tom ,moore1 the sweetest singer ,ireland ever produced1 was dismissed in exactly five lines6 ,in this same year 7#aheb7 ,roberts resigned the management of the billiard-rooms at the ,union ,club1 which he had held for seven years1 and took the ,griffin ,hotel in ,lower ,broughton1 a suburb of ,manchester4 ,soon after this he played two more matches with ,starke at the ,american game1 each of them being for #ajjl4 a-side4 ,it is noteworthy1 as marking the rapid manner in which he had #8come on' in his play1 that whereas1 only two years previously1 ,starke had played him upon even terms1 and at one stage of the game looked very much like beating him1 it was now thought good enough to back ,roberts to give a start of #cjj in #a1jjj4 ,this proved rather too big a concession2 nevertheless1 little mistake had been made in estimating the respective merits of the two men1 for in the return match1 in which the start was reduced to #bge1 the champion won very easily4 ,the billiard history of the next few years is singularly uneventful1 and there appear to have been few players good enough to have any chance with ,roberts1 even when allowed a long start4 ,he1 however1 did not retain the ,griffin ,hotel very long1 and1 after leaving it1 took billiard-rooms in ,cross ,street1 ,manchester4 ,he must have been living there in #aheh1 when he played a match with ,john ,herst in ,glasgow1 in the course of which he made a break of #ahf1 which included a run of #ee consecutive spot strokes4 ,herst was a brilliant winning hazard striker1 and played in very pretty and finished style4 ,great things were expected of him1 and there is every reason to suppose that these expectations would have been realised1 but he died almost at the outset of his career4 ,in #ahfa ,roberts at length left ,manchester1 to become lessee of ,saville ,house1 ,leicester ,square1 and he had not been there many weeks when he played a match with ,mr4 ,downs1 an amateur1 to whom he conceded a start of #gjj in #a1jjj4 ,in the course of this game1 which he won by #ic points1 he made two very fine breaks of #aie 7#ec #8spots'7 and #bjj 7#fd #8spots'71 and scored his thousand points in #b hours #aa minutes1 an excellent performance1 notwithstanding the fact that he must have had the table virtually to himself4 ,a rather curious episode occurred in the course of this game4 ,mr4 ,downs1 in lieu of giving the customary miss at the beginning of the play1 ran a coup1 expecting that ,roberts would give a miss1 and very probably calculating that1 with his big start1 to give three and receive one was really judicious4 ,the champion1 however1 instantly grasped the situation1 and1 without a moment's hesitation1 played hard at the red1 and sent it and his own ball flying to the other end of the room4 ,in those days there was no penalty for knocking a ball off the table1 so ,mr4 ,downs's carefully calculated and promising scheme of running a succession of coups and receiving a series of misses was summarily nipped in the bud4 ,it was at ,saville ,house in ,march #ahfb that ,roberts made his famous break of #cdf1 mainly composed of a series of #ajd spot hazards4 ,william ,dufton was his opponent1 and ,roberts won the game in the remarkably fast time of an hour and three-quarters4 ,this break was more than a nine days' wonder1 and never before or afterwards did ,roberts make #cjj off the balls in public--a feat that is now well within the compass of plenty of men who do not play well enough to get a couple of engagements per season in exhibition matches4 ,two of the most prominent players in the #8fifties' and early #8sixties' were ,alfred ,bowles and ,charles ,hughes4 ,roberts considered the former to be the best player he ever met1 and records that #8no one yet has ever held me at the points as ,bowles used to do4' ,the points alluded to were #cjj in #a1jjj2 but it must not be forgotten that these remarks were written before ,william ,cook1 ,john ,roberts1 jun41 and ,joseph ,bennett had come to the front4 ,i never saw ,bowles play until he challenged the younger ,roberts for the championship and suffered an easy defeat4 ,this was in ,may #ahgj1 when the ,brighton man had possibly seen his best day4 ,he played a steady1 old-fashioned game1 but was hopelessly out-classed by young ,john1 and1 though he could play the spot stroke well1 of course he had no opportunity of doing so on a championship table4 ,from what ,i saw of the play of the two men1 ,i should unhesitatingly place ,charles ,hughes before ,bowles2 but it would be ridiculous1 with the very limited opportunities ,i had of forming an opinion1 to oppose my judgment to that of ,roberts2 and certainly the results of two matches that were played in the early part of #ahfd point strongly to the superiority of ,bowles4 ,in ,january of that year ,roberts gave ,bowles #cjj in #a1jjj for #ajjl4 a-side--in those days #ajjl4 a-side meant #ajjl4 a-side1 not that each man went through the solemn farce of staking his money1 and received it back again at the end of the game1 whatever the result might be--and was beaten by #aji points2 whilst1 two months later1 the champion conceded ,hughes #cej in #a1jjj1 and beat him by no fewer than #bdc points4 ,there can be no doubt1 however1 that ,hughes improved wonderfully between the date of this match and #ahfi1 when he sailed for ,australia4 ,the weak point in his game was an irresistible inclination to go out for fancy cannons4 ,he would be apparently well set for a really good break when he would neglect a comparatively simple shot for some elaborate cannon off three or four cushions1 which he would either just miss or perhaps bring off1 with the result of leaving the balls in an almost impossible position for a further score4 ,he was gradually1 however1 getting over this propensity towards the close of his career1 and undoubtedly played a very good game indeed at the time that he left ,england4 ,just prior to sailing he ran into the last three of a great professional handicap which took place at the #8,nell ,gwynne1' ,strand1 in which1 together with ,cook and ,roberts1 jun41 he started at scratch1 whilst the champion owed #ej points1 and1 as there were as many as forty players engaged1 this was a capital performance4 ,he also won a handicap of #bjj up1 which was played to celebrate the opening of the ,bentinck ,club1 upon the site of which the ,vaudeville ,theatre now stands4 ,in this he received a start of #cj points1 the champion owed #bj1 whilst his son and ,cook had #bj each4 ,the best thing he ever did1 however1 was accomplished in the last game he played in ,england4 ,he sailed from ,liverpool1 and1 as ,roberts had gone down to see him off1 the pair took advantage of the opportunity to play #a1jjj up at the #8,golden ,lion1' ,deansgate1 ,manchester4 ,roberts1 as usual1 gave a start of #cjj1 and had reached #gcf against #gid1 when ,hughes went out with a break of #bjf1 which included #fb consecutive #8spots4' ,being asked to finish the break1 he added #ba more red hazards1 and this #bfi was a bigger run than anyone had put together since the champion had made his famous #cdf about seven years previously4 ,i can find no record of ,hughes's achievements in ,australia1 but he did not long survive his arrival in that country4 ,as has been the case with too many other fine players1 he lacked the resolution and strength of mind to take proper care of himself1 and the lavish colonial hospitality which was thrust upon him at every turn speedily killed him4 ,in the limited space at my disposal it is manifestly impossible to follow the game closely1 year by year1 and ,i think the better plan will be to give a sketch of all the principal players1 including some account of the most important matches that have taken place since #ahgj1 at nearly all of which ,i have been fortunate enough to have been present4 ,in #8,roberts on ,billiards1' which was written towards the close of the author's twenty-one years' tenure of the championship1 he names ,charles ,hughes1 ,john ,herst1 ,joseph ,bennett1 ,william ,cook1 and ,john ,roberts1 jun41 as candidates for the title of second-best player1 and adds1 #8probably the two best are ,william ,cook and my eldest son4' ,the first and second ,i have already dealt with2 the other three1 who kept the championship entirely between them during fifteen years1 naturally demand more extended notice1 as their doings really form the greater part of the history of billiards from #ahgj onwards4 ,before coming to them1 however1 it will be better to dispose of what ,roberts terms the third class1 in which he includes ,william ,dufton1 ,l4 ,kilkenny1 ,w4 ,d4 ,stanley1 ,w4 ,e4 ,green1 ,george ,mulberry1 ,alfred ,hughes1 ,george ,davis1 ,w4 ,c4 ,hitchin1 ,tom ,morris1 ,harry ,evans1 and ,john ,smith1 #8to any of whom ,i have been in the habit of allowing #cej in #a1jjj4' ,of these1 ,i never saw ,stanley--who1 ,i fancy1 was an elder brother of ,d4 ,richards and ,s4 ,w4 ,stanley--,mulberry1 ,davis1 ,hitchin1 or ,smith play1 and will not1 therefore1 write anything about them4 ,with respect to ,dufton1 ,i feel bound to say that1 in my opinion1 he was a much overrated man4 ,as ,i saw him perform for the first time in #ahff1 when it is possible that he may have been going off1 ,i should have hesitated to write so plainly1 had not my view of his lack of ability been fully confirmed by one who constantly played with him1 and for whose judgment ,i have the highest respect4 ,his long #8jennies1' on the making of which his reputation almost entirely rested1 are now easily within the compass of any professional player1 and he would never have made the name he did but for confining his play almost entirely to exhibition games with ,roberts4 ,these exhibition matches would naturally have lost much of their attraction if the champion had invariably won1 so ,dufton had his share of successes1 and came to be regarded as being able to play ,roberts with #cej points in #a1jjj2 whereas it is perfectly certain that a start of half the game would not have brought them together when the scratch man was doing his best4 ,l4 ,kilkenny kept pace fairly well with the remarkable development of the game that took place between #ahgj and #ahhj1 and managed to hold his own with a reasonable start from the rising stars4 ,he possessed little power of cue and no brilliancy of execution1 but played a sound1 steady game1 and1 before spot-barred games became so universal1 could generally be relied upon for a pretty good run of #8spots' when he obtained a favourable position4 ,deprived of the strongest part of his game1 however1 he soon fell out of the ranks4 ,alfred ,hughes was a player of no class compared with his brother ,charles1 and ,tom ,morris1 a left-handed man1 with a somewhat flashy style1 was only moderate4 ,harry ,evans1 on the contrary1 was a thoroughly sound performer1 who played an excellent all-round game1 and1 if he did not go out for gallery strokes1 seldom or never missed an ordinarily simple one4 ,soon after his arrival in ,australia he suddenly came out as quite a phenomenal spot stroke player1 though he had never so distinguished himself in ,england1 and he held the championship of that colony for many years1 till quite recently deprived of it by ,charles ,memmott4 ,about #ahff ,john ,roberts1 jun41 ,william ,cook1 and ,joseph ,bennett began to draw away from the ruck of billiard-players1 and it did not require much foresight to predict that old ,john would shortly find a dangerous rival or two1 though it was difficult at the time to believe that anyone would have the temerity to meet him upon even terms4 ,in the ,october of that year a great four-handed match took place1 the champion and ,dufton attempting to give #bjj in #a1jjj to ,charles ,hughes and ,joseph ,bennett for #bjjl4 a-side1 an attempt in which they failed lamentably1 being beaten by no fewer than #cdd points4 ,though ,hughes scored #dig points during the game1 whilst ,bennett only contributed #bha1 the major portion of the credit of the victory must be given to the latter1 who1 by the way1 is the only surviving member of the quartet4 ,always remarkable for his fine generalship and wonderful knowledge of the game1 ,bennett never displayed these qualities to more advantage than on this occasion4 ,he played in front of ,roberts1 and1 although he made a few breaks of twenty or thirty1 his sole mission was never to allow the champion a fair opening4 ,directly he had a stroke which it was not three to one on his making1 he at once abandoned the break1 and either put down the white and left a double baulk or else gave a miss4 ,roberts's game1 in fact1 was so utterly cramped from start to finish that it was a remarkable feat on his part to make #dhh points during the evening4 ,in the meantime ,hughes was thoroughly enjoying himself4 ,having only ,dufton to follow him1 and well knowing that it did not much matter what sort of a game he left on1 he went out for everything1 brought off all sorts of fancy cannons1 and scored the fastest of the party4 ,poor ,dufton's show was a very lamentable one4 ,from the style of game that ,hughes was playing1 he naturally left any number of good openings1 but all that ,dufton could total during the evening was #acf4 ,by ,bennett's clever strategy the four-handed match was virtually reduced to a single-handed battle between ,hughes and ,dufton1 and this could only have had one result1 even had they played upon level terms4 ,it was at the end of #ahfh that ,william ,cook and ,john ,roberts1 jun41 between whom there was destined to be such keen rivalry for the next twelve or fifteen years1 played their first match for money1 ,cook being at that time just nineteen years of age and his opponent two years older4 ,the match took place at the ,bentinck ,club1 and produced a very large amount of speculation4 ,it is quite needless to give any description of the game1 which ,roberts won by #ib points1 but it is noteworthy that his best breaks--at the all-in game1 be it remembered--were #abj and #ii1 whilst ,cook's highest effort only reached #ib4 ,this contrasts very curiously with the state of affairs early in #ahif1 when1 in a spot-barred game of #a1jjj up1 it would be quite safe to back a player of the calibre of ,d4 ,richards or ,h4 ,w4 ,stevenson to make three breaks of upwards of a hundred each4 ,in spite of this defeat1 ,cook's friends did not lose faith in him1 and1 in his inmost heart1 ,i believe that ,roberts1 sen41 always rated ,cook's play at a higher level than that of his son4 ,i remember having a chat with the old man on this subject at the ,bentinck ,club4 ,young ,john had just beaten ,cook pretty easily in their heat of the handicap with which the opening of the club was celebrated1 and this1 coupled with his recent success in the match just referred to1 led me to remark that there could be little doubt as to who would be future champion4 #8,i'm not so sure of that1' said the veteran with a shake of the head2 #8we've not seen the best of ,cook yet4' ,before the end of that year his opinion was amply justified4 ,in ,march a return match was played1 in which1 though the breaks on both sides were very small1 ,cook beat ,roberts1 jun41 by #cbc points1 and when the former began playing again after the summer recess the improvement he exhibited was simply extraordinary4 ,his beautiful delicacy of touch was more striking than ever1 and he #8nursed' the balls with even more than his old skill2 but in his anxiety to secure position he did not so frequently miss the immediate stroke1 which had formerly been the weak point in his game4 ,then he had attained a proficiency in playing the spot stroke that entirely eclipsed anything that had previously been witnessed in this line1 and three times in one week1 with young ,roberts as an opponent1 he made upwards of three hundred off the balls4 ,two of these breaks--#cea at the ,royal ,hotel1 ,dale ,street1 ,liverpool1 and #cei at the ,prince of ,wales's ,hotel1 ,moss ,side1 ,manchester--beat the champion's #cdf1 which for seven years had been considered quite unapproachable4 ,after this1 ,cook seldom played two games of #a1jjj up without making a break of #cjj in one of them1 and left his old rival1 ,john ,roberts1 jun41 completely in the rear4 ,there could only be one end to this series of remarkable performances1 and in the autumn of #ahfi ,cook issued a challenge to play the champion1 on or before ,january #a1 #ahgj1 a game of #a1jjj or #b1jjj up1 level1 for #ejjl4 a-side4 ,some little time elapsed before the two men came to terms1 and it was decided by a committee of the leading players of the day that matches for the championship should be played on a table with three-inch pockets1 and with the spot #ab inches from the top cushion1 instead of #ac inches1 the then customary distance4 ,as ,cook was a member of the committee which decided on this radical alteration in the table1 it seems strange that he did not protest strongly against a measure which nearly every expert at once realised must deprive him of the strongest feature of his game--the spot stroke--but the reason was that he apparently did not realise the fact4 ,cook was then barely twenty-one years of age1 but he ought to have had sufficient experience to have saved him from such a mistake4 ,before he had been playing on the new table for an hour1 his error must have been brought home to him in very unpleasant fashion4 ,just as the great battle at ,farnborough between ,sayers and ,heenan was read about and eagerly discussed by all sorts and conditions of men who had previously professed the greatest disgust for prize-fighting1 so the match between the veteran and his pupil excited intense interest1 even amongst people who could scarcely define the difference between a winning and losing hazard4 ,the ,prince of ,wales was present at ,st4 ,james's ,hall1 and1 as no such scene had ever previously been witnessed at a billiard match1 and may never be seen again1 ,i need not apologise for reproducing part of a sketch of the memorable night contributed by myself at the time to one of the last numbers of the famous old #8,sporting ,magazine1' which ceased to exist at the end of #ahgj3 ,for the last five or six years the champion has made no very long break nor any great number of successive #8spots1' whilst his son1 ,joseph ,bennett1 and ,cook1 especially the last-named1 have frequently put together a very big score off the balls4 ,people at last began to realise the idea that the title of #8second-best player in ,england' would not long satisfy one or two of the colts1 and were not altogether surprised when ,cook challenged his old master for #ejjl4 a-side4 ,roberts took a long time to reply to this cartel1 and it was believed that another walk-over would take place--for as yet there had never been a match for the championship2 but at length he made up his mind for one effort to retain his place1 and they agreed to play on ,february #aa4 ,prior to that day a meeting of the leading professionals was held4 ,rules were drawn up for future contests 444 and some important alterations were made in the construction of the tables to be used in matches for the championship1 with what results we shall presently see4 ,the match was played in the large concert room at ,st4 ,james's ,hall4 ,just before eight o'clock the spectators settled down into their places1 and the scene was a truly remarkable one4 ,the table1 which looked very small in such a huge hall1 was of course placed in the centre1 and1 about three yards from it1 a cordon was formed by a scarlet rope1 so that a #8clear course' was secured for the combatants1 even if #8no favour' could not be guaranteed4 ,outside this rope the tiers of benches began1 and sloped up to the galleries4 ,every seat was occupied1 and the galleries themselves accommodated a very large number of spectators1 many of whom had provided themselves with opera glasses1 anew concomitant to a billiard match1 but a very necessary one on this occasion4 ,shortly after eight o'clock the calls of #8time' became very loud and impatient1 and1 with a view of creating a diversion1 someone who appeared to have the chief management of the affair began to weigh the balls4 ,he spun out this operation in very clever fashion1 and kept the people quiet for nearly ten minutes2 but at last they grew tired of seeing him hold up the scales1 and remain immovable1 apparently wrapped in astonishment that the balls should exactly balance each other1 and the noise became worse than ever4 ,at length the two men appeared1 without their coats1 and apparently #8eager for the fray4' ,they were received with uproarious applause1 which seemed to delight ,roberts immensely4 ,at the beginning of the game caution prevailed1 and the tight pockets puzzled both men4 ,at #abg ,cook made six #8spots1' the longest run of the evening2 but the new-fashioned table seemed to have quite destroyed his pet stroke4 ,the red ball required to be played with the greatest care1 or it did not go in1 and1 owing1 we imagine1 to the change in the locality of the spot1 it seemed almost impossible to secure position for the second stroke1 even if the first came off4 ,both men had several tries at it2 but they could make nothing of their old friend1 and the last half of the match was practically played #8spot hazard barred4' ,the contrast in the style of the two was very noticeable1 ,roberts's being as clumsy and awkward as ,cook's was pretty and elegant1 the latter playing1 as someone near us observed1 #8a very genteel stroke4' ,the men were very level at about #dej1 and then the champion got in1 with ,cook's ball and the red almost touching each other1 and quietly dribbled them down the table1 making six or seven very pretty cannons in succession4 ,he followed this up with a regular #8gallery' stroke1 potting the red at railroad pace1 and making a cannon off two or three cushions1 which brought down the house4 ,a break of #bb by ,roberts made his score #did against #die4 ,the announcement of #8#eag all' produced great cheering2 however1 #dd and #di by ,cook soon placed him in front again1 and1 as soon as he passed #fjj1 there was a short interval4 ,the men soon came back1 ,roberts decorated with a cross1 #8wearing it for the last time1' as one of ,cook's backers grimly remarked4 ,a magnificent #8all round' #hj took the young one to #ghe4 ,the knowledge of strength shown in this break was truly wonderful1 and there was a thin #8loser' in it which even ,roberts felt compelled to applaud4 ,there was soon a gap of a couple of hundred points between them1 and the champion kept looking up mournfully at the figures at the end of the hall4 ,he never lost heart1 however1 and1 laying himself down to his work1 began to creep up again4 ,cook's score stood still for some little time1 and the old man's backers got very excited4 ,roberts now made #fb1 his longest break during the game1 and two or three other good runs brought him close to ,cook1 whom he passed1 the score being called #a1jda to #a1jcg in favour of ,roberts3 but a #ca1 finished with a double baulk1 placed ,cook well in front again1 and1 when his score stood at #a1acc1 he made a horribly fluky cannon1 and ran right out1 with a succession of the easiest and prettiest strokes we ever saw1 a winner by #aag points4 ,here ,i prefer to take leave of ,john ,roberts1 sen42 for1 although he occasionally played in public for several years after1 he never again exhibited anything approaching his best form4 ,it almost seemed as though he had wound himself up for one great effort to retain his supremacy1 and that he never recovered from the consequent reaction3 added to which he was then fifty-five years of age1 and had consequently seen his best day4 ,in his prime he was a man of extraordinary strength of constitution1 and performed several feats of endurance which probably no professional player of the present day could approach4 ,perhaps the most remarkable of these was accomplished in #ahdf1 when he had rooms in ,glasgow1 and an amateur1 who was in the habit of frequenting them1 made a match to play him on the following conditions3 ,roberts was to concede sixty points in each hundred1 mark the game1 hand the rest1 spot the red1 take the balls out of the pockets1 c41 and in fact do the work of both player and marker4 ,they were to continue playing until one of them stopped voluntarily or through exhaustion2 but ,i have been unable to ascertain whether or not they were allowed to eat and drink during the progress of the match1 though the probability is that there were no restrictions in this respect4 ,the stakes were ten shillings per game3 whoever gave in first was to forfeit #bel4 and all claim to anything he might have won4 ,roberts was at that time in full play1 and doing strong work round the table for several hours in each day2 but his opponent could not have been far behind him in this respect1 and must have been a remarkably game man into the bargain1 for he struggled on for forty-three consecutive hours before ,nature gave way1 and he fainted from exhaustion4 ,in that time no fewer than #abe games were played1 and ,roberts won a good stake1 every penny of which he had certainly earned4 ,differing entirely from ,kentfield in this respect1 he possessed extraordinary power of cue and a wonderfully strong wrist1 which enabled him to perform all sorts of curious feats1 such as knocking both balls off the table and making them reach the end of a long room before touching the floor4 ,his worst fault was a too flashy style of play1 and ,i shall always believe that he would just have beaten ,cook in the great match for the championship if he had kept himself a little quieter during the game2 but he could not resist incessantly chaffing his friends1 chalking bets on the floor1 c4 ,comparison between ,roberts's form and that of the leading players of the present day would be most unfair to the old man4 ,had he lived fifty years later than he did1 and enjoyed all the advantages of the improvements that have been made in the accessories of the game1 as well as the opportunities that leading players enjoy of constant practice1 it is certain that he would have been found right in the front rank4 ,he had a real genius for the game1 and was a great player4 ,immediately after winning the championship ,cook had a very busy time of it4 ,he played ,john ,roberts1 jun41 the best of twenty-one games of pyramids1 the result being that1 after they had won nine games each1 ,roberts secured the next two and won the match1 which virtually decided the championship at pyramids4 ,then ,cook toured for a few weeks1 and1 in the course of an exhibition game with ,s4 ,w4 ,stanley at ,totnes1 made the hitherto unparalleled break of #eab4 ,on ,april #ad1 #ahgj1 just two months after he had wrested the championship from the elder ,roberts1 ,cook lost it to ,roberts1 jun4 ,the length of the game was wisely reduced from #a1bjj points to #a1jjj1 and ,cook was beaten by very nearly half the game4 ,this is one of the few contests for the championship that ,i did not witness1 and ,i have never been able to understand the result2 for1 although ,roberts won by #dgh points1 and scored his thousand in three hours and four minutes1 which was the fastest time recorded for a three-inch-pocket table until the last match ever played for the championship fifteen years later1 a #dg was the best break he made during the whole evening6 ,of course1 it must be remembered that the winner had the table virtually to himself1 for ,cook must have been utterly and hopelessly out of form4 ,six weeks later1 ,alfred ,bowles1 of ,brighton1 a contemporary of ,roberts1 sen41 challenged the winner4 ,it is probable that ,bowles1 though ,i believe he is still alive1 had then passed his best day1 for the result of his plucky challenge was disastrous4 ,he played a good1 sound old-fashioned sort of game1 devoting himself chiefly to runs of losing hazards in the middle pockets1 but had not the smallest pretensions to meet a man of the class of ,cook or ,roberts on even terms1 and never possessed the least chance all through the game4 ,the next challenger1 however1 was of very different calibre1 and the battle between ,roberts--as ,i have now taken leave of the father1 it is needless to constantly repeat the distinguishing #8junior'--and ,joseph ,bennett was about the most obstinately contested of the entire series4 ,it lasted for four hours and three-quarters1 and ,bennett1 with repeated safety misses and double baulks1 at last fairly wore down his formidable opponent1 and won by #ie points4 ,thus ended #ahgj1 a truly remarkable year1 which not only witnessed the first match ever played for the championship1 but in which the title was actually held by four different men4 ,to trace the progress of the game minutely from this point to the present time1 and to attempt even to mention the principal matches that have been played1 would occupy too much space1 and ,i must1 therefore1 content myself with giving slight sketches of the chief players from #ahgj to #ahie1 alluding to a few of the most remarkable matches4 ,at the earliest possible moment--the two months which were allowed when the conditions governing contests for the championship were drawn up--,roberts played a second match with ,bennett1 and had no difficulty in regaining his title1 as he won by #cfc points in the very fast time of three hours twenty-two minutes4 ,cook was the next challenger1 and1 although he only got home by #ae points--a really nominal victory--this was the beginning of his marked superiority to any other player1 and for exactly four years all efforts to wrest the championship from him proved futile4 ,on ,november #bi1 #ahgb1 during an exhibition match at his rooms in ,regent ,street1 he made the previously unheard-of break of #icf1 which included no fewer than #bfb consecutive spot hazards4 ,this break was1 of course1 made on an ordinary table4 ,from #ahga to #ahge was undoubtedly the very zenith of ,cook's career4 ,during those four years he stood right out by himself1 and could defeat all comers on any class of table4 ,the strongest point of his game was unquestionably his wonderful delicacy of touch4 ,brilliant forcing hazards1 and winning hazards made at railroad speed1 so irresistibly fascinating to the gallery1 possessed little attraction for him1 and he was the first man who seemed fully to realise what might be done by delicately nursing the balls and bringing them together1 time after time1 with perfect strength4 ,even when at his best1 however1 he was never too consistent a player2 there were occasions when he was completely #8off1' and1 if he happened to be caught on one of these days1 quite a second-rate performer could beat him easily4 ,his personal popularity was simply unbounded1 and it would have taken a remarkably strong nature to have resisted all the temptations to which he was exposed4 ,no man ever lost a finer chance of an exceptionally brilliant and successful career4 ,he must have made much money1 but when the end came1 it found him penniless4 ,i have no wish1 however1 to dwell on his weaknesses1 amiable as most of them were2 rather let me record to his credit that no professional billiard-player has ever possessed a higher character for unimpeachable honesty1 and that1 in his prosperous times1 he was never known to turn a deaf ear to appeals for assistance4 ,it is quite time1 however1 to introduce the third and only other man that ever held the championship cup presented by the leading billiard-table makers in #ahgj4 ,i refer1 of course1 to ,joseph ,bennett1 who is three or four years older than ,roberts1 and was playing in public before either ,cook or his great rival4 ,he rapidly acquired a wonderful knowledge of the game1 for he was barely eighteen when he was engaged at ,leeds to play and teach4 ,during his stay there he played his first important match4 ,it was with ,w4 ,moss2 the game was #a1jjj up for #ajjl4 a-side1 and ,bennett won by upwards of #ejj points4 ,possibly this success induced him to turn his thoughts ,londonwards again2 at any rate1 he shortly afterwards returned there4 ,his first metropolitan match was with ,dufton2 then he played a couple with ,herst1 winning one and losing the other3 but it was the great four-handed match in which he and ,charles ,hughes so decisively beat old ,roberts and ,dufton that first brought him into prominent notice4 ,whether ,bennett1 as a player1 was ever quite the equal of ,cook or ,roberts it is unnecessary to discuss here4 ,he beat each of them in turn for the championship1 and can well afford to rest contented with that record4 ,in early life ,bennett's health was indifferent1 and his nervous and highly strung temperament was by no means in his favour4 ,one of his peculiarities was that1 when in training for a championship or other important match1 he would never play with anyone1 but invariably shut himself up in a room alone1 and played one ball against the other1 or simply practised one or two special strokes by the hour together4 ,his contention was that a man required all his nervous energy for the match itself1 and ought not to waste any of it in practice4 ,there was1 doubtless1 something in his theory1 for few men have ever shown to more advantage #8in the pit2' and it was sheer pluck and determination that enabled him to defeat ,cook for the championship1 as his opponent held a long lead when within a couple of hundred of home4 ,a very severe accident in the summer of #ahha caused ,bennett to resign the championship1 and1 though he completely recovered from its effects1 he wisely gave up playing in public4 ,he will be better remembered as a teacher than as a player1 for he has virtually devoted his whole life to instruction1 and with remarkable success4 ,in ,december #ahgc ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts promoted the first of a series of handicaps1 with which they afterwards became so much identified4 ,the important effect that these handicaps had upon the game is scarcely calculable1 and1 thanks to the liberality of the promoters1 several players who afterwards took prominent positions1 but might otherwise never have been heard of1 were first introduced to public notice4 ,these handicaps gave such men exactly the chance they needed4 ,the following sixteen players took part in this handicap3--,w4 ,cook1 ,j4 ,roberts1 jun41 ,joseph ,bennett1 ,t4 ,taylor1 ,f4 ,bennett1 ,s4 ,w4 ,stanley1 ,harry ,evans1 ,w4 ,dufton1 ,j4 ,roberts1 sen41 ,t4 ,morris1 ,a4 ,hughes1 ,john ,bennett1 ,l4 ,kilkenny1 ,alfred ,bennett1 ,g4 ,collins1 and ,stammers4 ,it was won from scratch by ,cook1 who beat ,kilkenny 7#acj points start7--the heats were #ejj up1 all in--in the final1 winding up with a splendid break of #dbh2 and this appears to be a favourable opportunity for giving brief sketches of some of the players who took part in it1 six or seven of whom are no longer living4 #8,master' ,stanley1 as he was always designated in print for the first year or two after he began to play in public1 was certainly one of the most precocious youths that ever handled a cue1 and could not have been more than sixteen when he began to take his own part in good company4 ,the spot hazard was the strongest point of his game1 and ,i shall never forget the style in which he used to dash round the top of the table1 getting ready to play the next stroke long before the red ball had reached the pocket4 ,when it failed to drop in1 even if it was a couple of inches wide of the pocket1 his invariable look of blank astonishment was intensely comic4 ,tom ,taylor came forward about #ahgb1 just at the time that ,stanley was becoming well known1 and many were the hotly contested battles between them4 ,never were two lads more evenly matched4 ,stanley was a shade the better of the pair at the spot stroke1 but ,taylor was a little superior all round the table4 ,tom1 like most billiard-players1 had a pet stroke4 ,when he had opened a game with a miss in baulk1 and his opponent had followed with the answering miss under one of the side cushions1 he would invariably play at the red ball for the cannon off two cushions1 and bring it off three times out of four4 ,this is a stroke that is never played nowadays1 and yet1 when unsuccessful1 it rarely leaves anything on1 which is more than can be said of the cannon off the white ball1 the customary game at present4 ,a gamer player than ,tom ,taylor was never seen4 ,no matter what the state of the score might be1 he never ceased struggling2 to be apparently hopelessly in rear only seemed to improve his play1 and from time to time he would pull a game out of the fire in really marvellous fashion4 ,with the exception of ,roberts and ,collins1 ,taylor is the only one of the sixteen players in the great handicap at the ,guildhall ,tavern in ,december #ahgc who is playing regularly in #ahif4 ,fred1 ,alfred1 and ,john were all younger brothers of ,joseph ,bennett4 ,john1 although he occasionally took part in handicaps1 was a player of no class1 and died in ,november #ahhf2 but ,fred and ,alfred worthily upheld the family reputation as billiard-players some twenty years ago1 though they seldom now play in public4#c ,it is difficult to say which was the better of the two when they were in their prime1 for both played the spot well and were good all round2 but perhaps ,fred was the more brilliant1 and might have taken a high position if he had been fonder of the game1 and devoted himself more assiduously to it4 ,l4 ,kilkenny was another remarkably sound exponent of the game as it was played twenty years ago4 ,he1 too1 was good on the #8spot1' and when this stroke went out of fashion it practically killed his game2 for ,roberts and ,richards1 neither of whom ever liked the stroke1 are the only two of the old school who are playing better now than they did in the #8seventies4 ,kilkenny was about the last man that would have been taken for a professional billiard-player2 indeed1 clad in correct clerical costume1 he would have made a model country vicar4 ,he was always exceptionally quiet1 unassuming1 and well-behaved1 and ought to have done well2 but for some reason or another he missed his chances and died in poverty4 ,george ,collins always played quite a game of his own4 ,i have seen him make numerous long runs of spot strokes1 but they were invariably put together in the most unorthodox style4 ,his own ball was rarely within eighteen inches of the red1 and he would incessantly leave himself the most difficult hazards1 which he brought off again and again in the most marvellous fashion4 ,in a spot break of #cjj he would have to play more awkward shots than ,taylor or ,stanley would leave for themselves in ten breaks of the same number1 and very much the same thing was noticeable in his all-round play4 ,he would constantly succeed in #8gallery' shots1 but never seemed to trouble himself as to where the balls would be placed after the stroke2 and his apparent lack of any knowledge of playing for position was a fatally weak point in his game4 ,it was magnificent1 but it was not billiards1 and in his best day ,collins always played the game of an exceptionally good amateur rather than that of a professional4 ,of late years he has had comparatively little practice1 and has naturally fallen off in consequence4 ,as long as he remained in ,england1 ,harry ,evans was always recognised as a sound third-rate all-round player1 who was practically of no use on the #8spot1' and it was a great surprise to all who had known him over here when1 soon after he had settled down in ,australia1 he gained great fame as a spot stroke player1 made some really remarkable breaks1 and held the championship there for many years2 indeed1 it is only comparatively recently that he was deprived of it by ,charles ,memmott4 ,with the exception of ,roberts1 sen41 ,tom ,morris was many years older than any other player who took part in the first great handicap4 ,his game was indifferent1 as was that of ,a4 ,hughes and ,stammers4 ,early in #ahgd the first agitation against the spot stroke took place1 though it was not until twelve or thirteen years later that the stroke was virtually abandoned4 ,it occasioned a good deal of surprise when the final heat of the first spot-barred handicap lay between ,taylor and ,stanley1 two players whose game was popularly supposed to depend almost entirely upon their proficiency in the spot stroke4 ,yet there was really nothing remarkable about this result1 for there is a great deal of truth and good sense contained in a letter from ,stanley1 which was published in #8,land and ,water' about a couple of months before the handicap was played4 ,in it he wrote3 #8,i believe1 as a rule1 it will be found that the best player at the spot stroke is the best player1 after a time1 at the all-round game4 ,to play the spot stroke well requires great patience1 a great deal of practice1 and a great amount of nerve4 ,now1 anyone who can combine all these is sure to be a good all-round player4' ,cook paid a visit to ,america in #ahgd1 where he was ill advised enough to tackle ,rudolph at the cannon game1 with the inevitable result2 still1 it was impossible to regret that he had taken the trip1 for he brought back with him the ,american system of handicaps1 which at once became so popular in this country that scarcely a dozen really important handicaps on the old #8knock-out' principle have been played in the last twenty years4 ,it seems hardly necessary to explain that1 in an ,american handicap1 each player has to meet every one of the others1 and the winner of the largest number of games takes the first prize4 ,the immense advantage of this system is that the element of luck is as nearly as possible eliminated1 and that1 presuming the play to be fair and straightforward all through1 the best man on the handicap terms will win4 ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts took up the experiment warmly1 and presented #ajjl4 in prizes4 ,i formed one of the committee appointed to frame the handicap and to arrange the order of play1 and ,i well remember the difficulty we had over the latter task1 which will be fully appreciated by anyone who has attempted a similar one4 ,it must be remembered that1 as this was the first affair of the kind which had taken place in ,england1 we had no precedents to guide us1 and though it may seem very simple to arrange a list of eight men1 so that each shall play against a different opponent on every one of seven days1 let anyone who has had no experience in the matter sit down with a pencil and paper and try it4 ,the handicap was as follows3 ,cook1 ,roberts1 and ,j4 ,bennett1 scratch2 ,taylor1 #ajj points start2 ,stanley1 #abj2 ,timbrell1 #adj2 ,kilkenny and ,a4 ,bennett1 #afj4 ,william ,timbrell has not previously figured in these pages1 and may be dismissed in a very few lines4 ,he was a ,liverpool player1 who had already been credited with1 and to the best of my belief actually did make1 a break of #hic1 which included a sequence of #bif #8spots4' ,on his own table in ,liverpool he may occasionally have done great things1 which1 however1 he failed to repeat in ,london4 ,the moment he began to play in public every atom of nerve seemed to leave him1 and on the numerous occasions on which ,i saw him play he never showed even third-rate form4 ,roberts and ,a4 ,bennett tied for first prize with five games each1 and in playing off the former secured a very easy victory4 ,on ,may #bd1 #ahge1 ,cook lost the championship1 which he had held for exactly four years1 to ,roberts1 and the match was a very noteworthy one1 as it marks the turning-point in the careers of the two men4 ,up to that period ,cook had been generally considered rather the better of the pair1 but from the date of this match ,roberts asserted his superiority1 which became more and more marked in each succeeding year4 ,in #ahgf ,d4 ,richards1 an elder brother of ,s4 ,w4 ,stanley1 ran second to ,cook in an ,american ,tournament4 ,richards is the doyen of all the professional players before the public in #ahif1 and is a fine player4 ,as in the case of ,roberts1 increasing age only appears to improve his game1 and there is not the smallest doubt that when he had reached his #8jubilee' he was playing infinitely better than he had ever done in his life4 ,nursery cannons form the strong point of his game1 and he certainly plays them beautifully and with remarkable delicacy of touch1 though it must be admitted that no one makes more use of the push stroke than he does4 ,about the most noteworthy events of #ahgg were two matches on a championship table between ,joseph ,bennett and ,tom ,taylor1 both of which the latter won1 though only by twenty-seven and twenty-one points respectively4 ,bennett had gone very much off in his play just about that time1 or ,taylor would not have been matched with him on even terms1 and in the following year the two were both handicapped to receive a start of #aej in #ejj from ,cook in an ,american ,tournament that was played at the ,gaiety ,restaurant4 ,one of the eight men engaged in it was ,fred ,shorter1 who had a start of #bjj1 and had done very little previously4 ,never did a young player so suddenly make a reputation1 and some of his performances during the tournament were most extraordinary4 ,in his heat with ,joseph ,bennett1 the latter gave a miss in baulk1 ,shorter followed by placing his ball under one of the side cushions1 and ,bennett went out for a cannon1 which he missed by the merest hair's breadth4 ,this left a nice game on for ,shorter1 who speedily worked his way to the top of the table1 and went clean out with the spot stroke1 thus winning a love game4 ,there is a little story relating to this heat which must be fairly well known1 but is good enough to bear repetition4 ,of course1 the game only lasted about a quarter of an hour1 and1 as we were going out of the room an old gentleman1 desiring1 ,i suppose1 to make what he considered a soothing remark to the beaten man1 said3 #8,how do you do1 ,mr4 ,bennett8 ,you did not seem quite in your usual form to-day4' ,this to a man who had only been allowed two strokes--with one of which he gave a miss in baulk1 and with the other as nearly as possible brought off a most difficult cannon--was almost too much4 ,i shall never forget the expression of ,bennett's face1 but language failed him to make a suitable reply4 ,shorter did not treat ,cook quite as unkindly as this2 still1 the latter only scored twelve when he played his heat with the new man on the following day1 and most of the other players in the tournament were served in somewhat similar fashion4 ,a consequence of his beating ,taylor was a match which ,i arranged between them1 ,shorter to receive #bjj in #a1jjj4 ,an incident that occurred early in this game gives an excellent idea of ,shorter's coolness and self-possession4 ,one of his friends was seated next to me at the spot-end of the table1 and thoughtlessly struck a match to light a cigar without watching for a favourable opportunity to do so4 ,shorter had just worked his way to the spot1 and the sudden flash catching his eye caused him to miss the pocket by about six inches4 ,he came round to us and said quietly1 #8,please don't do that again2 ,i can get on the 8spot0 whenever ,i like1 and stay there as long as ,i like1 still it isn't worth while to throw away a chance4' ,this was no idle boast1 for when the game stood at #ddd to #aeb in his favour he put his opponent's ball into one of the top pockets with a brilliant stab shot from baulk1 and1 his own remaining in perfect position behind the red1 he ran right out1 winning the match by #hdh points4 ,his break of #eef was for many years the largest made in a match for money4 ,on being asked to continue it1 he ran it up to #fcf1 including #bjg consecutive spot hazards4 ,just at that time ,i firmly believe that ,shorter had no equal on an ordinary table2 indeed1 ,i offered to match him to play ,cook #a1jjj up1 level1 if the latter would stake #ejjl4 to #bjjl41 but the proposal was politely declined4 ,unfortunately1 ,shorter's prospects of ever attaining a position at the head of his profession were marred by the fact that he had no liking for the game4 ,it was the most difficult thing in the world to get him to do any practice4 ,when he afterwards took part in tournaments1 his first two or three games were generally devoted to playing himself into form1 so that his big breaks towards the end of the week came too late to give him any chance of success4 ,his constitution was never a strong one1 and1 as he could not be persuaded to take any reasonable care of himself1 symptoms of consumption showed themselves in #ahhd4 ,a voyage to ,australia was recommended as the best chance of saving his life1 but the remedy came too late1 and he died at ,deniliquin in ,august #ahhe4 ,on a match between ,roberts and ,timbrell at the ,gaiety ,restaurant1 ,timbrell receiving #cjj in #a1jjj and winning by #ddi points1 it is not necessary to dwell4 ,it was played on an ordinary table1 spot stroke in1 but ,roberts never made more than #ce off the balls1 whilst ,timbrell's best break was #gc4 ,the year #ahgi was remarkable for the first appearance in ,london of ,william ,mitchell4 ,the #8,sheffielder1' as he has always been called1 though1 as a matter of fact1 he was born in ,derbyshire1 had long been known in the provinces as a player of exceptional ability2 but few were prepared for the form he showed on the occasion of his ,london dbut in an ,american ,tournament at the ,royal ,aquarium1 ,westminster1 when he won six consecutive games and took the first prize4 ,this he followed up by securing another tournament at the ,baynard ,castle1 and then he was taken on a provincial tour by ,joseph ,bennett1 in the course of which he made many very remarkable breaks4 ,four years later1 in a match of #c1jjj up with ,cook for a stake of #a1jjjl41 ,mitchell at last cut ,shorter's record in a money game with a brilliant #gci 7#ee and #ahi #8spots'74 ,prior to this1 however1 when practising at ,brighton1 he had made a break of #a1hci1 composed almost entirely of #fab consecutive spot strokes4 ,this was generally discredited at the time1 but subsequent events showed ,mitchell to be well capable of such a performance4 ,when at his best1 ,mitchell never played a long game without making two or three four-figure breaks1 and it was probably his own fault that ,peall eventually became his master at the #8all-in' game4 ,he played the #8spot' at a tremendous pace1 and has never had an equal in one particular stroke--that of going all round the table and regaining position4 ,a somewhat delicate constitution has always been against him1 but his gameness is quite on a par with that of ,roberts and ,taylor4 ,there has never been a more brilliant hazard striker2 and1 strange as it appears1 considering that for many years the spot stroke was the backbone of his game1 he was always seen to great advantage on a three-inch pocket championship table4 ,when at his best1 his all-round game is always a singularly free and attractive one to watch1 and few players could surpass him in a push-barred game4 ,it was in #ahhj1 the year after ,mitchell had taken ,london by storm1 that his great spot stroke rival1 ,w4 ,j4 ,peall1 made his first appearance as a professional4 ,rumours had long been flying about as to the big breaks he was in the constant habit of making when playing as an amateur1 and his appearance at the ,royal ,aquarium in an all-in ,american ,tournament was watched with great interest4 ,he and ,r4 ,wilson received the limit of #age points start in #ejj from ,joseph ,bennett and ,w4 ,mitchell1 who were at scratch4 ,peall1 however1 disappointed expectation at first1 though playing sometimes brilliantly in exhibition games4 ,he did not show to advantage when a stake was at issue1 but in time he acquired confidence4 ,in ,may #ahhd he won an exhibition game with ,mitchell at the ,aquarium in four breaks exclusive of his initial miss1 scoring #a1jjj points in forty-four minutes1 which still remains the fastest time on record4 ,later in the same month the same pair were giving an exhibition game at ,cambridge1 and ,peall made a wonderful break of #a1ihi1 which included #edh consecutive spot strokes1 though as all of this break1 with the exception of the first #daa1 was made after the game was over1 it is questionable whether it should be counted as a record4 ,fortunately for ,peall1 he can well afford to dispense with this #a1ihi2 for at the ,royal ,aquarium1 on ,november #e and #f1 #ahij1 he completely eclipsed it with a phenomenal break of #c1cjd1 all made inside the game1 and comprising runs of #ic1 #c1 #aej1 #abc1 #agb1 #abj1 and #djj spot strokes4 ,i have no hesitation in giving these records of breaks made almost entirely on the #8spot1' for though the tables on which most of them were made may have been comparatively easy1 there is no sort of doubt that the breaks were genuine in other respects4 ,with spot-barred breaks1 however1 the case is very different1 and ,i prefer to write very little about them4 ,in matches where no money has really been at stake1 although each party to them had solemnly deposited his #ejl41 or #ajjl41 or #bjjl41 as the case might be1 it was clearly to the interest of each man to have as many big breaks made as possible1 for the reports of these were likely to improve the #8gate4' ,most of these big spot-barred breaks are composed largely of nursery cannons1 and some of these long runs of nursery cannons which are credited to different players were never really made at all4 ,either a cannon was scored which was not made1 a very difficult thing for a marker to detect1 considering the express speed at which some professional players rattle up these #8nurseries1' or the player1 when his ball was in contact with one of the others1 calmly proceeded with his run of close cannons1 instead of having the red and his opponent's ball spotted and playing from baulk4 ,this is something of a digression1 but it seemed necessary to explain why ,i have written so little about #8records4' ,they are easily to be ascertained by anyone who is interested in them1 and can be taken for what they are worth4 ,from these great performances of ,peall's it may be easily gathered that his nervousness had entirely left him1 and1 after he had once acquired confidence1 there never was a more consistent and trustworthy performer4 ,whatever any of us may fancy ,mitchell might have done1 there is no getting away from what the latter has actually accomplished1 and1 as a spot stroke player1 he has never had an equal4 ,for a long time past he has been ready and willing to meet anyone at the #8all-in' game1 and is entitled to call himself champion of ,english billiards4 ,it might have been imagined that the virtual disappearance of the spot stroke would have completely disposed of his pretensions to a place in the front rank1 but1 so far from this being the case1 he was for a considerable period second only to ,roberts as a spot-barred player4 ,short stature has always precluded the possibility of his being a very stylish player1 but the extreme deliberation which rather detracted from his play years ago has to a great extent disappeared4 ,his name has always been associated with all that is honourable and straightforward1 and no member of his profession is more universally and deservedly respected4 ,no match for the championship had taken place for nearly three years and a half when ,joseph ,bennett challenged either ,roberts or ,cook to play for it4 ,the former waived his claim and left ,cook to meet ,bennett on ,november #h1 #ahhj4 ,this match was one of the most interesting and exciting ,i ever witnessed4 ,bennett1 who was favoured with a good deal of luck in the early part of the game1 did not fail to take the fullest advantage of his opportunities1 and1 at the interval1 held a lead of #abb points1 a very big advantage indeed on a small-pocket table4 ,the interval1 however--like luncheon time in an important cricket match--often used to produce a marked change in the aspect of affairs1 and soon after resuming play ,cook put in a fine break of #ajg1 passed his opponent at #gie1 and entered the last hundred with a substantial lead4 ,the contest then seemed all over1 but ,bennett1 playing up with any amount of coolness and resolution1 won by #ea points4 ,this was about the first time that ,i noticed unmistakable signs of ,cook's nerve failing him2 he missed two or three easy strokes just when points were most wanted1 and ,i doubt if he was ever quite the same player again4 ,cook and ,roberts sailed for ,india immediately after this match1 and ,taylor at once challenged ,bennett for the championship4 ,the match came off on ,january #ab and #ac1 #ahha1 at ,st4 ,james's ,hall1 and though1 soon after starting1 ,bennett made a break of #abe1 the highest that had then been recorded in a match for the championship1 ,taylor stuck to him in his usual dogged fashion1 and was only beaten by #ij points4 ,shorter was the next aspirant1 but failed to make good his final deposit1 so ,bennett received forfeit4 ,an off-hand match1 however1 for #bel4 a-side took place between the two on the table on which they ought to have played for the championship4 ,bennett1 who conceded a start of #ajj in #a1jjj1 was defeated by #aic1 and as he soon afterwards met with the unfortunate gig accident to which ,i have previously alluded1 this was about his last appearance as a player1 all his energies being subsequently devoted to teaching4 ,i must not omit to mention that in ,september of this year1 during an exhibition game with ,alfred ,bennett1 ,cook made a spot-barred break of #cji1 the longest then on record4 ,it was without the semblance of a fluke1 and was a far finer performance than it looks to be on paper1 for the #8top of the table game' was then unknown1 and it was put together by open play all round the table4 ,in ,january #ahhb1 ,cook1 for the first time1 took points from ,roberts1 who gave him #ejj in #e1jjj1 all in1 for #ejjl4 a-side1 and won by no fewer than #a1feh points2 the winner's best break was #dcj 7#e1 #aa1 and #ajg #8spots'74 ,a return match was played for a similar stake at ,newmarket during the ,july week1 and was witnessed by the ,prince of ,wales and a large and aristocratic company4 ,this time ,cook's start was increased to #gej1 and he won by #iah4 ,his highest break was one of #dab2 ,roberts had two consecutive runs of #fec and #cie4 ,very early in #ahhc ,john ,north1 who possessed a high reputation in ,wales and the western counties1 made his first appearance in ,london4 ,this was in a spot-barred ,american ,tournament at the ,albert ,club1 and a more trying ordeal for a comparative novice cannot well be imagined1 for1 as is very truly stated in #8,billiards1 by ,w4 ,cook1' in allusion to ,north's dbut3 ,it is comparatively easy to perform in an ordinary tournament or match1 where the least noise or interruption to the player is instantly checked2 444 but billiards at the ,albert ,club is a different thing altogether4 ,betting on the game1 and often on individual strokes1 is carried on without let or hindrance1 and that a stranger to ,london should have displayed consistently good form under such trying circumstances was conclusive evidence that he had plenty of nerve and self-possession4 ,north won this tournament1 but it cannot be said that he has ever fulfilled his early promise4 ,fit and well1 and at his best1 he is an undoubtedly fine player2 but his style1 never a pretty one1 becomes terribly ugly and jerky when he is out of form4 ,towards the close of the year #ahhc ,roberts offered to give any man in the world #ejj in #e1jjj1 all-in1 or #bjj in #c1jjj spot barred4 ,there was no response1 and ,i only mention the fact to show how the status of certain players has altered in the last ten years4 ,few people would now care to pit ,roberts against ,peall on even terms at the all-in game2 whereas his supremacy at the spot-barred game1 to which he has entirely devoted himself1 is so complete1 that his offer of such a start as #bjj in #cjjj reads almost ludicrously4 ,illustration3 ,,choosing ,a ,,cue4 ,at the end of the year ,j4 ,g4 ,sala1 a ,scotch player of considerable repute1 appeared in ,london for the first time in an ,american ,tournament4 ,on his day he was a fine spot stroke player2 indeed1 his feat of making #ahf consecutive screw back red hazards into the same pocket remained a record for years1 when it was completely wiped out by ,charles ,memmott1 who made #dac similar strokes in succession in a match in ,australia4 ,sala was1 however1 by no means strong at the all-round game4 ,in #ahhd ,roberts took a company consisting of ,mitchell1 ,taylor1 ,shorter1 ,north1 ,collins1 ,white1 ,coles1 and ,sala for a provincial tour1 and organised tournaments in ,birmingham1 ,sheffield1 ,leeds1 ,liverpool1 and ,manchester1 where some really magnificent play took place4 ,writing the names of these players reminds me that ,i have said nothing of ,harry ,coles and ,fred ,white4 ,the former originally came from ,birmingham1 and made no particular mark for some years after arriving in ,london1 though he was always regarded as a sound and consistent player4 ,perhaps his form was never rated quite as highly as it deserved to be1 for there was nothing in the least #8flash' about his style1 and he never appeared to be playing nearly as well as he really was1 in this respect being the exact opposite of ,richards4 ,the virtual abolition of the spot stroke1 however1 gave him his opportunity1 and he improved very rapidly indeed1 until about #ahib1 when ,i saw him make upwards of #ejj off the balls1 twice within a few days at the ,aquarium1 he was playing a really fine game1 and only wanted a short start from players of the class of ,peall and ,dawson4 ,nearly twenty years ago ,white was regarded by some few people as a promising youngster1 but for a long time his health was very indifferent1 and never gave him a real chance of doing himself justice4 ,when he became stronger he played brilliantly for a brief period1 making spot stroke breaks of upwards of a thousand on two or three occasions in matches2 but as he depended almost entirely on the spot stroke1 and was very weak as an all-round player1 little or nothing has been seen of him of recent years1 though it is gratifying to know that he has done exceedingly well in pursuits unconnected with billiards4 ,it may be interesting to record that the first game of #aj1jjj up ever played was begun at the ,aquarium on ,may #bd1 #ahhd4 ,it was between ,roberts and ,peall1 #8all in1' and the latter1 who received a start of #b1jjj1 won by #ehi points4 ,once started these long games became very popular4 ,they were soon extended to as many as #bd1jjj up1 which took no less than a fortnight to play1 and the spot stroke was invariably barred4 ,i am not sure that the change was a judicious one1 for it is by no means so interesting to witness a couple of hours' play in the middle of a long match1 with one of the players possibly hopelessly in the rear1 as it is to see a game begun and finished at a single sitting4 ,the last matches ever played for the championship took place in #ahhe1 when ,roberts defeated ,cook and ,joseph ,bennett in turn1 each game being #c1jjj up4 ,the champion at this time was suffering from an attack of rheumatic gout1 which prevented him from touching a cue for a week prior to the match with ,cook1 and made it very difficult for him to hobble round the table2 but he won by #ib points4 ,bennett suffered defeat by more than half the game4 ,it is only fair to state that ,bennett was so unwell that he could scarcely hit a ball on the first and second days1 but the one-sided nature of the contest was in a great measure atoned for by the splendid exhibition given by ,roberts4 ,he made breaks of #aee and #adg1 the largest ever put together in a match for the championship2 and also scored sixteen successive spot strokes1 the largest consecutive number ever made in a championship match4 ,a notable #8all-in' match of #ae1jjj up on even terms between ,roberts and ,mitchell was played in ,february #ahhf2 ,roberts1 who certainly had the better of the luck1 winning by #a1gda points4 ,his longest breaks were #fic 7#bcj spot strokes71 #edd 7#agi71 #faf 7#hh and #ajd71 #gbb 7#bcj71 and #gaf 7#dg and #ahd74 ,mitchell's highest efforts were #gde 7#bdd71 #fja 7#aig71 #ifi 7#cba71 and #ecb 7#age74 ,the result was particularly instructive1 as it showed that1 though ,mitchell was at his very best just then1 and in full practice at the spot1 whereas ,roberts had not played the stroke in public for months previously1 the champion was still able to assert his supremacy at the all-in game4 ,in the following week ,roberts and ,peall began a six days' spot stroke match4 ,the conditions were that they should play four hours per day1 each man to place his ball where he chose at the beginning of a break1 and the highest aggregate scorer at the end of the week to be the winner4 ,peall had matters all his own way from the outset1 and eventually totalled #af1gcd against ,roberts's #aa1ibe2 it was a terribly wearisome affair and attracted very few spectators4 ,later in the year ,peall challenged ,roberts to play #ae1jjj up1 all in1 on even terms1 and as ,roberts declined the offer then1 and whenever it has been renewed1 ,peall1 as already remarked1 has certainly been entitled to claim the championship at ,english billiards ever since that date4 ,since #ahhf genuine matches for money have gone greatly out of fashion1 and we have had to content ourselves with battles for more or less fictitious #8purses1' varied by an occasional tournament4 ,the great feature of the past few years has been the wonderful play of ,roberts1 who1 although he was born on ,august #ae1 #ahdg1 has made greater improvement during the past few seasons than any of the younger players1 and was never better than he is at present4 ,everyone who is interested in the game must have seen him play1 and one visit to the ,egyptian ,hall will give a better idea of his inimitable skill than pages of description4 ,the young players who have come most prominently to the front since about #ahhh are ,hugh ,m,neil1 ,charles ,dawson1 ,edward ,diggle1 ,h4 ,w4 ,stevenson1 and ,william ,spiller4 ,at one time ,m,neil1 who is a left-handed player1 was generally regarded as the #8coming champion4' ,he was the first to grasp something of the champion's style1 and certainly played the #8top of the table game' better than any of his contemporaries4 ,roberts had a very high opinion of him1 and long ago said that he #8would be a splendid player if he would only keep steady4' ,a very severe illness unfortunately obliged the young ,scotchman to give up playing for a long period4 ,dawson's improvement was rapid1 and well maintained for several seasons4 ,his form is generally very consistent1 and would be even more so if he were less sensitive when luck seems to be against him4 ,diggle is now generally regarded as one of the most promising of the younger men4 ,he is by no means a pretty player1 and does not appear to have the least idea of making a bridge1 sometimes playing through his forefinger1 sometimes between his first and second finger1 and in various other extraordinary fashions2 but1 bridge or no bridge1 he keeps on scoring4 ,stevenson is by far the youngest of the professional players1 being still under age at the time of writing1 and there are great possibilities before him1 for he has a beautiful delicate touch1 strongly resembling ,william ,cook in that respect4 ,it has been amply proved during the season of #ahie-f that ,spiller only needed the requisite public practice to make him a fine player1 and1 though he performs in somewhat loose and haphazard style1 he continually runs up long breaks4 ,nor must ,i forget ,charles ,memmott1 a remarkably game and capable performer1 and equally good at the all-in or spot-barred game4 ,j4 ,p4 ,mannock is a player who would have come into prominent notice long ago had he appeared more in public4 ,the game is just now in a somewhat curious state4 ,it was never so popular in clubs1 and where there was one house possessing a private table a dozen years ago1 there are now twenty2 but the public support of billiards is fitful4 ,there is no doubt that exhibition matches have been terribly overdone during the last few seasons1 and some genuine battles are sadly needed to revive the fading interest in the doings of professional players4 ,it may1 ,i think1 be taken for granted that the push stroke--which has been abused to such an extent that a big cannon break is only put together by means of a number of glaring fouls--is doomed4 ,probably1 indeed1 the table of the near future will have smaller pockets with the spot a little nearer to the top of the table than it is at present4 ,there will then be no occasion to bar any fair stroke1 for such gigantic breaks from the spot stroke as have been made by ,peall and ,mitchell would be a sheer impossibility4 ,the barring of any fair stroke makes the game a bastard one1 and ,i feel certain that an alteration in the tables1 such as ,i have indicated1 would make billiards far more interesting to watch than it is at present1 and would1 therefore1 prove of the greatest benefit to professional players4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the history of the development of the modern game of billiards is scarcely complete without reference to the games between ,roberts and ,frank ,ives1 the ,american champion1 because the capabilities of the cannon game1 even on a table with pockets1 were so conclusively shown4 ,since then1 cannons have played a conspicuous part in most long spot-barred breaks2 and although cushion nurseries with the aid of the push stroke are so open to objection that some restriction is probable1 yet it is certain that as pockets are made more difficult1 cannons will become more important4 ,indeed1 this would seem to lead ultimately to the adoption of the cannon game and the abandonment of pockets2 a consummation to be regretted1 for winning and losing hazards are attractive features in the ,english game4 ,in the summer of #ahic the champions met at ,knightsbridge and played on a table with #c in4 pockets and with balls #b in4 in diameter4 ,at first ,roberts had the advantage1 but afterwards ,ives cornered the balls1 making #a1bfg cannons in a break of #b1eci1 and #djb cannons in a break of #heb1 and won with ease4 ,at the end the game stood1 ,ives1 #f1jjj2 ,roberts1 #c1hba4 ,neither player could be expected to show his best form under the circumstances1 for compromise in the matter of tables and balls cannot be satisfactory2 but the power and control possessed by ,ives were a revelation to most of our experts4 ,putting the great break on one side1 he was easily able to run up very long scores by means of a series of cannons played almost perfectly1 without the push stroke or suspicion of a foul1 and with but slight recourse to the mass4 ,during ,december #ahie ,eugene ,carter1 another ,american player1 has been giving exhibitions at the ,argyll ,hall1 and those who are capable of judging cannot fail to have realised from his performances how important the cannon is likely to be in the ,english game of the immediate future4 ,to the various professionals who have been mentioned the names should be added of ,green1 the veteran ,scotch player1 who has often performed very well in ,london1 and whose game is sound1 if old-fashioned2 and of ,lloyd1 who won the first prize at the ,association ,tournament held in ,december #ahie1 after a most determined struggle with ,peall4 ,the games during this tournament were played spot and push strokes barred4 ,more detailed notice of ,john ,roberts and his remarkable breaks#d would have been made here were he not so frequently alluded to in other parts of the book1 for the history of the modern game is mainly the history of his career and that of his father4 ,the elder revolutionised the game by the cultivation of the spot stroke1 whilst the younger has advanced its interests by virtually abandoning that mode of play4 ,each of them for long was without a rival on even terms1 and the respect entertained for the play of the younger ,roberts is1 we trust1 evident by the references elsewhere to his opinions and practice4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,implements ,,by ,,archibald ,,boyd ,no game in the world is so absolutely dependent on all its various accessories as billiards4 ,cricket can still be played1 and played well1 although the pitch may be not quite first-rate1 and a bit of rough ground is not fatal to a golf links2 but if the room be not large and airy1 if the table be ill kept1 the cloth unbrushed or badly stretched1 the balls foul1 and the cues ill cared for1 the skilful player at billiards will be reduced to the level of an ordinary performer1 and anything like a decent break will be out of the question4 ,it is1 therefore1 of paramount importance that all the implements connected with the game should be of the very best kind1 and in the very best order4 ,before dealing seriatim with the various subjects1 it is with pleasure that ,i acknowledge the great assistance that ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts and ,messrs4 ,thurston ,co4 7,i place the firms in alphabetical order7 have cheerfully given me--assistance without which ,i could not have hoped to carry out my allotted task1 and with which1 ,i fear1 ,i have hardly done justice to the time and trouble they have ungrudgingly expended upon me4 ,i have also to thank ,messrs4 ,wright ,co4 for the drawings of the ,standard ,association ,pockets which appear amongst the remarks on tables4 ,,the ,,room ,to begin with1 a room of convenient proportions must be found to accommodate the table4 ,good play is severely handicapped by an unsuitable room1 and the essential points of a good room are worthy of careful consideration4 ,that it must be large and airy goes almost without saying1 yet1 self-evident as this may seem1 it is a point which is too frequently overlooked1 not only in private billiard-rooms1 but also in rooms where exhibition matches are constantly being played4 ,amateurs1 in general1 are more directly interested in the rooms of clubs and private houses1 concerning which there are some points which cannot well be disregarded4 ,and1 first1 as to club-rooms4 ,although in these the architect has1 as a rule1 a free hand1 yet in far too many cases the comfort of the spectator 7and1 as a natural corollary1 the freedom of the players7 is sadly neglected4 ,it is most important for the players' sake that spectators should be comfortably seated at a reasonable distance from the table4 ,no man can play his best if he has constantly to turn round and look for a place for his foot amongst a crowd of friends2 still less when he is haunted by the fear that the butt of his cues may at any moment come into collision with a whisky-and-soda4 ,the older architects1 as a body1 seemed to consider that if the room was twenty-four feet long by eighteen feet broad1 ample accommodation was provided1 forgetting that the platforms1 upon which the seats are placed1 take up a great deal of the spare space4 ,so that one frequently finds1 in an apparently large room1 that certain strokes cannot be played without placing a foot upon the platform4 ,at one club an ingenious architect1 ably abetted by an unwary committee1 ran some hot-water pipes in front of the platform1 and so near to the top of the table did they extend1 that the well-known hazard from the top pocket off the spot became exceedingly difficult1 because a player was obliged to rest one foot upon these rounded pipes1 which afforded1 at the best1 a precarious foothold4 ,it is of the utmost importance that the player should have plenty of room all round the table4 ,another matter of importance is the position of the door4 ,do what you will1 somebody is sure to come in #8on the stroke1' and1 therefore1 the more the door can be kept out of the line of sight the better4 ,obviously1 the worst place for the door is at the top of the table--i4e4 directly facing the player as he plays from baulk--the best place is at the bottom1 and1 if possible1 away to the side4 ,in a large and modern room a light screen with peep-holes may be advantageously placed inside the door1 which should be fitted so as to open and shut silently4 ,by this means an inevitable nuisance may be brought within manageable limits4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,the position of the fireplace is also important4 ,a flickering light in the eyes of the players interferes seriously with good play2 therefore1 if possible1 the fire should never be at the top of the table4 ,wherever it may be1 it is well to cover the outside of the pocket facing it with green cloth1 so that the light may not shine through the pocket4 ,the ,committee of the ,oriental ,club have kindly permitted me to introduce a plan of their large room as an excellent example of what a club-room should be 7fig4 #a74 ,as will be seen in the plan1 the door is well out of the way1 the seats are roomy and comfortable1 capable of seating1 say1 fifty spectators1 and--most important of all--plenty of space is left for the player all round the table4 ,the skylight is a special feature2 in most rooms its elevation is something like the annexed sketches 7figs4 #b and #c74 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,a private house billiard-room need not be so large as a club-room1 but it is essential that it should be as airy as possible1 and--a most important point--it ought1 if possible1 to be the usual smoking-room of the house1 so that it may be regularly inhabited4 ,if this point is neglected1 and the room is intended solely for billiards1 a time may come when it may be left severely alone for two or three months1 and the cushions will probably suffer from cold and want of play4 ,if1 however1 the room be made comfortable and attractive1 it will be constantly lived in1 and the cushions kept at an equable temperature4 ,besides1 the fact of the table being at hand and ready will of itself induce more play4 ,all this1 of course1 means that at one end or other of the table there must be considerably more than the regulation six feet4 ,if one is going to build1 thirty or thirty-two feet for length1 and twenty feet for breadth1 will give plenty of space for billiards and smoking1 and be more satisfactory in the long run than a room twenty-four by eighteen at the outside4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,if the plan of the house precludes the possibility of a room of this size1 it should be remembered that very excellent billiard-rooms of corrugated iron1 lined with felt and match-boarding1 can be put up alongside a house if the requisite space can be found for them4 ,it is also worth while to remember that thirty feet by twenty feet looks a very small plot when measured on the lawn1 so that many a disused and forgotten corner might serve as a site for a noble billiard-room4 ,such a room ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,fowler1 the well-known amateur1 has erected in ,taunton by the side of his house4 ,it is thirty-four feet by thirty-three feet1 and is roughly of this shape 7fig4 #d74 ,the system of ventilation seems so excellent that1 at my request1 ,mr4 ,samson1 the architect of the room1 has kindly sent me drawings which are shown under #8,ventilation1' and which will1 no doubt1 make clear what is obscure in this description4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,the skylight is fitted with an exhaust cowl2 and the chimney has a special ventilating flue4 ,for cold weather1 two gas-stoves of the modern hygienic type are connected with the gas-pipes1 and keep the room warm enough at night to save the cushions from the effects of the severest frost4 ,as they have come triumphantly out of the ordeal of the ,siberian winter of #ahid-ie1 it is fair to assume that outside rooms of this type can be thoroughly protected from cold with very little trouble4 ,the recesses on each side give ample room for smoking1 whist1 or writing2 and the horizontal beams of the framework naturally lend themselves to the function of bookshelves1 so that a variety of tastes may be satisfied4 ,the cost of such a room would be about #cjjl4 ,as a type of an indoor room ,i append a rough sketch of ,mr4 ,a4 ,gibbs' room at ,tyntesfield1 which embodies the same principle--viz4 that it is an exceedingly comfortable room for smoking and writing4 ,it is covered with a high-arched roof1 so that it is always cool 7fig4 #e74 ,one can thus see that the addition of a recess or a few feet in length at once renders the room habitable and convenient4 ,i do not1 of course1 wish it to be supposed that the foregoing plans necessarily represent the best billiard-rooms of their kind in the country2 they happen to be rooms with which ,i am familiar1 and ,i have introduced them as illustrations merely of the principle that comfort1 both for players and spectators1 is a very important factor in the encouragement of good play4 ,every reader can1 out of his personal experience1 suggest to himself examples of comfortable rooms1 both public and private1 as good as1 and possibly better1 than those ,i have sketched4 ,,ventilation ,one of the most difficult and most important problems in connexion with billiard-rooms is the subject of ventilation1 particularly where the electric light is used4 ,if gas be the lighting agent1 the heated air can generally be drawn off by means of an exhaust cowl over the skylight2 but these cowls are apt to cause a leak in the skylight fittings1 and must1 therefore1 be erected with great care4 ,where the electric light is used1 a small sunlight gas-burner at the bottom of the exhaust tube helps to generate a hot upward current4 ,tobin tubes in the corners of the room1 carried well up eight or nine feet from the ground1 are valuable allies in admitting fresh air2 but one great objection to them is that they usually pour the cold current upon the unprotected heads and necks of the spectators4 ,small boards 7say six inches in height7 to fit against the bottom of the windows make capital practical #8,tobins2' for the lower sashes can be pushed up a couple of inches without going clear of the board1 and fresh air comes into the room between the sashes4 ,skylight sashes are not of much use1 for they can only be used in fine weather1 and they rarely fit tight enough to keep out really heavy rain4 ,if we turn back for a moment to the drawing of the ,oriental ,club skylight1 we shall see that it is a good fine-weather type4 ,the sashes pivot on their middles and admit plenty of air1 and as the coaming#e is unusually high 7more than two feet71 the danger of rain splashing off the flat roof through the bottom of the sashes is sensibly reduced4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,mr4 ,samson1 the architect of the ,county ,club at ,taunton1 and also of ,mr4 ,fowler's room1 very recently showed me a system of ventilation which he had introduced into the ,club billiard-room with absolute success4 ,fully realising the difficulty of keeping rain out and letting air in with a skylight of the ordinary type1 he decided to carry the skylight the whole length of the room1 so that the sashes which open at one end are far removed from the table4 ,the skylight is of the ordinary section 7fig4 #f71 and in order to avoid undue glare he has fitted the space between the coamings with horizontal sashes of ground glass1 sliding one on another in such a way that the amount of light can be easily regulated by the marker4 ,at one end of the skylight two vertical sashes 7of the full width of the skylight7 are fitted1 one being above the coaming1 the other in the wall below the coaming1 so that it can be opened whether all the horizontal sashes be closed or not4 ,at the other1 or fireplace end of the skylight1 two large gratings are fixed1 one 7as at the opposite end7 above1 the other below the level of the base of the skylight1 communicating with a flue in the chimney1 which is1 of course1 kept warm by the heat of the fire4 ,thus a powerful exhaust is working at one end of the room1 while as much or as little fresh air as is required flows in at the other4 ,i append a rough sketch1 which may1 perhaps1 tend to make the description clearer 7fig4 #g74 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,the two great advantages of his plan seem to me to be1 first1 the risk of water on the table is greatly diminished2 second1 no matter how cold it be1 some air can be admitted1 and some can be sucked out1 although the skylight may be completely shut by the closing of all the flat sashes4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4--,mr4 ,samson's ,sections of a ,billiard-room 7#cb #bd7 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i ,in all rooms1 the heating apparatus1 whatever it may be1 should be absolutely under the control of the players4 ,most of us have experienced the nuisance of hearing a fire noisily poked by a chilly spectator just in the middle of a good break2 and1 apart from the strain on the nerves that such interference with play causes1 the question of the heat alone is one that the players should be allowed to settle for themselves4 ,spectators sitting near a window are apt to forget that a temperature which to them feels merely comfortable may be well-nigh intolerable to a player constantly on the move and exposed to the heat and glare of the lamp4 ,on such an important point as ventilation it is well worth while1 if building a new room1 to consult a competent architect4 ,it may save many a headache afterwards4 ,,lighting ,a considerable choice lies before the owner of a room4 ,he can have electric light1 or incandescent gas1 or albo-carbon1 or ordinary burners1 or oil lamps4 ,if he is in the country1 with no gas light and no electric light installed1 he must of necessity fall back upon oil4 ,mineral oil is generally used1 and the lamps made for the purpose appear to answer very well4 ,one word of caution is1 however1 necessary4 ,the lamps should only be put in the brackets when required1 and should be removed immediately the play is over1 so as to minimise the chance of oil being spilt upon the cloth4 ,for the same reason the containers should be most carefully wiped before being put into the brackets1 and with constant care of this kind no harm need happen to the table4 ,glass chimneys1 whether for oil or gas1 are a constant source of danger4 ,if one should break1 the pieces of glass are apt to cut or scorch the cloth4 ,they must1 therefore1 be very carefully handled4 ,chimneys of talc are now supplied1 which are in every way to be preferred to the glass ones4 ,of the various kinds of gas light the incandescent appears to give the most pleasant for play4 ,the burners for this light are now fitted with a #8bye-pass1' which is a tiny flame never to be extinguished4 ,with this fitting1 when the gas is gradually turned on it ignites from the small leader on the bye-pass and the mantle gradually glows without a sudden shock4 ,by this means the life of a mantle is much prolonged4 ,if the light should be fitted without the #8bye-pass1' the greatest care and caution must be observed in lighting up4 ,a spirit torch should be used1 and the gas should not be turned full on at once or the mantles will soon be destroyed4 ,it will be found advisable to hold a tray or something of the kind under the spirit torch when lighting up1 to prevent any of the hot spirit falling on the cloth4 ,albo-carbon lights are not often seen now4 ,with the best attention we are told that they are absolutely inodorous1 but1 practically1 owing to carelessness or what not1 in most rooms where ,i have seen them used ,i have found a disagreeable smell4 ,the old ring burner 7which has the merit of simplicity7 is seldom used1 because of the tremendous heat which it generates4 ,one good burner of modern type under each shade ought1 with fairly good gas1 to be sufficient for all purposes4 ,it will save a great deal of gas as compared with the ring burner1 and will cause fewer headaches4 ,of the electric light little need be said4 ,the globes are of the ordinary pattern1 and the lights should be #cb-;candle-power2 #af-;candle-power is not strong enough to light up the corner pockets1 if the usual #f-light bracket is used1 and it is an easy matter to shield the eyes by putting silk fringes at the bottom of the shades4 ,it is advisable to have three or four spare globes in readiness in case of a break1 and care must be taken to avoid touching the lights with a cue4 ,if a glass does break1 it will fly into thousands of pieces1 and cover the table with fine particles of glass1 which are troublesome to clear off without injuring the cloth4 ,note by ,major ,broadfoot ,the question of a good light on the table during the day is of great importance4 ,for all persons daylight is probably healthier than the best system of artificial light2 whilst for those whose breathing arrangements are delicate1 and they1 unfortunately1 are many1 daylight play may be almost obligatory4 ,the main difficulty has been to provide a weather-tight skylight1 and ,mr4 ,boyd has given excellent hints and advice on the subject4 ,it is1 however1 worthy of consideration whether the skylight should not be abandoned in favour of a sound roof1 the light being admitted at the sides and ends of the room2 at a height above the floor sufficient to prevent the glare and shadows which result from ordinary side lights4 ,several advantages are obvious4 ,the roof should be more weatherproof1 the room less liable to be overheated in sunny weather1 the frame which carries the lighting apparatus would cast no shadow on the table1 whilst1 when daylight is waning and artificial light is required1 the struggle for supremacy between the two1 resulting in a most objectionable dark spot directly under each shade1 would be avoided4 ,each of these considerations is of much importance1 and an intelligent engineer or architect would have little difficulty in designing an arrangement to meet them4 ,the idea may be gathered from above sketch 7fig4 #aj74 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj ,the heat in most skylighted rooms is unendurable in summer4--,w4 ,b4 ,,tables ,it would1 no doubt1 be very satisfactory if all the tables throughout the kingdom were of one uniform pattern1 and more than one attempt has been made to bring about this desirable state of things4 ,but such efforts have not been successful because the owners of the many thousand tables already in existence are naturally unwilling to spend money in alterations4 ,and1 again1 individual tastes will constantly tend to develop typical differences4 ,the question of the size of the pockets first reached an acute form at the time when the championship was being frequently played for between ,messrs4 ,j4 ,roberts1 jun41 ,w4 ,cook1 and ,joseph ,bennett4 ,the deadly effect of the spot stroke on a large pocket table was clearly recognised1 and fears were already entertained that unless some radical alteration were made1 all-round play would become neglected1 and that the public would soon weary of watching a single stroke indefinitely repeated4#f ,a committee of the leading players thereupon decided that in future all matches for the championship should be played upon a table with pockets three inches at the fall of the slate1 with the billiard spot a little nearer to the top cushion1 and with a smaller 4 ,this last alteration1 looking to the fact that the deliberate intention of the committee was to discourage1 if not kill1 the spot stroke1 seems curiously illogical4 ,if the spot is to go1 something must be encouraged in its stead2 obviously1 all-round play must be developed4 ,why1 then1 cramp in any way the latitude up till then given to a player when playing from hand8 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aa ,the subsequent history of the pockets is an interesting commentary on the labours of the committee4 ,as they had expected1 the spot stroke soon failed to draw1 and for exhibition purposes it is1 in #ahie1 as dead as ,julius ,csar4 ,but the tight pocket failed to gain popularity4 ,here and there a more than usually gifted amateur erected one for his own amusement2 in one or two instances an enterprising billiard-room proprietor1 who had other tables to fall back upon1 tried one for an experiment4 ,but these tables are and must be1 for all time1 caviare to the general4 ,the reduced has never found a place on ordinary tables1 so that the result of the committee's work is that the spot has gone1 and the championship match1 if there ever be one1 must be played with the three-inch pocket4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ab ,quite recently another attempt to secure uniformity has been made by the ,billiard ,association4 ,their committee1 recognising the fact that the public would have nothing to say to a tight pocket1 and taking a #c-;inch pocket as a fair average size1 caused templates to be made of those dimensions1 and decided that tables made with pockets accurately fitted to the aforesaid templates should be called #8,standard ,association ,tables4' ,in two minor respects these pockets differ slightly from what1 for want of a better word1 we may call #8ordinary' pockets--first1 the shoulders of the cushions are struck with a rounder curve2 second1 the outer edge of the fall of the slate at the middle pocket falls slightly within the inner line of the cushion1 as shown in fig4 #aa1 where ,a ,a is the line of the cushion1 ,c the cloth1 and ,p the middle pocket4 ,from this sketch it will be seen that the difficulty of middle-pocket jennies is sensibly increased4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ac ,drawings of the ,championship pockets 7figs4 #ab1 #ac7 and the ,standard ,association pockets 7figs4 #ad1 #ae7 are here inserted in order that the reader may compare them for himself4 ,the drawings of the ,championship pockets are taken direct from the templates in the possession of ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts1 and those of the ,standard pockets from templates the property of ,messrs4 ,wright ,co4 ,an intending purchaser has1 then1 to decide for himself whether he will have a ,standard pocket table2 an ordinary #c-pocket table 7and in this case the pockets of different makers will vary slightly in size and shape72 or1 lastly1 a #c-;inch pocket ,championship table4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ad ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ae ,whichever may be the pattern selected1 the purchaser1 if he is really fond of the game1 ought to get a good table well up to #8club' quality4 ,if money is no object1 elaborately carved tables can be bought up to #cjjl4 or so2 but for the purposes of billiards all the carving is unnecessary4 ,let the bed be a thoroughly strong one1 the slates of the best quality1 the cushions according to the maker's best pattern1 the cloth the best of its kind1 and the woodwork plain4 ,a plan of a billiard-table is given on p4 #ge1 in order that the terms used in connexion with the table may be fully set forth2 it is drawn on the scale shown below- in4 #a ft4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #af ,,ordinary ,,table 7i7 ,billiard spot #ab in4 from face 7or nearest point7 of the top cushion4 7ii7 ,radius of semicircle of 1 #aa in4 7iii7 ,baulk-line1 #bi in4 from face of bottom cushion4 ,,championship ,,table 7i7 #ab in4 7ii7 ,first #i in4 then #aj in4 7iii7 #bh in4 ,it is essential to the true running qualities1 as well as to the lasting qualities of the table1 that the frames 7which few people ever see7 should be exceedingly strong1 thoroughly well seasoned1 and accurately levelled4 ,the slightest warping of these frames is fatal to the preservation of the table1 and they are made1 for this country at any rate1 of the most carefully selected red deal4 ,if the table is intended for the tropics1 mahogany or teak should be used4 ,as soon as the frames are bolted to the legs 7which1 by the way1 are erected on an absolutely level base71 they are carefully trimmed over with a long plane1 and1 until the straight-edge fairly meets the frames all over1 in whatever direction it may be tried1 the bed is not ready for the slate4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ag ,slates come from the ,penrhyn or ,aberdovey quarries1 as the case may be4 ,some makers prefer one quarry1 others another4 ,after they have been rough-hewn to size and thickness1 they are passed through a planing machine1 which reduces the surface to a rough level4 ,they are then put into another machine and cut to size1 each slate being now #b feet wide and #f feet #a in4 long4 ,then the five slates#g necessary to make a table bed are laid together upon a solid level bed1 and #8floated' with coarse sand2 then fine sand is used1 and yet finer1 till the face is brought to a polish4 ,meanwhile1 every inequality is carefully tried down1 so that before the slates leave the #8banker1' as it is called1 the straight-edge must touch them fairly all over4 99 99 99 99 99 ,references to ,diagram ,b1 ,b1 ,b1 ,b4 ,bed of table4 ,cushion #a4 ,top cushion4 ,cushion #b4 ,right top side cushion4 ,cushion #c4 ,right bottom side cushion4 ,cushion #d4 ,bottom cushion4 ,cushion #e4 ,left bottom side cushion4 ,cushion #f4 ,left top side cushion4 ,d4 ,the 4 ,l1 ,l4 ,baulk-line4 ,p#a4 ,left top pocket4 ,p#b4 ,right top pocket4 ,p#c4 ,right middle pocket4 ,p#d4 ,right bottom pocket4 ,p#e4 ,left bottom pocket4 ,p#f4 ,left middle pocket4 p1 p1 p1 4441 ,pocket plates4 ,s#a4 ,the spot1 or the billiard spot4 ,s#b4 ,pyramid spot4 ,s#c4 ,centre spot4 ,s#d4 ,left spot of the 4 ,s#e4 ,centre spot of the 4 ,s#f4 ,right spot of the 4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,holes are bored in the sides of the slates and metal dowels leaded into one side1 as shown in the sketch 7fig4 #ag71 so that each slate may fit into the next1 and then large holes are drilled out on the underside of the slates and steel nuts leaded in to take the long screws which fasten the cushions firmly to the slates 7fig4 #ah74 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ah ,on the underside of each slate a bevel about two inches wide is made1 in order that a chisel may be slipped between the slates to separate them when dismantling a table2 and if one is far away from professional assistance1 and is obliged to take down a table according to one's own lights1 it is well to look carefully for this bevel1 and it may save many a cracked slate4 ,various thicknesses are used1 from1 say1 #a inch up to and over two inches1 the general principle being that1 the thicker the bed is1 the quieter the balls run4 ,but1 as in most other things1 there is a reasonable limit1 because the weight of the slates increases so enormously with the increased thickness1 that beyond two inches in thickness they become very difficult to handle1 and the risk of damage in transport is more than proportionately increased4 ,therefore1 one may call two inches a reasonable maximum1 and #a in4 a fair minimum for the thickness of slates4 ,,cushions ,no part of the table has undergone such radical changes in the last forty years as the cushion4 ,billiard-players of even twenty-five years' experience are already beginning to forget the miseries they endured in the early days in endeavouring to make a respectable shot from under the old high cushions1 and a school of billiard-players is rapidly growing up who will never realise the difficulties their fathers encountered4 ,i am permitted by the courtesy of ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts to insert four drawings from #8,billiards ,simplified1' which show the difference of the stroke from under the cushion--fig4 #ai in #ahbf2 fig4 #bj in #ahcg2 fig4 #ba in #ahfi2 fig4 #bb in #ahie4 ,the more the player's cue is elevated from the horizontal1 the more difficult it becomes to direct the course of the ball1 and with the old high cushions it was no easy matter for an ordinary player whose ball was tight under the cushion to hit another ball at the length of the table4 ,but it is not only for the reduction in the height of the cushions that we have to thank the makers at the present time4 ,the early rubber cushions were exceedingly sensitive to cold1 and unless the greatest care and trouble were taken with them they became hard1 untrue1 and useless2 and if they were once allowed to get #8frozen1' as it was called1 they never regained their original elasticity4 ,five and twenty years ago it was the exception and not the rule to find a country-house table worth playing on2 now1 thanks to modern improvements1 no one need despair of keeping his table in excellent order4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ai ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bj ,vulcanite specially prepared was at one time recommended for country-house cushions4 ,but although cushions of that material were unaffected by frost1 they were slower and deader than #8native' rubber cushions1 and soon became unpopular4 ,the makers have at last found a way of preparing cushions so that with ordinary care they can be kept true and fast in all weathers1 and it is possible1 and indeed usual1 to play in the country with the same kind of cushions as are used in the leading ,london clubs4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ba ,the manufacture of these cushions is a delicate piece of work2 but one may say generally that the rubber is applied to the backing in thin strips1 one #8pasted' on the top of another with some liquid preparation of india-rubber similar to1 if not the same as1 the stuff one uses to mend a hole in wading-stockings4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bb ,for those who wish to go deeper into the subject1 a day at the ,patent ,office ,library and a careful study of the various patents obtained by the principal makers with reference to the manufacture of cushions will prove an interesting piece of research1 and will place the scientific reader in possession of information which for obvious reasons could not properly be included in the present work4 ,as we write1 rumours of a pneumatic cushion #8which is to supersede all others' are widely current in the billiard world2 but when one remembers the number of fair-seeming patents that have never got further than the ,patent ,office ,library aforesaid1 it would be premature to express any opinion upon the cushions until they have been thoroughly submitted to the two practical tests of time and play4 ,,cloths ,the bulk of the cloth comes from ,stroud1 although a good deal is manufactured in ,yorkshire1 and the finest quality is passed through two steel rollers1 while a sort of knife like a mowing machine removes a considerable part of the long nap4 ,this is the kind of cloth that one sees upon the tables used for exhibition matches4 ,it would be unsuitable for a club because1 having a comparatively short nap1 it would soon be rubbed smooth and bare by the incessant play1 and the brushing and ironing such play involves4 ,for country houses1 however1 it is the very thing4 ,the short nap which renders it unsuitable for clubs makes it easily manageable in a private house2 it requires a minimum of ironing2 and even if the table be left to itself for some time1 there will be no staring nap to be seen when next the table is used4 ,for clubs the next quality1 with longer nap1 is more useful2 more brushing and more ironing are required1 but the cloth is better fitted to resist the everlasting friction of the player's hands and the incessant brushing that becomes1 owing to the chalk from many cues1 an almost hourly function4 ,and here1 notwithstanding all that has been said and written about the subject1 let me say that the ironing in club-rooms is in most instances very much overdone4 ,it is not altogether the marker's fault2 members complain that the table is running slow1 and on goes the iron as a matter of course1 generally far too hot4 ,nearly every marker will tell you that the iron is no use unless it is thoroughly hot2 what he means is1 that he cannot get the glaze upon the cloth without it2 but the proper answer is that nobody wants1 or ought to want1 the glaze1 and that it is directly detrimental to scientific billiards4 ,the cooler you can use the iron and keep the table in order1 the better for the life of the cloth and the better for the club play4 ,at the seaside1 or in any damp climate1 constant ironing becomes a necessity1 in order to thoroughly dry the cloth1 but even under such circumstances there is no necessity to scorch it4 ,a good cloth can be told by the feel only2 it should be firm and leathery1 closely woven1 and not too elastic4 ,in such an important matter as a cloth1 however1 a purchaser would be well advised to place himself unreservedly in the manufacturers' hands1 and leave the selection to them4 ,,to ,,erect ,a ,,table ,having fixed upon a suitable foundation 7and for this a competent architect should be consulted71 stand the legs up in the places they will occupy2 fit the frames 7which are all numbered7 into the mortices1 and screw the frames to the legs with the long bolts provided for the purpose4 ,at this stage it will be well to set about levelling1 before the weight of the slates comes upon the bed1 and if you get your wedges in now1 you can more readily knock them a little further when the table is completely put together than if you had left them to be inserted last of all4 ,having thus got the bed level1 lift the slates on carefully1 and lay them on the bed an inch or two apart4 ,place the centre slate accurately in position1 slide the next one up against it1 and enter the dowels of the one into the corresponding holes of the other fairly and squarely2 proceed in like manner with the other slates till they are all joined4 ,if there be any cracks in the upper edges of any of the slates1 fill them in with plaster of ,paris4 ,lay on the cloth1 taking care that the right side is uppermost1 that the nap runs from what is to be the bottom of the table towards the top1 and that the cloth is square to the table4 ,go to the top of the table1 drive in a couple of tacks1#h and then go to the bottom of the table1 pull the cloth tight1 and drive in two more tacks on the middle line4 ,then stand at one of the middle pockets1 pull the cloth a little towards you1 and tack it lightly on each side of the pocket2 next go over to the opposite middle pocket1 pull the cloth tight and tack it as before4 ,then at each of the middle pockets in succession take a good handful of cloth and a good pull and tack what you get underneath the pocket4 ,smooth out the cloth over the fall of these pockets1 but do not at present trouble about a wrinkle or two1 as they will be smoothed out later4 ,get somebody to hold the cloth firmly at the middle pocket1 and go yourself to the corner pocket and pull along the side of the table1 using considerable strength2 proceed in like manner with the other corner pockets4 ,if all this has been done carefully1 neatly1 and firmly1 the cloth ought to be well stretched the length and breadth of the table4 ,the amateur will find the greatest difficulty in getting the cloth to lie smooth along the sides and ends of the table1 and especially at the fall of the pockets1 for the cloth must be humoured so as to come fair over the pockets without creasing4 ,this is a work of time1 trouble1 and neat-handedness2 you must not hurry2 take plenty of time1 plenty of tacks1 and by degrees success may be attained4 ,covering the cushions with cloth is such an exceedingly difficult and delicate operation that it should not be attempted by an amateur2 very few workmen can cover a cushion as it should be covered1 and1 therefore1 it is useless to describe the operation4 ,it will be found prudent to order the makers to cover the cushions before sending them out2 indeed1 some clubs abroad have two sets of cushions1 so that while one set is in use the other may be in ,england for repairs4 ,and now to put the cushions on the table4 ,take care that you have each one in its proper place 7the cushions will be all numbered72 fit them all firmly on so that the holes in the woodwork exactly coincide with the holes in the slates2 push in the bolts and screw them all up hand tight4 ,don't screw one as tight as you can at first1 or you will strain the cushion and the nut1 but when you have got them all fairly tight1 set them up with the brace as tight as your strength will allow1 taking care that each is similarly treated4 ,with modern steel cushions it must be remembered that slots have to be dealt with instead of holes1 and therefore the position of the cushions must be carefully measured1 or one pocket will be larger than another4 ,having screwed up the cushions quite tight1 fit in the pocket plates and pass the long thin screws up from below through the woodwork of the cushions and screw all tight4 7,some modern cushions are fixed with what are called invisible pocket plates2 these have to be put into the cushions before the latter are fixed74 ,modern pockets are made with holes at the side closed by an india-rubber ring1 so that the balls can be taken out without putting the hand into the pockets4 ,these are an improvement on the old pattern1 for the shoulders of the cushions will last longer and will not be pulled out of shape4 ,it now only remains to get the table quite level4 ,work the level about and correct any slight errors by slightly jacking up the low part1 and by pushing the wedges under the nearest legs further home4 ,rather under-compensate at first1 because if you overdo the thing at all1 you will find yourself obliged to go on overdoing it till your table is eventually raised appreciably above the regulation height1 which should be #b ft4 #h in4 from the floor to the cloth1 not to the top of the cushions4 ,if obliged to put up or superintend the erection of the lighting apparatus1 remember that the flame is generally three feet from the cloth4 ,one more word of advice4 ,if you can secure an expert to erect your table1 never do the work yourself2 but if you cannot command such aid1 the foregoing hints may be of service4 ,the spots should be of thin court plaster1 and should be carefully stuck on the places shown in the diagram1 p4 #ge4 ,pipeclay1 white chalk1 black chalk1 or a lead pencil can be used for marking a baulk-line2 and1 whichever you select1 remember to mark the lines lightly or the cloth will soon become grooved and damaged4 ,pipeclay1 which is the least likely to damage the table1 has the drawback that it very easily rubs out1 and1 in consequence1 involves constant ruling1 so that1 on the whole1 a lead pencil carefully and lightly used can be recommended4 ,if the table be a ,championship one1 the position of the afore-mentioned spots and lines requires modification1 as shown on p4 #gc4 ,,brushing ,,and ,,ironing ,it is impossible to overestimate the value of continual and regular brushing4 ,with one of the finest quality cloths1 unless the climate be damp1 once or twice a week at the outside will be enough for the iron1 if the brush is used as it should be4 ,at the conclusion of play the brush should always be used freely and at once1 so that all the chalk marks may be removed before they are rubbed through the cloth4 ,remember always to use the brush with the nap--that is1 from the bottom towards the top of the table4 ,to iron a table properly1 place the iron at ,a ,c 7fig4 #bc71 and then take it steadily along the table from ,a to ,b4 ,lift it off2 then go back to the bottom again2 put the iron down at ,c ,e1 and take it along the table from ,c to ,d4 ,then go from ,e to ,f2 and finally from ,g to ,h4 ,proceed then in a similar manner with the other side of the table4 ,avoid as much as possible letting the iron come into contact with the cushion4 ,it will be observed that the iron in the sketch is put down diagonally1 the reason being that if1 when ironing the breadth next to the side cushion1 the iron comes in contact with the shoulder of the middle pocket1 it will slide on harmlessly and not damage the cushion4 ,if it were held squarely1 the sharp edge of the iron might cut the cloth of the cushion4 ,bear well in mind that if at any time the cloth is turned end for end1 the brushing and ironing will have1 as before1 to go with the nap1 and will1 therefore1 start from the top end of the table and proceed towards the bottom4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bc ,let the iron be too cold rather than too hot4 ,it is easy to go over the table a second time1 and after a little experience the proper temperature will become known4 ,if the cloth be once scorched it will never be satisfactory4 ,therefore3 ,rule #a4--,never put an iron on the cloth until you have practically satisfied yourself that it is not too hot4 ,rule #b4--,never iron an unbrushed cloth4 ,,undersized ,,tables ,tables can be bought #aj ft4 by #e ft41 #i ft4 by #d ft41 and so on down to #f ft4 by #c ft4 ,there are also combination tables which serve as dining-tables as well1 and they seem to answer very well in small houses4 ,for the earnest student a so-called #8spot stroke' table #f ft4 by #c ft41 which is really a section of the top of a full-sized table1 made after the fashion of the sketch 7fig4 #bd71 will afford an immense amount of amusement and practice2 for1 in addition to the #8spot1' the top of the table game1 #8rail' cannons1 c41 can be practised4 ,the pattern of the spot stroke table is a matter of fancy and cost2 the side ,a1 ,b1 ,c need have neither cushion nor pocket4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bd ,if the small tables do not satisfy the ambition of the player1 he has yet another course open--viz4 to get a ,french table1 and seriously study the cannon game in all its phases2 and signs are not wanting that this beautiful game1 as it is becoming better known1 is finding favour with advanced players4 ,it may not be generally known by the vast army of people who rent furnished houses for a few months at a time that billiard-tables can be hired from the leading makers by the week or the month1 the rate being from1 say1 #bl4 #bs4 to #cl4 #cs4 a month1 with a small payment in addition to cover erecting and dismantling4 ,lighting and all fittings are1 of course1 included in the above charges1 and thus1 without the expense of purchase1 a billiard-table can be brought within anyone's reach4 ,before leaving the subject of tables1 an ingenious modification of an old arrangement whereby the balls are automatically returned from the pockets to the baulk end of the table may be mentioned4 ,it has been patented by ,messrs4 ,orme ,sons1 and will be found a convenience where no marker is kept1 specially in practising losing hazards from baulk4 ,for spot1 or top of the table play1 it is inconvenient2 but the drawback of having to return to baulk for the ball after each hazard may be remedied by placing a plug or false bottom into each top pocket 7failing anything better1 a pocket handkerchief will do71 so that the ball may be removed in the usual way4 ,mr4 ,rimington-,wilson has devised a mode of meeting this difficulty1 and ,messrs4 ,orme have acquired the right to use his patent4 ,,balls ,balls are made of various substances1 generally of ivory1 the standard diameter for the ,english game being #b inches4 ,every practical billiard-player is painfully aware of the difficulty that exists in procuring a really satisfactory set of ivory balls4 ,i propose1 therefore1 first to touch on their manufacture1 then on their treatment1 and finally to offer a suggestion or two as to their purchase and preservation4 ,it is said that only one kind of tusk1 that of the female elephant1 is suitable for ball-making2 and the size of the tusk1 again1 is closely regulated by the size of the ball required2 for it is important that as little as possible of the outside of the ivory should be pared away4 ,as the tusk comes into the workshop1 the upper part 7which is hollow7 and the hard point are sawn off1 leaving the piece from ,a to ,b 7fig4 #be74 ,this is generally sawn into five blocks1 each of which will eventually become a ball2 these blocks are roughed out and turned into approximately spherical shape and left for about a year to season1 before they are touched again1 in order that the inevitable shrinking of the grain may proceed naturally and slowly4 ,now1 the ball from end ,b is closer in the grain than the ball from end ,b1 and therefore they will differ in weight2 and as it is most important that the three balls should be of equal weight1 no small trouble is experienced1 after finishing1 in finding three that will pass the test of the balance4#i ,if five sets can be got out of a hundred balls1 the makers are satisfied1 and even then perhaps only one set will be up to match standard4 ,when one considers the cost of ivory1 the time and delicate work involved1 and the scarcity of sufficiently skilled workmen1 it is small wonder that a good set of balls is an expensive luxury4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #be ,if balls are to last well1 much care must be taken of them2 but unhappily their ordinary treatment at a club is too severe for their delicate constitution4 ,in many cases they are put upon the table as soon as they arrive from the makers1 before they have had time to get acclimatised to the change of temperature1 and1 as full-sized balls are sure to seem heavy after balls that have been once or twice adjusted1 the heaviest cues in the room are brought to bear upon them with literally crushing effect4 ,now1 as the turners have removed a little of the hard outer surface1 the newly exposed surface ought to have time to harden2 and1 further1 ivory is very susceptible to changes of temperature1 sensitive to damp1 and needs acclimatisation in its new home1 to enable it to withstand the shock of collision without cracking4 ,the leading players1 when they get a really good set of balls1 never think of playing a hard shot with them until many days1 or even weeks1 are gone by4 ,every day they take them out and gently tap them along with nursery cannons and quiet little strokes1 until they are sufficiently seasoned to stand the shock of a long game2 hence their balls last much longer than club balls4 ,anyone who has served on the billiard committee of a ,london club may remember how his life has been made a burden to him by the never-ending complaints of members on the subject of balls4 ,he might reasonably reply3 #8,gentlemen1 the matter rests mainly with you2 if you are determined to have good balls1 you must make up your minds that they are to receive good treatment4' ,but how that much-to-be-desired arrangement is to be ensured ,i confess ,i cannot say4 ,the balls are common property1 and must be as much at the service of those who know nothing and care less about the game 7save as a means of whiling away an hour or two7 as of the limited few to whom the difference between good and bad balls means a great deal4 ,some clubs adopt the principle of paying a leading firm so much per annum 7like a subscription to a lending library71 upon the understanding that the firm is to change the balls as often as the club likes4 ,this system is a bad one for makers and clubs alike4 ,there is no inducement to the makers to send their best balls to be subjected to the severe ordeal of everyday club play4 ,rather do they prefer to keep such balls for customers who are able to take the greatest care of them2 and it follows that makers1 having from the nature of things only a few of the very best sets1 cannot be blamed if they send more moderate articles to take their turn in the #8lending library' arrangement4 ,the following is1 ,i think1 a better system4 ,several sets of balls are bought in the rough to start with1 with the date of their purchase marked on a label attached to each set4 ,these balls are then hung in a net under the table and left undisturbed for one1 two1 or three years--the longer the better2 they are then adjusted and hung up again2 after another interval a set is again adjusted1 made ready for play1 and1 finally1 having been kept for1 say1 another fortnight or three weeks1 is put upon the table4 ,at the same time another set to take its place is bought in the rough1 and1 as every set in turn is brought into use1 another rough set is purchased4 ,by this means there are always eight or ten sets seasoning in the particular temperature for which they are required4 ,every good system has its weak point1 and the weak point of this one is1 that it is essential to its success that the set which comes back from adjustment is the identical one which was sent4 ,i do not suggest that the leading makers would knowingly make a mistake of this kind2 on the contrary1 ,i know as a fact that great care is taken in the turning shop to prevent any such accident2 but one set of balls is very like another1 and it is quite possible that an unintentional change might take place4 ,however1 with a view to render such an accident impossible1 one firm1 at any rate1 willingly allows the man in charge of the balls to stay in the shops while they are being adjusted1 so that he can take them away with him as soon as they are finished4 ,if neither of these systems is adopted1 the best plan is to buy the balls for the ensuing billiard season in the early summer1 when little or no play is going on1 and keep them in the room seasoning until they are wanted in the autumn4 ,any time and trouble expended on their careful selection will be amply repaid before the year is out1 because the balls so selected will have hardened up1 and will be less liable to crack than others bought a few days before they are required for regular use4 ,balls purchased from1 or adjusted by1 a first-class firm should not require to be tested for size and weight1 because they have been accurately gauged 7fig4 #bf7 and weighed before they are sent out2 but a rough-and-ready test may be useful if one finds oneself about to play in an out-of-the-way corner of the country1 and one half suspects the presence of the inevitable pool ball4 ,place the three balls in a line touching one another and one of the cushions1 and then lower the eye till the line of sight becomes a tangent to the top of the balls and the top of the woodwork of the cushion2 by this means irregularity in size is easily detected4 ,if you suspect the balls to be foul1 set up balls #b and #c touching2 note the exact spot on cushion where #c should hit--viz4 that indicated by the prolongation of a line through the centres and point of contact4 ,then play the plant with ball #a and note deviation4 ,if in doubt whether balls or table be in fault1 reverse the stroke2 go to the opposite end of the table and play back over the same line4 ,good lines to select are the diagonals which are the longest on the table4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bf #8,how can you tell a good ball8' is a question that is often asked1 and the late ,mr4 ,frank ,buckland answered it as follows4 #8,the test is this3 the ball is rolled gently along a billiard-table till it stops of its own accord4 ,if at that moment it falls either to one side or the other1 it is useless to the player2 if1 on the contrary1 it remains motionless on the same line on which it was originally projected1 it is allowed to pass muster4' ,such a test1 however1 would be too much for #ii balls out of #ajj4 ,first1 ivory is not like ,whitworth steel2 it is a substance of varying density1 and even if by the skill of man it could be turned into an absolutely perfect sphere1 it is hardly likely that the centre of gravity of each piece would coincide with the centre of the sphere2 secondly1 in order to make the experiment at all satisfactory1 the table should be absolutely level1 the cloth perfectly new1 free from dirt1 of the finest quality1 and most carefully stretched2 and1 lastly1 the ball must be struck exactly on its vertical centre line4 ,each of these conditions presents some difficulty in attainment2 to combine them all is well-nigh impossible4 ,every ball1 to speak generally1 will fall over a little1 and it may be due to the failure of any one of the above conditions4 ,therefore1 it is safer to say that the less a truly struck ball changes its horizontal axis the better ball it is4 ,for the owner of a private table1 ,i should say the safest way to get a good set is to ask a first-class professional player1 whom he can trust1 to make the selection2 of course he would have to pay a good price1 but he will no doubt thus get a better set than he himself could choose4 ,if he should in this way become the fortunate possessor of a good set1 he ought to lock them jealously away1 only to be produced when he finds an adversary that he can trust with them2 and he will find it good policy to keep another set for ordinary use4 ,ivory is getting increasingly scarce1 and everything seems to point to the fact that as time goes on good balls will become still more costly1 and more difficult to procure2 and one is led to the conclusion that the next generation will have to find some substitute1 or leave billiards to millionaires4 ,many attempts have been made in the last few years to get over the difficulty1 and composition balls of various substances have from time to time been placed upon the market2 but the earlier kinds have not found much favour--first1 because they were believed to be explosive2 secondly1 because they did not possess sufficient elasticity2 and1 lastly1 because they showed a tendency to soil1 and pick up any dirt they might happen to pass over4 ,about the year #ahic or #ahid1 however1 a new composition called ,bonzoline made its appearance4 ,the makers claim for it that it is heavier 7specifically7 and more elastic than ivory1 and1 as far as observation at present goes1 their claim seems to be well founded4 ,whether bonzoline will stand the wear and tear of everyday work as well as or better than ivory it would be premature to offer an opinion1 but these balls have at least the merit of cheapness3 #cas4 #f;d4 compares very favourably with #c1 #d1 or #e guineas for a set of balls2 so that1 even if they do not last so long as ivory 7and ,i do not say they do not71 a purchaser would not be very much out of pocket thereby4 ,one thing is certain1 that they run very truly at first1 and time will soon show whether they can be depended upon for endurance4 ,they certainly do not appear to be explosive2 they seem less affected by changes of temperature and damp than ivory2 but they have the same facility for picking up dirt that the older kinds had4 ,i cannot1 however1 find that washing them in tepid water injures them in the slightest degree4 ,for pool and pyramids they represent an enormous saving in money4 ,they #8come off' at a slightly different angle to ivory--that is to say1 a shade #8squarer4' ,with ,no4 #a strength the difference is inappreciable1 but as forcing strength is reached it becomes more apparent2 but in the most extreme cases it is not much1 and easily provided for--indeed1 with some sets it hardly exists4 ,i am aware that there is a very general impression amongst amateurs that the difference is very great1 #8enough to ruin one's game2' but1 for all that1 it is largely a matter of imagination1 and the very objectors forget that ivory sets vary considerably in the same sort of way1 so that each new set wants a little knowing4 ,as ,i write ,i hear that somebody in ,sweden has brought out at ,stockholm some billiard balls of hollow cast steel4 ,according to #8,chambers's ,journal' for ,march #ahie1 they are said to be of the same weight as ivory1 and about a quarter of the price2 they are also said to be turned1 and the thickness of the skin is given as about in4 ,nothing apparently is mentioned as to their elasticity1 and ,i cannot find that anyone here has seen or tried them4 ,,cues1 ,,half-,,butts1 ,,rests1 ,,etc4 ,cues should be made of old and carefully-seasoned wood2 ash being generally used4 ,there are three kinds--7#a7 plain cues2 7#b7 ,french butted2 7#c7 ,english butted4 ,the first kind are of course the cheapest1 but1 being made of #8self' wood throughout1 they have more tendency to warp1 and their balance is not so finely adjusted2 hence one seldom sees an advanced player using a plain cue4 ,of the second and third kinds1 the ,french butt is solid1 the ,english butt is veneered on1 and1 therefore1 if a light cue is required1 a ,french butt cannot be selected4 ,in making the ,french butt the ebony is sawn in two -shaped cuts1 and the ash is cleared out1 so that when the cue and the butt are driven together1 with hot glue run in1 an exceedingly tight joint is made1 which never comes adrift4 ,in making the ,english butt1 two broad and two narrow tapering pieces of ebony1 mahogany1 or other hard wood1 are glued to the sides of the ash cue which have been squared off to receive them1 and when the glue has thoroughly set the whole butt is planed down into shape1 sand-papered1 and polished4 ,the above sketch may give a clearer idea of the process 7fig4 #bg74 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bg ,at first sight the preparation of what one may call the shaft of the cue seems simple1 and a little ordinary planing all that can be required2 but this is very far from being the case2 indeed1 the whole secret of successful cue-making lies in the careful manipulation of the ash shaft4 ,every piece of ash1 generally speaking1 will have a soft spot or two in it2 and if the wood were planed carelessly all round without reference to these weak spots1 the shaft would warp to a certainty1 for every piece of wood has a tendency to cast towards the centre of the tree from which it was cut2 therefore1 the maker humours the wood and planes more from the hard grain and less from the soft1 so that they may be made to balance one another2 and then1 if there be still a slight tendency to warp in any direction1 the piece of butt on the opposite side will be made a trifle longer1 so that it may have a little more leverage in counteracting the warping tendency4 ,no doubt there are perfectly true1 straight-grained pieces of ash1 but they are very rare1 and a leading cue-maker has told me that he doesn't come across more than two or three in a year4 ,all the rest require special treatment1 and about three out of every dozen that come in from the seasoning shop have to be rejected as hopeless as far as cues are concerned1 though they may serve for rest-handles or for dowels4 ,when the cues are finally turned out as finished articles1 a purchaser will find a considerable range in weight1 balance1 size1 shape of butt1 and size of top to select from1 showing that individual fancy is an important factor in the case4 ,there is no magic in any particular weight1 or in any particular shape or kind of grip4 ,what a player fancies1 he will play best with1 and he will soon get accustomed to a particular pattern1 which he ought to adhere to steadily4 ,cues vary from #ad oz4 in weight to #ah oz4 and even #bj oz41 and ,i have seen a few of over #bj oz42 but1 speaking generally1 #af oz4 to #af oz4 is a very usual weight4 ,peall plays with a very light cue1 about #ad oz4 ,roberts uses one weighing about #af oz4 ,good results can1 therefore1 be produced with widely varying weights1 and a player can suit himself4 ,with a very heavy cue the #8touch' is likely to be coarse2 but ,i have seen an amateur make over twenty spots with a cue of over #bj oz4 ,with regard to the top1 its diameter varies from in4 to in4 for ,english cues1 and within fair limits a medium-sized top is more easily and certainly used by ordinary players than a very fine one4 ,,tips ,tips are now always made abroad1 and are supplied in boxes of assorted sizes1 so that a purchaser is sure of finding some the size he requires4 ,it is essential to good play that the cue should be well tipped2 and the process of tipping has been so often described in existing works on billiards1 that everyone ought to be able to tip a cue for himself4 ,the golden rule to be observed is that the top of the cue must be absolutely flat1 and the tip should fit the top as closely as possible4 ,if the tip is a well-fitting one1 it should be warmed 7and the top of the cue also71 and stuck firmly on with cue cement4 ,there is an ingenious little clamp to be bought1 which holds the tip tightly until the cement has set4 ,after the cement is fixed1 the tip should be gently hammered until it is flat1 and any overhanging leather or cement must be carefully removed1 first with a knife and then with sand-paper4 ,avoid touching the cue itself with the sand-paper1 if possible2 and you will find it a good plan to wrap a piece of paper round the cue while you are rubbing the tip4 ,if the cue be much scratched1 the wood will begin to #8stare' and feel rough in the fingers4 ,nothing is so bad for the cue as the common amateur trick1 at the commencement of play1 of rubbing the cue from the tip1 say two feet down1 with coarse sand-paper4 ,players say they do it to clean the cue2 but the best way to do that is to get a damp cloth and wipe the cue well1 and then rub it hard with a dry one4 ,by this means your cue will be very clean1 slip well through the bridge1 and acquire a fine1 hard polish1 so that it will feel much the same in damp as in dry weather4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bh ,some players do not feel neat-handed enough to undertake the tipping of a cue2 for them ,i would recommend a little brass plate with three spikes in it1 which screws into the top of a cue shaped as in fig4 #bh4 ,if the cues in a country house are so fitted1 anyone can put a tip on in a couple of minutes4 ,you have merely to put the tip on the spikes and gently hammer it home4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bi ,another device is to fit the cue-top with a brass screw socket1 into which a screw with a flat top is screwed1 and the tip is fixed on the movable screw 7fig4 #bi74 ,the advantage of this plan is1 that a player may have three or four screws all duly tipped1 and as one tip wears out he simply takes out the screw and screws in another4 ,for country-house visiting this1 combined with a screw-jointed cue 7fig4 #cj71 makes a player quite independent of local cues and local tips1 especially as with a jointed cue he can have a spare top joint4#aj ,another simple arrangement is the ivory top fitted with a screw1 as shown in fig4 #bi4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cj ,after long service a cue will wear away at the top4 ,it is worth remembering that such a cue need not be discarded1 as it can easily be restored to its original condition4 ,the usual remedy is an ivory top1 but a better one is to get the cue spliced or fitted with a screw1 according to the illustration 7fig4 #ca74 ,whichever plan may be adopted1 the great thing is to pick an old seasoned bit of ash1 nothing being better than a piece of an old cue with a good straight grain4 ,by adopting this plan1 the top can be made as large as may be desired1 and a good bit of wood in the most delicate part of the cue is ensured4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ca ,the writer has a cue with a single splice1 which has been in work for years1 and is so well put together that even at this time it is difficult to find the joint2 but1 on the whole1 he ventures to think that the double splice is stronger and neater4 ,,half-,,butts ,half-butts and long-butts1 on account of their length1 have to be made of pine for lightness' sake1 and little need be said about them4 ,they are cumbrous things1 and a disagreeable necessity4 ,it is a good plan to wipe the upper end of the butt every day with a damp cloth1 and then with a dry one1 because they always collect a quantity of dirt1 and are apt to run stickily through the rest4 ,if these butts were not varnished1 but well polished with boiled oil1 they would be much pleasanter to play with4 ,,rests ,rests are now usually made in the shape of a diagonal cross1 the upper drawing of fig4 #cb1 the old-fashioned pattern being very seldom seen4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cb ,the chief objection to the cross pattern is that it is troublesome to manipulate in the neighbourhood of the cushions1 and some years ago ,messrs4 ,burroughes ,watts brought out a rest which gets over the cushion difficulty very cleverly4 ,as will be seen in the annexed drawing 7fig4 #cc71 the height can be regulated at will1 and a firm rest on the cushion can be made4 ,for some reason or other this rest has never become popular1 and the cross-shaped rest still holds the field4#aa ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cc ,that a perfect rest is still to be invented ,i firmly believe4 ,a point that has never yet been met is1 that the friction over the bridge of the human hand is of a quite different character to that over a brass or an ebony cross-piece1 and so a cue on a rest seems to run away from a player4 ,,chalk ,chalk is worth attending to carefully4 ,the most familiar kinds are the square blocks done up in green paper and the cylindrical pieces in cardboard cases4 ,these last are turned straight out of a solid block1 and are1 therefore1 not free from grit and other impurities2 the more gritty they are the more destructive are they to the cue-tips4 ,the square blocks are sawn from more carefully selected chalk1 and are for that reason to be preferred to the cylindrical pieces4 ,they should be dry and powdery1 for a greasy chalk is not to be depended on1 and it will soon make the cue-tip shiny4 ,in fact1 the great secret of chalk is to have it dry4 ,attempts have been made from time to time to grind down the chalk to powder and again consolidate it2 but1 as foreign substances must be introduced in order to make the powder stick together and become hard enough to withstand the friction of cue-tips1 the result has usually been rather a greasy mixture4 ,there can be little doubt that if our chemists were to go into the matter seriously they would soon give us a smooth and yet biting #8chalk4' ,within the last few months a ,french firm have brought out some greenish-blue #8chalk1' called ,st4 ,martin chalk1 which reminds one of the old green ,thurston chalk one used to see thirty years ago4 ,this new preparation seems to hold the ball very well1 and does not make such a mess of the table as the old white2 it is not poisonous2 but--there is always a but--it is very expensive4 ,,marking ,,board ,a good marking-board is essential to the comfort of the players1 and the ordinary pattern1 as shown in fig4 #cd1 leaves little to be desired4 ,long games1 however1 of #djj and #ejj up are not uncommon in private rooms in these days1 and it would be a slight improvement if some means of scoring hundreds were introduced4 ,i should think two slides similar to the pool slides1 with #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 #e1 #f1 #g1 #h1 #i underneath1 placed above or below each scoring-roller1 would meet the case 7fig4 #ce74 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cf ,there is another pattern still fairly common which is always a nuisance1 for sooner or later a mistake is sure to be made as to the twenties 7fig4 #cf74 ,one or other of the players will forget to move on the twenty marker when he takes the other back to zero2 more advanced arithmetic is involved and another objection is that a separate board is required for pool4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cd ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ce ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cg ,another kind of marker is a nickel-plated one let into the woodwork of the cushions1 and worked by pressing a button 7fig4 #cg74 ,two are placed side by side1 one for each player4 ,a further variety of the same kind is a hand marker1 which is useful in a country house4 ,,pool ,,basket ,if you should happen to possess a good set of pool balls1 you should get a set of dummy balls1 made in box-wood or inferior ivory1 to shake up in the basket1 for the violent shocks that real balls receive in the basket at the hands of an energetic marker are a fruitful source of cracking and faulty running4 ,,the ,,half-,,ball ,,angle ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ch ,a piece of wood of about the thickness of half a ball 7say #a in471 as shown in fig4 #ch1 is to be bought1 and will be found exceedingly useful to beginners4 ,the idea of this invention is that by its means the angle by which a ball 7fairly struck in the middle without side1 ,no4 #a strength7 is deflected from its course by colliding a half-ball with another is accurately shown 7fig4 #ci74 ,let ,a be the striker's ball1 and let it be required to hit the ball ,b exactly half-ball4 ,clearly the line of progression of ball ,a will be along the line ,a ,d4 ,at ,d it is deflected in the direction of the arrow ,f2 and the angle between ,f ,d and ,e ,d1 the original course of the ball1 is the amount of deflection due to collision4 ,this will be found to amount to #cc4 ,suppose1 then1 it is required to find the proper place to spot a ball1 so as to go into a pocket half-ball off another 7fig4 #dj74 ,let ,o be the object ball1 ,p a pocket4 ,it is required to spot a player's ball somewhere near the line ,a ,b to go into the pocket off ,o4 ,place the angle ,a of the instrument against the ball ,o in such fashion that the side ,a ,d points for the centre of the pocket4 ,then a ball with its centre upon the line ,a ,e produced will1 if it strikes the ball ,o half-ball1 proceed towards the centre of the pocket4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ci ,the course of the player's ball will not be along ,a ,d1 but converging upon it from a point half a diameter distant from the ball ,o4 ,hence the angle of deviation as shown by the instrument is made slightly greater than that described by the ball2 that of the instrument being about #ce1 the real angle being about #cc4 ,of course it cannot be mathematically correct at all distances1 but it is near enough for practical purposes1 and will help to train the eye to estimate half-ball angles4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #dj ,the two lines marked upon the upper surface of the instrument1 if produced through the angle ,a1 will give the direction taken by the object ball after collision1 according as the shot is played from ,b or ,c4 ,illustration3 ,an ,outside ,billiard-room ,,chapter ,,iii ,,elementary3 ,,one-,,ball ,,practice ,before commencing the manual of instruction in billiards1 it is desirable to address a few words of advice to the beginner1 and to explain some of the technical terms used4 ,others will be described in future chapters4 ,it is clear that before playing1 the room must be entered2 and hence we commence with the mode of doing so4 ,the operation seems so simple as to be too trivial for notice2 but1 far from that1 there is nothing short of actual play which shows more clearly the difference between a well-trained1 well-mannered player and a novice or a careless and discourteous visitor4 ,the door of a room should always be approached quietly1 for the table may be occupied2 if it be so1 wait for the stroke4 ,when the stroke is played1 open the door quietly1 and walk straight to a seat4 ,avoid everything likely to distract the attention of the players from their game1 and recollect that for the time being the room1 its light1 fire1 and so forth1 belong to them4 ,persons who smoke should wait for the stroke before scratching a match1 and when extinguishing it should not do so by waving it before the eyes of the player4 ,in short1 ordinary courtesy is nowhere more important than in the billiard-room1 for if men can play1 their nerve and attention are strained2 interruption may prove fatal to the chance of one of them1 and is sure to be resented1 even though it may pass without remark4 ,in the previous chapter the terms employed respecting the table and implements have been detailed2 these are now supplemented by others in common use during play4 ,angled4--,a ball is angled in respect to that part of the table to which it cannot be directly played4 ,ball4--,in billiards three balls are used1 white1 spot-white1 and red4 ,the player's or cue-ball will usually1 in this volume1 be called ball #a2 the object ball1 or ball played on1 ball #b2 and the third ball1 ball #c4 ,a line-ball is one resting on the baulk-line4 ,baulk4--,the space between the baulk-line and the bottom cushion4 ,a ball within that space is in baulk2 when a white and red ball are in baulk and the other is off the table1 the situation is termed a double baulk4 ,break4--,the term is applied to a continuous score1 or one made in unbroken succession4 ,to break the balls is to play as at the opening of a game4 ,bridge4--,the player's hand which rests on the table1 and which serves as a guide to the cue1 is so-called4 ,coup4--,if a player fails to hit another ball1 and by the same stroke causes his own ball to enter a pocket1 he is said to have run a coup4 ,cover4--,a ball is said to be covered when it cannot be directly hit by player's ball because of the interposition of another ball2 in other words1 when ball #a cannot directly strike ball #b because of ball #c1 ball #b is said to be covered by ball #c4 ,foul4--,a stroke made in contravention of the rules4 ,in hand4--,when a player's ball is off the table it is termed in hand4 ,hazard4--,when a player with his ball pockets another ball he is said to make a winning hazard2 when he pockets his own ball after contact with another ball he makes a losing hazard4 ,kiss4--,ball #b is said to kiss when it comes a second time in contact with ball #a4 ,the kiss is generally made off a cushion4 ,this term is used with much laxity in the language of billiards1 and includes what the ,french call coups durs1 when ball #b is touching a cushion1 and rencontres1 when balls #a and #c meet1 the former having been set in motion by the cue and the latter by the impact of ball #b4 ,when ball #b has an unforeseen collision with ball #c1 and thereby prevents a cannon1 the failure is attributed to robbery by a kiss4 ,miss-cue4--,failure in the delivery of the cue on player's ball2 usually a slip from want of chalk or from defective striking4 ,plant4--,when two balls touch and an imaginary line through their centres if prolonged terminates in the centre of a pocket1 a dead plant is said to be on4 ,if the ball further from the pocket be played on and struck almost anywhere1 the ball nearer the pocket will inevitably be planted or go into the pocket4 ,the plant is still possible when the line through the centres falls slightly to the right or left of the pocket4 ,strength is the measure of force used to make a stroke1 which is said to be soft or hard according to the strength4 ,illustration3 ,stringing ,to string is to play from baulk to the top cushion so as to leave player's ball near the baulk-line or bottom cushion as may be selected4 ,before a match the players string simultaneously for choice of balls1 and for the option of commencing the game4 ,after these preliminaries1 the first matter of importance is that players should try to acquire an easy attitude4 ,for its attainment precise rules like those for military drill cannot be given1 because what are suitable for a tall spare man are wholly impossible to one who is short and stout4 ,therefore1 advice must be general4 ,the learner should go to a proficient of about his own make1 whose style is admitted to be good1 and be shown the best attitudes to reach a ball placed in various parts of the table1 first from baulk1 and afterwards from other and more cramped positions4 ,if this be neglected1 he is apt to contract faulty habits1 which become more difficult to abandon the longer they have been entertained4 ,illustration3 ,an ,easy ,attitude ,in playing an ordinary stroke from baulk1 a right-handed player should stand so that his body shall be on the left of the line of stroke1 which is1 in fact1 the axis of the cue2 the left foot should be advanced so that the toe shall be just below the cushion1 and pointing in the direction of the stroke2 the right foot retired more or less according to the stature of the player1 and pointing at a right angle to the left foot4 ,the right leg should be straight1 the left more or less bent2 the right hand should hold the cue near the butt1 the elbow being nearly vertically above the hand1 whilst the left hand should be extended in the line of stroke1 so that the cue resting between the thumb and forefinger shall lie as nearly as possible horizontal4 ,for a left-handed player the same advice holds good1 save that throughout the word #8left' should be substituted for #8right4' ,for all players that attitude is best which is least stiff or constrained1 and which combines the greatest measure of steadiness with freedom of action4 ,the formation of a good bridge is essential to accurate play4 ,its object is to supply a rest for the cue at the height of the stroke to be delivered1 and this ordinarily is the centre of the ball4 ,just as for the right hand1 which puts the cue in motion1 freedom is the chief necessity1 so for the left1 which acts as the guide and support1 stability is of the first importance4 ,that is best attained by bringing some weight to bear on the base of the thumb1 and consequently by somewhat raising the knuckle-joint of the little finger4 ,as hands vary in shape and size1 no precise rule or measurements for the formation of a bridge can be laid down4 ,a competent instructor will show how a bridge is made1 and an intelligent learner will soon acquire the habit of making one which suits himself4 ,the general mode is to place the hand flat on the table1 elevate the knuckles about two inches or rather more1 keeping the fingers rigid or unbent1 so as to form nearly a right angle with the palm1 raise the thumb1 and press it moderately just above the joint against the forefinger1 forming with it the rest or point of support of the cue1 spread the fingers slightly so as to widen the foundation1 so to speak1 of the bridge and increase its stability1 and by means of raising or lowering the little finger1 bring the point of support so that the cue shall lie level with the point of the ball to be struck4 ,these directions1 perhaps1 seem complicated2 but if the prescribed movements are gone through once or twice before the learner by a competent person1 all difficulty will disappear4 ,the final movement whereby the height of delivery of the cue is regulated1 is one of much importance1 which we do not recollect to have seen mentioned in previous manuals4 ,illustration3 ,,preliminaries4 ,illustration3 ,the ,bridge ,exceptional rests or bridges have to be made to meet exceptional cases4 ,thus1 when a ball is under a cushion1 the tips of the fingers form the sole support2 in other instances the thumb is lowered and the forefinger bent so as to form a ring or hook through which the cue is passed4 ,the ,french call this boucle4#ab ,there are1 in fact1 many variations which it would be a waste of time and space to describe2 some1 indeed1 have to be invented as the necessity for their use may arise4 ,the attitude and method of making a bridge having been acquired1 the next point is to deliver the cue freely and horizontally4 ,it should be lightly held near the butt and repose on the bridge1 so that ordinarily from #i to #ab inches project towards the ball4 ,considerable differences in the distances between the bridge and the ball occur during the variations in a game1 but it is generally true that the nearer they are the greater the accuracy with which the ball can be struck1 and the further 7within reasonable limits7 they are apart the greater the power4 ,what is gained in power is1 to some extent1 lost in accuracy4 ,a little practice with the cue without a ball is useful to familiarise a beginner with the necessary action1 that is the horizontal backward and forward motion2 a slow withdrawal followed by a faster forward stroke4 ,when this is attained practice with one ball should be commenced4 ,it is of the highest importance2 for by means of it alone can the rare qualification of a true delivery of cue be acquired4 ,and this applies not merely to beginners1 but to persons who are out of practice1 for the commonest of all faults1 and the secret of most failures to score1 is that the player's ball is not truly struck4 ,it may seem strange1 but it is nevertheless true1 that many persons who play what is held to be a fair game cannot truly strike a ball4 ,let us then suppose a ball placed on the spot on the centre of the baulk circle1 and that the player has assumed a suitable attitude in order to play up the table over the billiard spot4 ,the tip of his cue should be about half an inch from the centre of the ball1 and the axis of the cue should be as nearly as possible parallel with the surface of the table1 and in the same vertical plane as its central line1 because the path travelled by a ball truly struck in the centre is1 till after impact with a cushion or with another ball1 invariably a prolongation of the axis of the cue4 ,having aimed carefully over the spot1 he should draw the cue slowly back three or four inches and then bring it forward1 giving the ball a smart tap1 in contradistinction to a push1 in the centre2 the strength of the stroke to be such that the ball shall return into baulk4 ,if ball1 table1 and stroke are true1 the path travelled will lie precisely over all the spots in the central line2 and after impact with the top cushion the ball will return to baulk by the same route4 ,herein is manifest the excellence of this stroke for practice2 because if the ball be struck either right or left of the centre1 it will return to the right or left of the central longitudinal line of the table4 ,the nearer the return path is to that line the better the stroke1 and the further it is from it the worse2 so that an infallible measure of the truth or accuracy of hitting the ball is supplied by the result4 ,it is impossible to overstate the value of this test1 and by the time that a person can play this stroke up and down the table with varying strength and fair accuracy he has gone far towards mastering the first step at billiards4 ,to secure striking the ball in the centre1 as soon as aim is taken the player should fix his eyes on the ball and try to the best of his ability to deliver the cue truly and as horizontally as possible so that the tip does not see-saw up and down4 ,the tap on the centre of the ball should be sharp and clean1 the cue being permitted to follow it for a few inches2 less when the stroke is soft1 and more when it is hard4 ,it may probably appear in course of practice that the striker has a tendency to hit the ball either right or left of the centre2 he should correct this by striking on what seems to him slightly the other side4 ,thus1 if he1 whilst aiming truly1 brings the ball back to baulk invariably to the right of the central line1 he should strike at what seems to him slightly to the left of its centre2 if by doing so he brings the ball back over the spots1 he may be assured that he has found the true centre of the ball1 and by continuing the practice his eye will become educated1 and the tendency to strike on the side will diminish or disappear4 ,the stroke should be repeated till it is mastered at every possible strength1 or1 say1 hard enough to cause the ball to travel four lengths of the table4 ,when confidence in the power to strike a ball in the centre has been acquired1 further practice should be made4 ,place the ball on one corner spot of the 1 play to the centre of the top cushion immediately behind the spot1 and the ball should return over the spot on the other corner4 ,this1 too1 is very useful practice2 it familiarises the eye with the general truth of the axiom that the angle of reflexion is equal to the angle of incidence2 and variations from this stroke 7which need not be defined here1 as any person of ordinary intelligence can multiply them indefinitely7 will prove of constant use when it is necessary to play at a ball protected by baulk4 ,for the sake of clearness1 one other example may be cited4 ,place the ball on the right corner of the 1 measure a point on the top cushion an equal distance from the right side cushion1 that point will be precisely opposite the right corner of the 2 halve the distance between that point and the left top pocket1 and at the half set up a mark--a piece of chalk laid on the cushion will do4 ,if the ball be played correctly on to the place thus indicated1 it will return to the left bottom pocket4 ,easier strokes of the same kind can be made across the table into any pocket1 and confidence1 which is an important factor in the game1 is thus acquired4 ,before leaving the subject of these exercise strokes1 it is desirable to emphasise the value to a beginner of acquiring a good style and of cultivating it incessantly till it becomes natural1 and then he may1 without harm1 indulge occasionally in a game2 if he begins with games he is certain to contract bad habits1 which1 becoming more confirmed the longer he plays1 must result in increasing his difficulties and may never be wholly cured4 ,as regards indicating the strength to be used in playing various strokes1 the best plan is to refer to the positions of the balls when they are at rest after a stroke2 but as some rough guide may save beginners many trials1 it has been usual to indicate by means of numbers the approximate strength to be used4 ,thus ,strength ,no4 #a is a slow1 or soft stroke2 ,no4 #b harder1 and so on till ,no4 #e or ,no4 #f may be taken as the greatest possible strength4 ,various measures have been adopted by different authorities2 for our purposes in this book it is proposed to classify them thus3 ,strength #a4 ,from softest possible to that required for one length of the table4 ,strength #b4 ,from one length to two lengths of the table4 ,strength #c4 ,from two lengths to three lengths of the table4 ,illustration3 ,using the ,rest4 ,strength #d4 ,from three lengths to four lengths of the table1 beyond which it is probably unnecessary to go4 ,these definitions may be further subdivided as desired3 thus a very gentle stroke would be called a very slow or soft ,no4 #a2 a less slow one1 medium ,no4 #a2 a stroke which required the strength to take a ball the length of the table1 a full or free ,no4 #a1 which it is obvious reaches ,no4 #b strength2 where ,no4 #a ends ,no4 #b begins1 and so on4 ,it is clear that the practice prescribed will familiarise the beginner with the various strengths1 a matter which he will find greatly to his advantage4 ,when the ball cannot be comfortably reached by hand an artificial bridge1 known as the rest1 is employed4 ,a short man requires it frequently1 a tall man less often1 but both should practise with it assiduously4 ,a competent person will show a beginner the proper way of using it in a very short time4 ,the handle of the rest should be nearly in the same line as the cue1 only so far out of it as to permit of free delivery2 the cue should be lightly held between forefinger and thumb1 knuckles up1 the elbow being raised level with the butt4 ,the hand which holds the rest should lie on the table4 ,these are general rules1 but they must on occasion be modified4 ,the practice already defined will serve for strokes with the rest if the ball be placed sufficiently far from the cushion4 ,the half-butt and long-butt should also be used4 ,before leaving this subject it is well to say that to be obliged to use the rest1 and1 worse still1 the half-butt and long-butt1 is at any time a drawback4 ,this can be reduced to a minimum by learning to play with either hand2 a most useful accomplishment1 by no means very difficult of attainment4 ,the following memorandum by ,mr4 ,dudley ,d4 ,pontifex1 who besides being a billiard-player of very high class is an expert at many other games1 on the great importance of cultivating an almost mechanical accuracy in delivering the cue1 and on the methods which he has followed in order to attain this end1 will be read by proficients as well as beginners with both interest and profit4 ,in essentials it agrees with the recommendations already given1 and where it may seem to differ the variations are so small as not to require examination and explanation4 ,some interesting remarks on the styles of leading professional players will be found1 and attention is justly directed to ,roberts's admirable delivery of the cue1 which is said to appear to be harder or stronger than it really is2 but one of the excellences of that great master's strokes is that they are habitually struck harder than is usual with other professionals2 the necessary compensations are1 however1 applied1 and though the ball starts with considerably greater initial velocity than is usual1 yet it does not necessarily travel farther or effect more4 ,a heavy drag stroke played the length of the table by ,roberts will travel nearly twice as fast as one struck by any other man1 yet the object ball will often be found not to be harder hit4 ,the feat of screwing back to baulk from the red ball on the billiard spot1 direct and without trick1 is so remarkable that readers cannot fail to be much interested in a well-authenticated instance of the stroke4 ,besides ,mr4 ,pontifex1 ,william ,seymour1 7marker in #ahie at the ,queen's ,club7 was present at the time1 and has seen the gentleman do the stroke on many other occasions4 ,,memorandum ,,by ,,dudley ,d4 ,,pontifex ,there is one characteristic which distinguishes games such as billiards and golf1 and sharply divides them from others like cricket and tennis4 ,while in the latter the stroke has to be made on a moving ball1 in the former the ball is stationary4 ,instructions as to the method of making a stroke consequently vary in value in the two classes of games4 ,the tiro at cricket or tennis is told to play a particular ball in a particular way1 but is met with difficulties when he attempts to carry out the advice4 ,the cricketer knows that he ought to play back or forward according to the length of the ball1 but alas6 too frequently is unable to decide until too late what the length of some particular ball is4 ,at tennis it is much the same4 ,the player knows well enough how the stroke should be made1 but at the critical moment finds himself in such a position that it is utterly impossible to make a correct stroke4 ,in these games the value of instructions is proportionable to the capacity of the player to adapt himself to the exigencies of the moment4 ,it is quite different as regards billiards4 ,having once made up his mind as to the method to be adopted1 there is absolutely nothing to prevent the player from carrying it into practical effect4 ,he is not hurried for time4 ,he is not called upon to make a sudden and1 as it were1 intuitive decision instantaneously4 ,on the contrary1 the table and balls are before him1 and his opponent has to wait quietly until the turn is completed4 ,consequently the value of instructions1 if there be any value in instructions1 is relatively greatly enhanced in this class of game4 ,when one of our best professionals is playing1 it is no uncommon thing to hear the remark made1 #8,what beautiful strength6' ,to my mind the excellence of a fine player's game lies not so much in his strength as in his accuracy4 ,given accuracy1 strength will follow2 at all events there is no reason why it should not4 ,but strength without accuracy is useless1 and even worse than useless4 ,if a good player and a bad one meet1 the latter usually has the better of the leaves4 ,the reason is not difficult to discover1 for the good player fails far more frequently from want of accuracy than from bad strength1 and the balls are left fairly placed for his opponent4 ,the bad player has little accuracy and less strength4 ,he goes for his stroke1 and chances position4 ,after a score he leaves himself little1 but if he fail he leaves little for his opponent4 ,his play is characterised by a series of disjointed efforts4 ,but1 although the good player fails more often from want of accuracy than from bad strength1 he does not1 unless the balls are very close together1 try for exact strength4 ,to use a well-understood phrase1 he tries to get them there or thereabouts4 ,take a very fine player1 and let him play from baulk with the other two balls nicely placed in the middle of the table1 and let him play two breaks with the balls so placed4 ,it is almost certain that after the third stroke1 probably the second1 the breaks will branch out differently4 ,the good player only tries to place the balls about where he means4 ,if he be at all successful1 he will have the choice of playing one of perhaps half a dozen different strokes4 ,not one of these half-dozen strokes is1 it may be1 difficult2 and then he has to consider which will leave him the best break1 and if there be three or more leaving an equally good game he takes the easiest4 ,what is deserving of observation is that1 whichever he selects1 he usually makes the stroke and approximately carries out his idea4 ,it is this deadly accuracy which is so noticeable in the play of the best professionals4 ,how have they obtained it8 ,first and chiefly by years of constant and assiduous practice1 secondly by a correct mechanical style4 ,nothing can take the place of the former4 ,no amount of teaching will be the equivalent of strong individual effort extended over a length of time4 ,the player who really excels at billiards must have given a large amount of time to it4 ,he who plays a wonderful game1 and yet hardly ever touches a cue1 exists only in the imagination of the incompetent novelist4 ,but1 although nothing can compensate for hard practice1 something may be done for the beginner by teaching him how to obtain a correct style4 ,to avoid errors is the surest and quickest way to real progress1 and to thoroughly grasp the idea of a true mechanical style is the most important lesson in billiards4 ,there is no one style that can be said to be the only correct and proper one4 ,if the best half-dozen players be watched1 it will be seen that they all differ in various ways from one another4 ,the position of their heads1 and the way in which they hold the cue1 are often entirely different4 ,one thing1 however1 may be noted1 that however much they differ from one another1 they are true to themselves4 ,each man keeps rigidly to his own style4 ,his position and his manner of delivering the stroke are constant so far as circumstances permit1 and this is the lesson which the amateur may properly take to heart4 ,billiards is more of a mechanical game than anything else1 and1 because the mechanical part of it is so important1 nothing can take the place of continual practice on right lines4 ,and even that which may have been a defective style originally may1 by becoming habitual1 lose half its injuriousness4 ,the beginner1 however1 wants to avoid defects so that he may have nothing subsequently to unlearn1 and he wants to know the nearest road to the best game of which he is capable4 ,when he has once got a clear idea of what a correct style is1 he is next door to getting the thing itself4 ,and it is worth some little trouble to get4 ,for not only will his general progress at the game be more rapid1 but he will find the utility of it at a critical moment4 ,some pernicious trick or mannerism may not be particularly injurious on ordinary occasions1 but when the stress of a match comes it is apt to be fatal4 ,it is then that the man with an easy and correct style finds half his work done for him1 as it were4 ,it is by no means an uncommon thing to see what may be called the pump-handle style1 where the cue1 instead of moving horizontally or nearly so1 is at the commencement of the stroke lifted high at the butt1 and then brought forward with a circular sweep4 ,this makes it a matter of no little skill in itself to hit the ball at all correctly1 and yet we see players who apparently are not satisfied with the ordinary difficulties of billiards1 but must add a quite superfluous one to every stroke4 ,most of these eccentric players must be to some extent aware of their eccentricities1 and a very little reflection would show that they are quite unnecessary and may be harmful4 ,apart from any theoretical consideration of the matter1 a casual observation of really good players proves that they do not indulge in these atrocities4 ,in fact1 our best players are1 almost without exception1 easy1 graceful players1 and distinctly the best break ,i ever saw ,north play was at the same time the quickest and least demonstrative of any ,i have seen made by that player4 ,the play of ,john ,roberts is almost above criticism1 and his style is at once the delight and despair of all4 ,diggle1 ,dawson1 and ,richards1 more especially the last1 are charming players to watch4 ,they who can remember ,cook at his best will recall with delight a style that was in the opinion of many unrivalled4 ,an imperturbable temper that nothing appeared to ruffle1 a nerve that never seemed to fail1 a touch always firm and crisp1 yet often using a strength so delicate that he seemed to require instruments more accurate than the best manufacturers could supply--these were some of the features of a game that ever had a great fascination for the spectator4 ,a few words may not be out of place on the benefit of private practice1 i4e4 practice by oneself4 ,i believe from a tolerably wide experience that they are exceptional1 very exceptional1 who can keep on improving without having had1 at some time or other1 a good deal of private practice4 ,how many men there are who play their two or three hours every day1 and yet at the end of fifteen years are little1 if any1 better6 ,it is because their energies are being entirely absorbed by the immediate contest4 ,if they have a fault in style1 they have no time to correct it4 ,they cannot make up their minds to court present defeat for a future gain4 ,they play the same old game with the same bad result year in and year out4 ,the least innovation on their stereotyped game will probably result in failure1 and perhaps defeat1 and is therefore rejected4 ,after a time they come to accept their game as the best of which they are capable1 and when they see really good play they admire it1 but never appear to dream of taking a hint from it for their own improvement4 ,a short time given to private practice would do much for such a one4 ,here there is no opponent to distract1 no dread of consequences4 ,the greatest novelty1 even to the playing of a losing hazard at dead slow strength the length of the table1 may be attempted fearlessly4 ,but this is not all4 ,not only may every kind of stroke be attempted without any attaching penalty1 but if there be a fault of which the player is conscious he may now correct it4 ,his attention is now concentrated upon the one point1 and it is wonderful how soon that which has become habitual may be changed by steady determined suppression4 ,billiards again1 at least to play one's best game1 is very much a question of confidence1 and confidence is born of familiarity4 ,he who has played a particular stroke in a particular way a hundred times successfully in private practice1 not only feels that he can do that stroke in that way in a match1 but that it is his best chance of doing the stroke at all4 ,he is in a way compelled into the better class of game4 ,probably no amateur is in the least likely to go through the years of continuous labour that the best professionals have given to the game4 ,but in many instances he may1 by giving some consideration to the matter and taking a little trouble1 acquire a greater degree of accuracy than has hitherto been associated with his game4 ,accuracy in play means accuracy in striking1 and the player has to aim at hitting ball after ball with the precision of a machine4 ,of course one seldom or never gets two strokes running exactly alike1 but the various movements of the body which precede and accompany the delivery of the stroke may be and should be alike4 ,this uniformity of style is the groundwork of accuracy1 and it is by a recognition of the various movements and a careful observance of them that the player may obtain a correct mechanical style4 ,he should once for all definitely decide what is the best style for him to adopt1 and1 having decided1 should strictly observe it with unfailing regularity4 ,it is absolutely fatal to keep chopping and changing in the endeavour to copy a better player4 ,in all probability that which is copied has nothing to do with the excellence of the play4 ,it is perhaps some little trick which is peculiar to the man1 the result of his build or of his early billiard education4 ,most of us have known some friend who1 after seeing ,john ,roberts give one of his wonderful exhibitions of skill1 has attempted to imitate his rapidity of play4 ,the last state of that person is worse than his first4 ,we cannot all play our best in the same way4 ,some men are naturally quick players1 others lose whatever merit they may have in the attempt to hurry through their stroke4 ,usually1 the better practice a man is in the quicker he plays1 but1 whether he play fast or slow1 he should always play naturally and at the same pace4 ,if he be playing badly1 conscious hurrying over or dwelling on the stroke will not mend matters4 ,the reason for the bad play must be sought elsewhere4 ,usually the internal machinery has in some way gone wrong4 ,but the last thing a man cares to admit is any failing in himself4 ,it is far more pleasant to attribute his ill success to something else4 ,still1 if his style be not radically wrong1 and if during one of these seasons of depression he attempts to vary it1 his game will surely suffer when the causes which led to his temporary deterioration have passed away4 ,if ,i venture to give some advice1 it is with a double motive2 first1 to illustrate my meaning how1 by a careful attention to details1 uniformity of style may be obtained1 and1 second1 in the hope that it may in some respects be found useful by beginners4 ,but before doing so ,i should like to say a few words as to what ,i conceive to be the real utility of advice4 ,what is too often the case is this4 ,the beginner tries to recollect before every stroke all he has learnt1 and laboriously endeavours to reduce each and every rule into practice at the same time4 ,some of these rules may be the exact opposite of his previous method4 ,the consequence is that this attempt at wholesale assimilation causes the player to look like a trussed-up fowl1 uncomfortable to himself and unnatural to others4 ,he should remember that that which is ungainly in style is usually wrong1 always superfluous4 ,rules may be good enough in themselves1 but if there be a grave difference between them and our former method there will always be a difficulty about their immediate application4 ,there is no authority for the opinion that the world was made in a day1 and even at games time must be allowed to bring about the desired result4 ,too great insistence upon the observance of several rules at the same time distresses and discourages the player4 ,but if he will get1 more especially in the intervals of play1 a clear mental recognition of the rules which he believes to be specially applicable to himself1 he will find that they will presently begin to work out in practice4 ,this is not only a more pleasant but a better way4 ,without any conscious effort1 the player finds that the mind is beginning to direct and control the bodily movements4 ,the result thus arrives in an apparently natural way1 and when it so comes it comes to stay4 ,that this is the best use to which advice can be put is an opinion derived from an experience more or less intimate with a variety of games4 ,no exact formula can be laid down with regard to position4 ,this is precisely one of those cases in which some latitude must be allowed for a man's make and shape4 ,two points1 however1 should be borne in mind4 ,to state them in their natural order they are1 first1 that the player should always1 so far as circumstances permit1 assume the same relative position as between himself1 his own ball1 and the line of direction4 ,a useful general rule is the following4 ,when the player takes his position opposite his own ball with his left leg advanced as is the usual manner1 the line of direction if prolonged backwards through the centre of his ball would pass through the centre of his body4 ,as he settles to his stroke1 the body naturally sways a little to the left1 leaving the right arm free to swing in the proper direction4 ,secondly1 the position should be a firm one4 ,the advantage of this will be more particularly felt in any game in which nerves play a part4 ,if there be any tendency to unsteadiness in the player's position1 it will then be emphasised4 ,the body should be kept as motionless as possible1 the feet being firmly placed and the right leg straight4 ,it is not easy to recognise the true natural angle#ac under all its different phases1 and the frequent failure of even the best players at long losing hazards shows this4 ,constant practice is the only teacher1 and the plan of having for private play two strips of wood joined together at the proper angle--and which was1 ,i believe1 first introduced by ,joseph ,bennett--is very useful4 ,the angle is more sharply defined1 and therefore easier of recognition1 if taken through some fixed point1 and this point should be the centre of the player's ball4 ,the angle should be taken to the centre of the pocket4 ,it is almost a rarity to find a really good baulk-line player1 and in some cases it is quite the weakest point in a man's game4 ,that this should be so seems strange1 seeing that the player has such a wide range within which to place his own ball4 ,it is1 ,i think1 often this very option of choice of position that causes the stroke to be missed4 ,the player places his ball1 perhaps1 quite correctly for the first long loser he has1 but misses it through hitting his own ball falsely4 ,he does not attribute his failure to its proper cause1 but thinks he has placed his own ball wrongly4 ,next time he puts it a little wider or narrower as the case may be1 and if he happen to put on by accident the proper amount of side and does the stroke1 he is almost worse off than ever1 for the first time he does hit his own ball truly he comes to grief4 ,by this time he has got an entirely wrong estimate of what the true natural angle is1 and it may be a matter of several days before he can do the stroke with any certainty4 ,another point may be remarked4 ,if the player use only his left eye in play1 he should judge the angle only with his left eye2 if he use both eyes1 then judge with both eyes2 but if he uses the right eye to take the angle and the left eye to play1 when he settles to his stroke the angle will often appear wrong1 and he will become confused as to what the correct natural angle really is4 ,this probably arises from the fact that with most people the focus of the two eyes is not identical4 ,whether the cue should be held only by the fingers1 or in the hollow of the hand1 may be matter of opinion1 but there is no doubt it should be held lightly1 not gripped4 ,any rigidity of the muscles tends to impair the easy pendulum swing so essential to accurate play4 ,some people seem to think it necessary to grip the cue when making a screw4 ,the point is easily susceptible of practical demonstration if they will only condescend to hit the ball in the proper place4 ,with many players1 again1 the position of the left hand appears to be a matter of supreme indifference4 ,they place it on the table anyhow1 and almost without taking a glance at the stroke4 ,now it is all very well to say #8,look at ,john ,roberts4 ,he doesn't worry about these things1' but we are not1 most of us at least1 of the calibre of ,john ,roberts4 ,his easy and graceful style is deceptive4 ,if anyone will take the trouble to contrast the face of the man with his manner of play1 it will be apparent how thoroughly concentrated is his mind on the game4 ,he is the consummate artist who conceals the difficulty of the stroke under the ease of its execution4 ,for most players1 and all beginners1 it is advisable to pay some little attention to the position of the left hand4 ,obviously it is of importance4 ,if it has to be moved1 however slightly1 after the player has settled to his stroke1 the result will be a loss of accuracy4 ,it should be advanced with care1 by which ,i do not mean with wearisome laboriousness1 to the player's ball1 the eye being steadily kept on the line of direction1 or1 better still1 on the exact spot on the object ball it is desired to hit4 ,the cue from tip to butt should be in one straight line with the line of direction4 ,it may be thought that this is always the case1 but a close observation will show that very frequently the cue along its length is by no means in a straight line with the point aimed at4 ,i have found it most useful to bear this rule in mind1 especially when beginning practice after a long absence from the billiard-table4 ,the player should not hurry up from the table after delivering his stroke4 ,the fault indicated may easily become a habit1 and a very bad one4 ,it may be often observed among the more impatient class of players4 ,it may cause the body to move at the very moment when it is most essential it should be quite steady1 viz4 at the moment of the cue's contact with the ball4 ,a few more hints may be useful to some4 ,much of billiards is played before settling to the stroke4 ,this may at first sight appear an absurd statement1 but it contains an important truth4 ,if the player have a clearly defined idea not only of what stroke he is going for1 but how it is to be made1 much of the difficulty is already overcome2 but if he go down to his stroke1 and then have an elaborate consultation with himself as to what is to be done1 the process is not only harassing to his opponent but detrimental to himself4 ,once having decided on the stroke1 he should go for it unhesitatingly1 and as though no other stroke were possible4 ,to play one game1 at the same time having a lingering partiality for another1 is not usually attended with success4 ,the height of the player and the length of his arms will to a considerable extent determine where he should hold the cue so that he may combine sufficient power with the greatest attainable accuracy4 ,it must not1 therefore1 be held too far back4 ,this may cause a slight loss of power1 but that is of very small importance4 ,the bad play so often seen in amateur billiards is not usually to be attributed to any want of power of execution4 ,i have never known a professional do a stroke which most amateurs could not copy1 though ,i have known one instance of an amateur being able to do that which probably no professional living could do4 ,the feat deserves to be recorded4 ,the gentleman was an undergraduate at ,cambridge1 and it was said that he could from baulk screw back off the red on the spot into baulk again4 ,one day ,i asked him to do it for my edification1 and at the third attempt he succeeded4 ,the balls used were two of the usual set with which we ordinarily played4 ,he used his own cue1 which was one of the usual pattern of ,english cues4 ,the white came straight back without touching a cushion4 ,there are many persons besides myself who have seen him do it1 but ,i have never heard an authenticated case of any other person who could perform the feat4 ,on the face of it1 it seems wrong that a man of six feet and one of five feet six inches should hold cues of the same length in the same place1 and a slight consideration of the nature of a proper stroke will show very good reasons for not holding the cue too long4 ,the stroke itself should be made by1 as nearly as may be1 a horizontal motion of the cue4 ,any depression of the cue-tip has a tendency to make the ball take a slight curve4 ,there are strokes when it is desirable to sharply raise the butt for the very purpose of making one's own ball describe a curve before contact with the object ball1 and such strokes are sometimes very useful when the pocket is a narrow one4 ,but as a general rule the movement of the cue should be as nearly horizontal as circumstances allow4 ,now1 if the cue be held too long for thorough control over it1 as the player's hand goes back before delivering the stroke it will take an upward direction1 and one of two things must take place when the stroke is made4 ,if1 during the forward movement1 the cue work in a plane1 it will be depressed at the moment of contact with the ball2 but if at the moment of contact it be horizontal1 or nearly so1 it will have described a slightly circular movement4 ,this is one of the things to be avoided1 for the cue should work like a piston-rod4 ,the bridge should be a short bridge rather than a long one4 ,what is meant by a short bridge is a short distance between the bridge itself and the player's ball4 ,too long a bridge must necessarily diminish accuracy of hitting4 ,the stroke itself should come from the arm alone1 and as much as possible from the elbow1 the movement of the shoulder being kept within the narrowest limits4 ,however delicate1 it should be a clean1 crisp blow1 avoiding the least suspicion of a push4 ,in this respect it is exceedingly instructive to watch ,john ,roberts play4 ,he appears to strike the ball so hard1 even in his close game1 that one is at a loss to understand how it stops so quickly--the fact being that the ball is struck so firmly1 and so clean1 as to give the appearance of a harder stroke than in reality it is4 ,it is a very unusual thing to see an amateur strike his ball crisply when using delicate strengths4 ,not only should the angle be judged1 but aim should be taken through the centre of the player's ball4 ,this applies to every stroke not less than a half-ball4 ,for all ordinary strokes--excepting1 of course1 screws1 c4--the ball should be struck1 whether with side or without1 exactly half-way up4 ,the ball when so struck runs truer4 ,one last word of advice4 ,it is--simplify your game4 ,if you can take your choice of two games1 one which looks promising but with possible complications1 the other simple and obvious1 choose the latter4 ,some two or three years ago ,dawson was for this reason a most instructive player for the amateur4 ,his game was so simple that he never appeared to be in a difficulty4 ,he has somewhat changed its character since1 but ,i question if he has ever played better than he did then4 ,in this respect ,john ,roberts is the last player the amateur should attempt to copy4 ,his game is full of complications1 but he gets rid of them with an ease and a celerity that fairly astonish the onlookers4 ,he is out of a difficulty almost before one has recognised that there is one4 ,sometimes he seems to fairly revel in them1 and deliberately to make them for the pleasure of getting out of them4 ,it is certainly wonderfully attractive1 but the percentage of men who could play such a game with success would be infinitesimal4 ,if this memorandum appear too didactic1 ,i can only apologise to my readers4 ,it must necessarily assume that character to some extent4 ,but1 in truth1 the advice is not meant for good players4 ,it may be that there are some fine players who have never consciously observed any rules1 but have naturally adopted a correct style4 ,they are facile players1 but they know not the pleasure which comes from attacking and overcoming difficulties4 ,there are others1 quite as fond of the game1 who find the road to even partial success a somewhat stony one4 ,these hints1 or some of them1 may perhaps be of use to such4 ,one thing is certain4 ,not even the most perfect rules or the most undeniable instructions can of themselves make a good player4 ,they cannot take the place of hard work4 ,all they can do is to help the beginner over some of the difficulties others have met with1 and so save him time4 ,illustration3 ,the ,bridge 7boucle7 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,motion1 ,,impact1 ,,and ,,division ,,of ,,balls3 ,,two-,,ball ,,practice ,the practice prescribed in the preceding chapter had for its chief object the attainment of certainty in striking ball #a truly in the centre2 we now proceed to study some of the elementary facts concerning the impact of one ball with another4 ,in the first place1 the conditions of impact should be recognised1 and what is termed the division of balls must be explained4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,now1 for practical purposes the cloth and bed of the table are level1 and the balls are of the same size2 hence when they touch one another the point of contact is invariably on the line of their greatest horizontal circumference1 which1 as all know1 is precisely at half their height4 ,it will hereafter be shown that ball #a may be caused to leap1 and so strike ball #b above this2 but for present purposes1 when a plain stroke alone is being considered1 it may be accepted as a fact that the point of impact is always at half the ball's height4 ,that fixes the location of impact vertically2 but horizontally it is evident that there is considerable latitude4 ,ball #a may hit ball #b either precisely full1 when the centre of one is played on the centre of the other1 or it may strike either to the right or left of the centre of ball #b2 the limit on either side being the finest possible touch4 ,the accompanying figure will show what is meant4 ,when ball #a hits ball #b full1 at the moment of impact it occupies the position #a2 and the part of #b which can be struck by a ball situated at #a is from ,p to ,p2 if ball #a occupies the position #a1 then the part of #b which may be touched is restricted to that marked ,p ,p2 but should ball #a be placed at #a1 then the only point on #b it can touch is ,p4 ,therefore the nearer #a is to #b the less of the latter can be struck1 and the further away the more4 ,as regards the division of balls1 for the ,english game at any rate1 the simpler it is the better4 ,the larger balls on a smaller table1 as used in the ,french game1 admit of more minute subdivision than do our smaller balls1 which may be1 and often are1 further from the player's eye4 ,to attempt a division which the eye cannot easily appreciate is a mistake4 ,for purposes of play both balls #a and #b must be divided2 and although at this early stage of the manual we are not concerned with the division of ball #a 7for all practice at present is confined to centre strokes71 yet it is convenient now to record the divisions of both balls4 ,ball #a is divided by its vertical and horizontal diameters into four parts4 ,the centre stroke is delivered at ,c1 and is of all strokes by far the commonest and most important4 ,a ball struck high and right is struck in the sector ,c ,a ,e2 low and left in ,c ,d ,b2 high and left in ,c ,a ,d2 low and right in ,c ,e ,b4 ,the vertical and horizontal lines are divided from the centre where they intersect1 into four equal parts each way4 ,thus a ball high is struck on the line ,c ,a at the point marked 2 low is struck on ,c ,b at the point marked 2 right is struck on ,c ,e at the point marked 2 left is struck on ,c ,d at the point marked 4 ,combinations of these divisions are of course possible3 thus high and right would indicate a point ,p2 left and low is represented by ,p4 ,that division is quite as minute as the eye can follow2 indeed1 for general purposes it will probably suffice to indicate the sector only2 to say1 for example1 ball #a should be struck high and right4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,,opening ,,the ,,game4 ,in respect to ball #b the matter is different2 it cannot1 as has already been shown1 be struck save on the line ,c ,c ,a1 the height moment of reaching #b1 then its position will be that of the dotted circle #a1 whose centre is ,c1 and ,p is the point of impact4 ,for any stroke between full and half-ball the point of impact will lie between ,p and ,p2 between half-ball and the extreme of fineness the point of impact will lie beyond ,p in the direction of ,e4 ,ball #b being struck by ball #a at ,p must travel in the direction ,p ,b ,f1 the line from the point of impact passing through ,b the centre4 ,there is practically no departure from this rule4 ,hence it follows that if it be desired that ball #b should travel in the direction ,b ,f1 say to a pocket1 imagine a line from the pocket passing through the ball's centre2 this cuts the circumference at ,p1 which is manifestly the point which must be struck by ball #a4 ,where is the centre of ball #a to be aimed at in order that ,p may be struck8 ,produce the imaginary line ,f ,b ,p to ,c1 making ,p ,c equal to ,b ,p or in other words equal to the radius of the ball4 ,if the centre of ball #a1 ,c1 be aimed on ,c1 ball #b must be struck at ,p and must travel in the direction required4 ,pray realise that it is impossible to hit ball #b at the point aimed at save when the stroke is full2 in every other case the aim must be beyond the point of impact1 and the rule above given will enable anyone to determine precisely where aim should be taken4 ,when a ball is struck by the cue its first impulse is to slide forward1 and if there were no friction between the ball and the cloth it would do so till arrested by other causes2 but as there always is this friction1 the lower part of the ball is thereby retarded1 and the result is the rolling or revolving motion with which all are familiar4 ,this will be further considered when the subject of rotation is discussed1 but it is mentioned here as the cause of certain effects which will be observed in some of the strokes recommended for practice4 ,when one ball impinges on another the immediate result is a greater or lesser flattening of both surfaces at the point of impact2 this is instantaneously followed by recoil1#ad the result of each ball reassuming its spherical form4 ,the greater the strength of stroke the greater the flattening and the greater the recoil2 the converse likewise holds good4 ,further1 the force or strength with which ball #a strikes ball #b is immediately divided on impact2 if ball #b be struck full it appears to acquire from ball #a the whole of its energy save that due to naturally developed rotation1 the result being that ball #b travels fast whilst ball #a remains comparatively stationary4 ,if the distance between the two balls be very small1 little rotation is acquired and ball #a transmits its motion to ball #b and stops on or near the spot which that ball occupied2 if the distance be considerable1 ball #a acquires rotation which1 overcoming the recoil on impact1 causes it to travel slowly in its original direction4 ,when impact is other than full1 ball #a parts with more or less of its force1 which is transmitted to ball #b4 ,what the one loses the other gains4 ,these general remarks will seem to many self-evident and superfluous2 to others they may prove difficult to realise and distasteful2 but students1 whether beginners or those who have already acquaintance with the game1 may rest assured that a careful consideration of them can do no harm and may be of much advantage2 for practice is assisted by an intelligent appreciation of the behaviour of balls under certain conditions2 in short1 by a consideration of cause and effect4 ,for practice3 place ball #a on the centre of the on the baulk-line1 put ball #b a foot up the table in the central line1 play #a full on #b with varying strength1 at first with strength to carry #b to the top cushion2 the truth of the stroke will be shown by #b passing over all the spots in the central line and #a following slowly in the same line for a short distance4 ,when tolerable certainty is acquired play the same stroke harder1 and if correctly struck ball #b will return from the top cushion and meet ball #a1 kiss as it is called1 in the central line4 ,the stroke can be made more difficult by placing ball #b further up the table1 say on the centre spot1 and playing as before1 and again by placing it on the pyramid spot4 ,this practice1 though it may seem uninteresting1 is most useful2 it combines and continues that recommended for one ball with that required for truth of stroke on another4 ,it also1 as will hereafter be shown1 is directly useful in the matter of cannons1 hence it should be assiduously practised4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,next set ball #b upon the central line at such a distance from the baulk-line as the player can imagine its division described on page #acc1 and play ball #a so as to make three-quarter1 half1 and quarter-ball strokes with some confidence4 ,this distance will no doubt vary with the stature and sight of the player1 but #b feet may be tried as about average4 ,if ,p1 ,p1 ,p be the points of impact for the various divisions1 ball #b will1 after the strokes1 travel in the directions ,r1 ,r1 ,r1 each being the prolongation of a line from the point of impact through the centre4 ,ball #a will behave differently according to the strength with which it is struck2 what is always true is that it will travel in a contrary direction to ball #b4 ,if the one ball goes to the left after impact the other will go to the right4 ,played with strength #a or #b1 impact being at ,p1 ball #a will follow through the space which ball #b covered1 and will stop slightly to the right of the line ,a ,b4 ,with impact at ,p or a half-ball stroke1 ball #a will deviate further from the line ,a ,b1 and travel in the direction ,d1 ,a ,c ,d being the half-ball angle2 when played quarter-ball1 impact being at ,p1 ball #a will deviate less from ,a ,b and travel towards ,e4 ,the object of this practice is to accustom the eye to recognise approximately the directions taken by both balls after impact4 ,a small matter which is a little obscure connected with the language of billiards should here be noticed4 ,in placing ball #a for a stroke1 it is usual1 and generally desirable1 to select a spot from which the angle #a ,c ,d shall be what is known as the half-ball angle1 and certainty in play is greatly based on the power of recognising this position4 ,consequently in time players1 perhaps unconsciously1 refer almost every stroke to that angle as a standard4 ,if a hazard or cannon is on the table1 they consider for a moment whether the angle contained between the two paths of ball #a is greater or less than the half-ball angle1 and to the best of their ability they apply compensations to meet the difference1 playing fuller and harder when the angle is less1 finer and slower when the angle is greater1 until a following stroke becomes necessary4 ,nevertheless1 the universal custom is to define the situation when the angle is smaller as wider1 and when the angle is greater as narrower4 ,thus the position #a ,c ,d is called wider than #a ,c ,e4 ,clearly it is so only as regards the deviation of ball #a from the prolongation of its original path--that is1 from the path which would have been followed if there had been no impact--consequently the angle of deviation must be defined as that between the new actual path of ball #a and the path that would have been described if the deviation had not taken place4 ,this being accepted1 the ordinary use of the terms wider and narrower is appropriate4 ,in this and in all diagrams as far as possible the lines followed by the centres of balls are shown2 hence1 as the centres cannot touch each other or the cushions1 the lines do not reach to the surface of either1 but are necessarily short of the point of impact by the length of the ball's radius4 ,ball #a1 after impact other than full1 describes a curve due to the forces to which it is subject2 this is greater in proportion to the strength of stroke1 and though in practice its effect must not be neglected1 it is not ordinarily shown in the diagrams1 which do not pretend to absolute accuracy1 but merely to such measure of correctness as is required for practical purposes4 ,an illustration of the curve1 and a warning when its existence must not be overlooked1 will be found in ,chapter ,v4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,from the strokes recommended in ,chapter ,,iii4 for practice it will have been learnt that in a general way a ball played against a cushion will return therefrom1 so that the angle of reflexion shall be nearly equal to the angle of incidence4 ,a useful two-ball practice based on this is to place balls #a and #b on the table and endeavour to play on #b1 having first struck a cushion4 ,the difficulty is to determine the point on the cushion on which #a must impinge so as to rebound on #b4 ,the solution is approximately3--,from ball #a let fall #a ,a perpendicular to the cushion ,a ,c ,d2 produce #a ,a to ,b1 making ,a ,b #a ,a4 ,join ,b with the centre of #b2 where that line cuts the cushion at ,c is the point required4 ,play #a so that it shall strike ,c and it will rebound on #b4 ,similarly1 if the second ball occupy the position #b the line from ,b to its centre intersects the cushion at ,d2 ball #a played to touch the cushion at ,d will travel to #b4 ,in a game of course the cushion must not be marked1 but in practice it will at first be found advantageous to mark the spot sufficiently to guide the stroke and educate the eye4 ,this is easily done by placing a piece of chalk on the wooden frame of the cushion just behind the spot to be hit1 thus doing away with the need of marking the cushion with chalk1 which it is well to avoid4 ,when it is necessary to mark the cloth of bed or cushion1 pipeclay such as tailors use is preferable to chalk4 ,special attention is necessary to two facts3 first1 the angle of reflexion varies with the strength2 that is1 a soft stroke will come off very nearly at the same angle as that of incidence1 whilst with a hard stroke there is a perceptible difference2 second1 the point on the cushion which should be hit must not be aimed at4 ,this is merely a modification of what has already been explained with reference to the points of aim and of impact4 ,fig4 #g shows how very far a ball on the line #a ,p played1 i4e4 aimed at ,p1 is from hitting that point2 instead of doing so it strikes the cushion at ,t2 hence allowance must be made in aiming1 the length allowed on the cushion diminishing as the angle approaches a right angle4 ,when the stroke is at a right angle to the cushion the points ,p and ,t coincide and no allowance is required4 ,one reason why the angle of reflexion varies with the strength is that1 on impact with the cushion1 the ball1 being harder than the rubber1 indents it--makes a sort of cup1 in fact1 deeper as the stroke is stronger4 ,friction with the cloth of the cushion has also some effect on the angle1 and there may be other causes at work2 fortunately1 it is probable that one to some extent counteracts another4 ,this practice from a cushion is interesting as well as useful2 at first the beginner will be satisfied if he hits ball #b anywhere and anyhow2 but soon he will be able to hit it on one side or the other1 as he may wish1 when the distance ball #a has to travel is not very great4 ,hereafter both cannons and hazards will be mentioned1 which must be played bricole1 or off a cushion before ball #b is struck1 and the practice proposed will make their execution fairly easy and certain4 ,we conclude this chapter1 which has covered important ground1 with four illustrations of the division of ball #b at the moment of impact4 ,a shows ball #a applied to #b for a quarter-ball stroke1 ,b for a half-ball1 ,c for a three-quarter-ball1 and ,d for a full ball stroke2 the phases varying between partial and total eclipse4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h ,,chapter ,v ,,plain ,,strokes1 ,,winning ,,and ,,losing ,,hazards1 ,,cannons3 ,,three-,,ball ,,practice ,by the practice already recommended1 the beginner should have become fairly able to strike ball #a in the centre1 and familiar with the divisions of ball #b2 he may therefore with advantage proceed to play natural or plain strokes4 ,we prefer the term plain1 partly because1 ball #a being struck in the centre1 no rotation beyond that which is self-acquired or spontaneous is communicated by the cue1 and partly because one stroke deserves the name natural as much as another4 ,it is as natural for a ball struck on its side to rotate round its vertical axis as it is for a ball struck in the centre to have no such rotation4 ,in billiards plain strokes cover a vast field2 most of the certainties1 or strokes which should seldom be missed1 come under that definition4 ,their number is infinite1 and it is impossible to give diagrams of more than a few typical examples4 ,the student can1 without great effort1 multiply and vary them at will1 and it is desirable that he should do so1 altering the strength and noting the behaviour of each ball after the stroke4 ,he will thus learn more than he can possibly acquire from any book1 however excellent1 and will profit much if his practice is occasionally supervised by a competent instructor4 ,let us begin with winning hazards4 ,place ball #b on the centre spot2 it is then opposite the middle pockets4 ,choose one of them into which the ball is to be played4 ,from what has already been explained1 it is known that the ball should travel on a line drawn from its centre to the centre of the pocket--that is1 from ,c to ,a 7fig4 #a72 also that the point of impact must be where that line prolonged meets the circumference at ,b1 and that the centre of ball #a must therefore1 at the moment of striking1 be at ,p1 ,b ,p being equal to ,b ,c1 or the radius of the balls4 ,no matter where ball #a may be situated1 its centre has to be played on ,p in order that the winning hazard may be perfectly made4 ,set ball #a on the prolongation of ,a ,c1 which is the line of the cue's axis4 ,the player must place himself accordingly1 and aim full at ball #b4 ,the stroke is precisely similar to that recommended for practice over the spots1 but easier1 as the distances are shorter4 ,it should be played with various strengths4 ,with a soft ,no4 #a1 ball #b will roll into the pocket1 ball #a following a few inches on the same path4 ,if it diverge there is error in the stroke1 and endeavour should be made to correct it4 ,that is1 the player should not be satisfied with the mere winning hazard1 which is very simple1 but should by watching the path of the balls1 satisfy himself that the stroke was true4 ,with ,no4 #b strength1 or a free ,no4 #b1 ball #a will follow on1 and eventually drop into the same pocket4 ,when tolerable certainty has been acquired1 ball #a may be moved to #a1 #a1 c41 either to the right or left of the original position4 ,no good can result from giving precise measurements for the various situations of ball #a2 it does not1 indeed1 greatly matter where it is set1 so long as the player can reach it with comfort2 what is obligatory is that its centre must pass over the point ,p4 ,the limit of the stroke is when the position #an is reached2 thence1 if correctly played1 point ,b will just be touched1 and no motion to ball #b be communicated4 ,hence1 when the path of ball #a before impact is at right angles to that which #b must travel1 the winning hazard is impossible4 ,in other words1 a right-angled cut is impossible2 such strokes sometimes seem to be made1 but the explanation will1 on examination1 be found in the size and shape of the pockets4 ,these winning hazards should be practised into both middle pockets till a tolerable certainty or confidence is acquired4 ,some persons will make the full1 whilst others will play the fine strokes best2 and again1 it will often be found that1 when playing into the right-hand pocket1 there is a tendency to error on one or other side1 but when playing to the left-hand pocket the mistake is just reversed4 ,if the strokes are taken too full to the right1 they will be made too fine to the left4 ,the proper procedure is obvious3 by making a very small allowance each way the mistake will be corrected1 the eyes will become educated1 and the tendency to error will diminish4 ,it need scarcely be added that the kind of stroke in which one has least confidence should receive the most attention2 failure indicates where practice is required4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,also1 let the path of ball #a1 after impact1 receive close attention1 and as soon as some certainty in making the hazard is felt1 let the exercise consist quite as much in playing to leave ball #a in or near a desired place as in the success of the hazard4 ,the value of this is all but self-evident1 and it is as important in pool or pyramids as in billiards4 ,similar practice may1 with advantage1 be made to the top corner pockets1 ball #b being placed on the billiard1 and afterwards on the pyramid spot4 ,the rules for finding what point of #b should be struck and the points of aim are1 of course1 unaltered1 but attention may usefully be given to the following hint1 based on the construction of the cushions at the neck of the pocket4 ,whether a pocket is easy or not depends1 perhaps1 more on this than on the actual width at the fall4 ,if the channel is gradually rounded off1 with but little rubber in the sides1 a ball once in the neck is nearly sure to fall into the pocket2 but if there is much rubber in the sides1 the same ball would expend its energy in rebounding from side to side1 and have no disposition to travel forward into the pocket4 ,cushions cut square1 as it is called1 make the pockets more difficult than those sloped gently away2 the channel is narrower4 ,let ball #b be placed between the spot and the top cushion1 or anywhere on a line connecting a point so chosen and the corner pocket into which it is proposed to play4 ,in this case the point of aim is no longer the true centre of the pocket1 nor even the centre of the portion of the pocket which is open from position #b1 but a point so chosen that ball #b may impinge on the neck or side of the pocket entrance1 and thence drop in4 ,the accompanying sketch will show what is meant4 ,if ball #b were played on ,c1 the centre of the pocket1 it would strike the cushion ,a1 and very probably rebound to the opposite side1 and the hazard would fail3 but if1 on the contrary1 it strike the cushion ,b at a point ,t1 inside the neck of the pocket1 then1 unless played very hard1 the hazard will to a certainty be made4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,with reference to the position of ball #b1 ,c is termed a blind pocket1 because the full width at the fall is not open4 ,hazards into blind pockets are therefore more difficult than those into open ones2 nevertheless1 if the player is careful to observe the required point of impact1 and to allow accordingly in aim1 such strokes can be played with considerable confidence4 ,when measurements are given whereby the positions of balls on the billiard-table may be found1 they must not be supposed to be absolutely accurate4 ,they no doubt are nearly so for the table and balls with which the stroke was played for the purposes of this volume2 but tables1 balls1 cloth1 and climate are subject to variation which may make modification necessary1 and1 moreover1 each man has a mode of using his cue as peculiar to himself as is his handwriting4 ,therefore1 once for all1 let it be understood that the diagrams and descriptions must be treated as but approximate4 ,all measurements from a cushion are from the edge on which balls impinge to the centre of the ball whose position is to be fixed2 those from a pocket are from the middle of the fall4 ,the dotted lines with figures marked in ,diagram ,i41 example ,a1 show the measurements whereby the position of ball #b is determined4 ,many mistakes are made by inaccurate reading of instructions1 and by failure to use the measure correctly1 but the eye will prove a useful check2 for if the position of the balls1 when placed on the table1 does not nearly coincide with that shown in the diagram1 there is an error somewhere which a little patience and consideration will cause to be discovered4 ,a few typical strokes are shown on ,diagram ,i43-- ,a4 ,ball #a1 on or near the right corner of the 2 ball #b #g in4 below the right middle pocket1 and #h in4 from cushion #c4 ,the measurements are in this instance shown on the diagram as a guide in other cases4 ,play a free ,no4 #a strength4 ,ball #a1 after pocketing #b1 should travel to the top cushion1 and so far back as to leave an easy winning hazard on a ball on the billiard spot4 ,with slight variation of the position1 the stroke may be played slower or faster1 as may be desired4 ,if the strength is misjudged1 and ball #a should stop somewhere between the top cushion and the desired position1 a losing hazard in the left top pocket may not improbably be possible4 ,the positions of both balls may be considerably varied1 whilst the stroke remains virtually unchanged4 ,the further ball #a is brought to the left along the baulk-line1 the fuller is the hazard1 and the position of ball #a after the stroke will be more to the right of the spot than that shown in the diagram4 ,b4 ,ball #a1 #be in4 from cushion #b1 and #aj in4 from the top cushion4 ,ball #b1 touching the top cushion and #ab in4 from the right top pocket4 ,play a gentle ,no4 #a1 which will leave ball #a about #g in4 from cushion #b and #ad in4 from the top cushion4 ,in this stroke ball #b and the cushion are simultaneously struck1 as will be apparent if ball #a be placed against ball #b at the proper point of impact2 hence a very common rule is to direct the player to aim between ball and cushion4 ,the general rule however for finding the point of impact holds good1 and the fact that under the circumstances the cushion is struck at the same time as the ball is merely a coincidence4 ,illustration3 ,instead of ,long ,rest ,c4 ,ball #a1 #c in4 from the left side cushion1 and #i in4 from the left top pocket4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,disputed ,,score4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,ball #b1 touching the left side cushion and #d in4 from left top pocket4 ,play a very soft stroke so that ball #a may be left at #a2 a losing hazard from the spot is then open4 ,this stroke is best made if the player stand close to the balls and lean over the table1 making his bridge for the cue boucle--i4e4 the forefinger bent round the cue4 ,if played in the usual way the stroke could not be reached without the long rest1 and the eye is then so far from the ball that error and failure are probable4 ,any ordinary player can show the stroke1 which is quite easy and very useful4 ,d4 ,ball #a1 #e in4 from cushion #e and #ag in4 below the left middle pocket4 ,ball #b1 #f in4 from cushion #e and #g in4 below the left middle pocket4 ,this is an example of a hazard to a blind pocket4 ,ball #a should be struck gently1 and its position after the stroke will be in the direction of the right top pocket4 ,it is1 in fact1 a fine cut1 and if played with sufficient strength ball #a may probably go into the right top pocket4 ,if ball #a be placed #f in4 from cushion #e1 the stroke is slightly fuller and may be played slower2 after impact the ball will travel in the direction ,d ,e4 ,diagram ,,ii4 shows positions for doubles1 with which it is well to accustom the eye4 ,though such strokes are not very much used in billiards1 they are occasionally of great value1 and their principle is based on the equality of the angles of incidence and reflexion4 ,it is clear that a double may be set up at almost any part of the table1 and it is well that several positions should be selected and played from till some certainty is obtained2 those shown in the diagram are merely types4 ,in these cases ball #a is played full or nearly so on #b1 and position for a further score may with attention to strength be attained4 ,doubles are used more in pool and pyramids than in billiards1 and will be treated in detail when the two former games are described4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,it may be as well to make a few remarks explanatory of the diagram4 ,a is an example of a double in baulk where the balls are easily reached4 ,the point ,a on the cushion where impact with ball #b should take place is half-way between the baulk-line and the bottom cushion4 ,a ball played from ,b to ,a should1 if truly struck in the centre1 fall into the left bottom pocket4 ,place balls #a and #b as shown in the diagram on the line ,b ,a1 keeping #b sufficiently far from the cushion to avoid a kiss2 play full1 and #b should be doubled4 ,again1 let ,c be the middle point of cushion #f1 and imagine lines joining it with the right middle and right top pockets4 ,on these lines place the balls4 ,a full stroke from ball #a to #b should double the latter in the one case into the right top pocket1 in the other into the right middle pocket4 ,next1 ,d is an instance of a simple double1 from which in more ways than one a losing hazard from spot may be left4 ,ball #a is #bd in4 from cushion #f and #bf in4 above the middle pocket2 ball #b is #e in4 from the same cushion and #bj in4 above the pocket4 ,a full stroke will double ball #b into the right middle pocket1 and ball #a may be left near the line from the left middle pocket to the spot4 ,in the case marked ,e1 ball #b is just beyond the shoulder of the right middle pocket1 ball #a being so placed nearly in a line from #b to the left bottom pocket that a full stroke about ,no4 #a strength will carry #b to the left top pocket4 ,ball #a may be so played as to leave a losing hazard into the left top pocket from a ball on spot4 ,all these strokes should be played medium strength1 say ,no4 #a or #b2 in practice it will be found that the angle of reflexion varies somewhat with the strength1 and in a less degree with the table4 ,as great accuracy is of the highest importance in playing winning hazards1 it is evident that1 when either ball has a considerable distance to travel1 the stroke should not be played too slowly2 for in a very slow stroke imperfections of ball or table tell more than when greater strength is used4 ,also1 before leaving the subject1 it is desirable to impress the reader strongly with the importance of the remarks on pages #ade-f respecting play into a more or less blind pocket4 ,attention to them is essential to good spot play and also to what is called play at the top of the table4 ,clearing the dangerous shoulder of the pocket is the secret of success4 ,we now proceed to losing hazards1 which with most amateurs form the mainstay of the game2 partly because being easier than winning hazards1 they are usually taught first1 but mainly because they are possible with a slovenly style and inaccurate striking which effectually prevent success with winners4 ,in reality1 however1 they will repay care and accuracy as much as any other stroke1 because1 unless ball #b be struck in the proper place1 it will not travel in the desired path1 and the result of a poor stroke may be success as regards the hazard1 coupled with leaving ball #b hopelessly safe4 ,when played with intelligence and with due regard to the position of ball #b after the stroke1 they form most excellent practice4 ,following the usual custom1 these strokes may be divided into short and long losers1 and each will be separately treated2 at present1 of course1 plain strokes only being considered4 ,it is convenient to take the half-ball hazard as the standard or typical stroke2 it is the easiest for the reason given at p4 #acc1 because aim is taken at the edge of ball #b1 a well-defined mark1 instead of at an indefinite point on the ball's surface4 ,moreover1 on billiard-tables certain positions are recognised as affording half-ball losers1 and these are most valuable to a player as supplying the means1 during play1 of testing and correcting his strokes or his judgment of angles4 ,it often happens from many causes that a man's eye or nerve partially fails1 which failure destroys confidence and begets still worse play2 he probably before long gets a stroke from one of the many positions which should be played half-ball4 ,the mere effort to recognise the situation tends to arrest demoralisation1 whilst the success which follows correct recognition goes far to restore equanimity and confidence4 ,that is one reason against wantonly altering the positions of the spots on the table1 the size of the and such matters2 though1 no doubt1 if the game can thereby be certainly improved1 the alteration is justified1 and in time players will learn similar positions under the altered circumstances4 ,hitherto such changes have been made rather with the view of cramping the play of one or two men1 and so placing others less able or less diligent on a par with them1 than with the object of making an undeniable improvement in the game4 ,such modifications under the pretext of reform are much to be deprecated4 ,taking the billiard1 pyramid1 and centre spots as fixed points on the table1 ,diagram ,,iii4 shows with sufficient accuracy the lines of half-ball strokes to the top pockets4 ,let the billiard spot be considered first4 ,from either top pocket there is a half-ball stroke to the opposite one2 also from either middle pocket there is similarly a half-ball hazard into the opposite top pocket4 ,next1 from a ball placed on the pyramid spot there are half-ball hazards from either corner of the into the top pockets2 and1 lastly1 from a ball on the centre spot1 half-ball strokes to either top pocket may be made from positions about #g in4 to the right and left of the centre spot of baulk4 ,precise accuracy in definition of these strokes is not attempted2 tables and balls vary1 whilst no two men strike exactly alike2 hence each must work out for himself the exact position for a half-ball stroke2 it will in every case be reasonably near the lines indicated4 ,diagram ,,iv4 illustrates several losing hazards1 all good for practice4 ,for the group marked ,a1 place ball #a on an imaginary line from the centre of the red spot to the upper edge of the shoulder of the left middle pocket about half-way between them1 where it can be conveniently reached by the player2 it is then in position for a gentle half-ball stroke to the right top pocket4 ,when correctly played1 impact with ball #b takes place on the central longitudinal line of the table1 and consequently #b travels to the top cushion on that line1 and returns on the same path a shorter or greater distance according to the strength of stroke4 ,a very gentle one will bring ball #b back to the spot2 a medium stroke will result in leaving it near the pyramid spot1 and it can be brought further down the table if desired2 but for practice at this stage endeavour should be made to leave ball #b between the red and pyramid spots on the centre line4 ,if this is effected1 ball #b has been truly struck2 should it return to the right of the line it has been struck too full1 and if it rests to the left of the line too fine4 ,so that here again we have an index which points out error and shows what is required for its correction4 ,the hazard is so easy that after a little practice it will seldom be missed1 and for that reason it should be worked at till it becomes what is called a certainty4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iii4 ,then from ,a lay off1 in the direction of the right middle pocket1 a series of positions marked ,a ,a ,a ,a1 each about #a in4 from the other1 and from each of these play the hazard4 ,the point of impact should be the same in every case1 therefore the point of aim will vary slightly with the change of position2 but the chief variation in the stroke lies in the strength employed4 ,for the position ,a the strength is about ,no4 #b1 and ball #b should be left on the central line ,l ,l between the centre spot and the bottom cushion4 ,for ,a the same stroke a little stronger1 ball #b returning from the bottom cushion towards the centre spot3 and so on4 ,it is seldom necessary to practise beyond ,a in dealing with plain strokes4 ,the strength required for this stroke is considerable approaching ,no4 #d1 and ball #b should travel beyond twice the length of the table4 ,in all these strokes endeavour should be made to keep ball #b travelling on the line ,l ,l2 this will be found not quite an easy matter1 and sometimes divergence may not be from any fault of striking1 for an imperfection in the ball which might account for an error of half an inch or less in #f ft4 would produce a perceptible deviation during a journey of #bd to #cj ft4 ,nevertheless1 the prime source of failure is to be looked for in a faulty method on the part of the player1 who1 if he cannot easily remedy what is wrong1 should without hesitation revert to the practice previously prescribed4 ,after some work at this he will probably find that ball #a was not being truly struck1 and will amend the fault4 ,these strokes should then be transferred to the other side of the table1 making the hazards into the left top pocket4 ,they are very conveniently played with the left hand1 and the player who can use both hands almost indifferently has a great advantage over a purely one-handed performer4 ,it is entirely1 we think1 a matter of resolution and of practice4 ,at any rate1 these strokes should be played from both sides of the table till they can be made without difficulty4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iv4 ,example ,b exhibits a valuable stroke of common occurrence4 ,ball #a is on the line from the left top pocket to the spot4 ,that line should be taken from a point nearer the top than the side cushion4 ,ball #b should be struck so as to drive it as indicated1 half a foot or more above the right middle pocket on to the cushion1 whence it rebounds and comes to rest conveniently over that pocket4 ,a similar stroke should be played from the right top pocket1 and there is as usual a little license as to the position of ball #a2 it may be further from or nearer to the pocket than is shown in the diagram1 and also a little above or below the line indicated1 and still be a plain stroke2 when the divergence is greater1 side is required1 and the methods of play will be hereafter explained4 ,the strokes marked ,c on this diagram afford admirable practice for middle pocket losing hazards2 for their results record plainly the errors committed4 ,they have been selected because the point of impact on ball #b is in the central line of the table2 therefore1 as has been already shown1 its path should lie on that line4 ,another advantage these strokes possess is that from each position of ball #b precisely similar hazards may be made into the right and left middle pocket4 ,place ball #b in the central line of the table1 #bd in4 from the baulk-line4 ,a half-ball hazard is open from either the right or left corner of the 4 ,ball #b should pass up and down the central line1 the distance varying with the strength2 for simple hazard practice it should be brought back to its place before the stroke was made4 ,next bring ball #b #a in4 down the central line2 place ball #a #aj in4 from the centre of baulk2 play as before4 ,this stroke may be repeated by bringing ball #b down the central line #a in4 each time1 till a position #ah in4 from the baulk-line is reached4 ,when nearer than this the stroke is so far changed that the strength must be reduced1 so that ball #b shall not return from the top cushion1 but shall be cut towards one of the top pockets1 and as the position of ball #b approaches the baulk-line it will be found desirable to place ball #a further and further back in the baulk within the limits of the 4 ,ball #a is placed #a in4 towards the centre for each stroke up to the fifth when ball #b is #ah in4 from baulk4 ,whilst accuracy should be aimed at1 its perfect attainment is impossible2 in playing these strokes occasionally a very good one may be made1 and ball #b may keep very close to the central line4 ,oftener1 however1 there will be divergence1 and hence it is well to recognise limits within which the stroke1 though not very good1 may yet suffice to leave ball #b in play4 ,in the diagram the lines ,p ,m and ,q ,n1 drawn from the corners of the parallel to the sides of the table1 form such boundaries4 ,if ball #b be left anywhere in the space so enclosed1 and as far down the table as the spot1 there is almost certainly a plain hazard to be made off it from baulk into either top or middle pockets4 ,other and easier middle pocket hazards may be indefinitely multiplied1 and should be practised till the person playing acquires confidence1 not merely that he can make the stroke1 but that he can vary the strength at will from such delicacy as scarcely to move ball #b to one which will bring it in and out of baulk4 ,a few examples are given in ,diagram ,v4 ,a4 ,ball #b1 #af in4 from cushion #c1 #ab in4 below right middle pocket2 ball #a on right corner of the 4 ,play half-ball about ,no4 #b strength1 leaving ball #b placed for a hazard in the left middle pocket4 ,ball #b can be brought back nearly over the centre spot1 and the danger of the stroke is that1 if played too fine1 ball #b will lie near cushion #f and be practically out of play4 ,b4 ,ball #b1 #ae in4 from cushion #c1 #f in4 below right middle pocket2 ball #a on baulk centre spot4 ,play half-ball ,no4 #b strength1 leaving ball #b with hazard into right middle pocket4 ,c4 ,ball #b1 #ba in4 from cushion #e1 #aj in4 below left middle pocket2 ball #a on baulk centre spot4 ,play half-ball ,no4 #b strength1 bringing ball #b back over or near the centre spot of the table4 ,with slight variation of strength and aim ball #b can be brought back into almost any desired position on the table4 ,d4 ,ball #b1 #i in4 from cushion #e1 #bc in4 below left middle pocket2 ball #a1 #e in4 to the right of the centre of baulk1 or on position #e of ,example ,c1 ,diagram ,,iv4 ,play a half-ball slow ,no4 #a4 ,ball #b will travel to the side cushion on a line at right angles to its face1 or1 in other words1 parallel to the baulk-line1 and will return on the same line to a distance varying with the strength4 ,a medium ,no4 #a strength will bring the ball back from #bd to #cj in4 from the side cushion4 ,there is great latitude in placing ball #a for this stroke1 which can be made as far as #h in4 to the right of baulk centre1 the difference in play being merely in strength4 ,the further ball #a is placed from #b the greater is the strength required1 and as a consequence the further does ball #b return from the side cushion4 ,this stroke is of the class called #8jennies4' ,each stroke here recommended for practice can be played from either side of the table2 and this should always be done in order that the eye may become equally familiar with the angles into either side pocket4 ,the next two examples 7,diagram ,,vi47 are of an importance which the beginner may not at once realise1 but which is abundantly clear to a professional or to an advanced amateur4 ,the hazards are in themselves so easy that a very poor player can have no difficulty in making them2 but mark the difference between the right and wrong method of play4 ,in the first example the paths of ball #b after impact are drawn1 both when rightly and when wrongly struck2 and an examination of them will show that if the proper method is followed1 error in strength has much less effect in leaving the ball out of play1 and if the stroke is wrongly played the margin for such error is comparatively small4 ,the principle here illustrated applies to many positions1 and consequently the strokes deserve close study4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,v4 ,example ,a4--,place ball #a1 #dj in4 from the top cushion1 #g in4 from cushion #f2 ball #b1 #af in4 from the top cushion1 #aa in4 from cushion #f2 play a free stroke rather finer than half-ball2 it is a bad stroke indeed which leaves ball #b out of play4 ,another good example is shown at ,b2 ball #a1 #bd in4 from cushion #d1 #d in4 from cushion #c2 ball #b1 #ac in4 from cushion #d1 #i in4 from cushion #c4 ,play a free stroke finer than half-ball on #b1 which will follow a course somewhat resembling that indicated4 ,diagram ,,vii4 may be thus set up3--,ball #b1 #e in4 from left middle pocket1 in4 above a line joining the centres of the two middle pockets2 place ball #a #g in4 to the right of the centre spot in baulk2 play half-ball on ball #b a free stroke4 ,ball #b must be very badly struck if it is left out of play2 it should strike the left side and top cushions and return to position4 ,if played improperly1 it returns from the top cushion only1 and unless the strength is very exact is probably lost to play4 ,many accidents may happen2 it may be holed in the left top pocket1 or1 still worse1 catch in it and run safe under the top cushion2 it may return close to cushion #f and come to rest either above or below the middle pocket2 in each case it is left in a more or less undesirable position4 ,if played too full1 ball #b will probably be left safe near cushion #b2 hence there are at least two types of wrong paths which might be shown1 but they have been omitted to avoid complicating the diagram4 ,having fairly mastered short losing hazards1 the next step is to study similar strokes into the top pockets from baulk4 ,they are called long losing hazards1 and form an excellent test of a performer's capacity at the game of billiards1 in which they fill an important part4 ,they require greater accuracy than the short hazards1 because the balls have to travel over a greater distance1 so that correctness in placing ball #a for a plain half-ball stroke on ball #b is of the greatest consequence4 ,smoothness and truth in the delivery of the cue must not be lost sight of1 and a short reversion to the practice recommended in ,chapters ,,iii4 and ,,iv4 for the attainment of these objects will prove to be of much benefit4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vi4 ,the typical long losing hazard is made from ball #b on the centre spot1 ball #a being about #g in4 from the centre of the baulk4 ,differences in the elasticity of the balls will make a slight alteration in the best position for ball #a2 where it is considerable1 #h in4 may not be too far from baulk-spot1 and where it is less #g in4 will suffice2 the position also varies with the strength of stroke4 ,this hazard is rightly considered a difficult one1 and it cannot be mastered without much application2 it is indeed now of more value than of old1 because in a break when ball #a is left touching another ball1 the game is continued by placing the adversary's ball on the centre spot1 the red on spot1 and playing from baulk4 ,the stroke can be made with considerable difference of strength1 which varies of course with the position desired for ball #b4 ,ball #a should be struck in the centre 7not below7 about ,no4 #b strength2 this will bring ball #b back over the middle pocket1 the stroke being played half-ball4 ,if it be made ten or twelve times in succession on a clean table1 the path travelled by #a after impact will be fairly visible1 and it is an instructive subject of study4 ,first there is a straight line to within the length of a radius of the point of impact1 next there is a somewhat violent curve1 the result of the forward course suddenly modified by impact1 the rebound due to elasticity and the frictional action between ball and cloth1 and this in turn is merged into a second straight line4 ,the action described is not peculiar to this stroke1 but is visible in many others1 and exists more or less in all1 but this one forms a favourable opportunity for observation4 ,the path travelled by ball #a is roughly indicated in fig4 #c1 and the practical lesson to be learned therefrom is that in playing cannons the curve must never be overlooked or forgotten when the third ball lies within the sphere of its influence4 ,reference has just been made to the impact of two balls and the rebound which follows1 a subject which was referred to in the last chapter2 it is of interest1 and at this moment appropriate1 to consider the matter a little further4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vii4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,in fig4 #c ball #a played on #b impinges at ,t2 #b travels from ,t as shown by the arrow4 ,b ,c shows the line travelled by #a after impact as it is exhibited in the diagrams2 but the true path is more nearly ,b ,d4 ,hence it is clear that a cannon on ball #c would just be missed1 the position of #a being indicated in the act of passing #c4 ,the tendency of the lines ,b ,d and ,b ,c to approach each other and ultimately to coincide is apparent4 ,it is also clear that the magnitude of the curve ,b ,d depends on the strength of stroke as well as on the elasticity of the balls4 ,if played very hard1 it will be greater2 if very soft1 it will almost disappear1 the line of travel approximating to ,b ,c1 in which case it is evident the cannon would be made4 ,the balls may for our purpose be assumed to be of equal density and perfectly elastic2 that is1 they are equally hard1 equally heavy1 and when they receive the shock of impact they recover their figure or shape with a force equal to that which caused the momentary compression4 ,what happens more or less in every stroke in which one ball is made to strike another is that at the moment of collision the round surfaces are flattened by the shock1 and impact is not confined to what is accurately called a point1 but is extended to this flattened surface1 which varies in size according to the strength of the stroke1 the hardness of the balls1 and the part of ball #b struck4 ,in using a very perfect set of ivory balls #b in4 diameter1 in a stroke rather fuller than half-ball with strength from ,no4 #c to #d1 this temporary flattening was found to extend to about the size of the head of a small tin-tack1 say in4 in diameter2 nearly but not quite as large as the billiard balls shown in the diagrams4 ,the rebound is due to the reaction whereby the balls recover their normal shape2 in the case of ball #b1 which was at rest before impact1 the effect is to make it travel on a line from the point of impact through its centre2 the effect on ball #a1 which was not only moving forward but also revolving1 being to check its velocity1 some of which is imparted to ball #b1 to rebound1 and to assume a new path1 the first part of which is curved as a result of the blending of the various forces to which it is subjected4 ,in this explanation no pretence to a mathematical solution is made2 it is simply the result of watching the behaviour of the balls and endeavouring to account for it by an exercise of common-sense4 ,most persons who have played much must have noticed occasional stains of red on the white ball2 these were the results of impact1 and if carefully examined would be found to be small circular spots2 similarly all persons are familiar with the fact that the red ball gradually loses its colour1 which it parts with in the way here noticed4 ,now to return to the long losing hazards2 the usual mistake is to place ball #a for a stroke finer than half-ball1 the result being that it strikes the side cushion on the dangerous shoulder2 therefore1 when in doubt1 allow for this and place the ball for a full rather than for a fine stroke4 ,the hazard from ball #b on the central point of the table should be constantly practised1 first into one top pocket and next into the other1 till it can be made with considerable facility and with varied strength4 ,then let ball #b be placed on the pyramid spot and ball #a on or near the corner of the 2 a half-ball stroke will make the losing hazard into either top pocket4 ,care should be taken not to hit ball #a above the centre1 and the strength should be about a soft ,no4 #b4 ,ball #b1 after striking the top and side cushions1 should come to rest so that a middle pocket hazard may be left4 ,between these two hazards a number of others may be interpolated1 the most satisfactory plan being to set ball #b at intervals of #f in4 from the centre spot up the central line towards the pyramid spot as shown in ,diagram ,,viii4 ,by this means six separate hazards are provided for practice1 or four are inserted between the two already described4 ,taking these four #f in4 in succession above the centre spot2 for the first1 ball #a should be placed about #g in4 from baulk centre2 for the second about #e in42 for the third about #b in42 and for the fourth on the centre spot of the baulk4 ,as before explained1 these positions for ball #a are but approximate2 they require modification proportioned to the elasticity of the balls1 the personality of the player1 and the strength used4 ,for example1 from the position when ball #b is on the centre spot and for the next two positions1 in playing with bonzoline balls it would be prudent to place ball #a from to in4 further from centre of the than the positions indicated4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,viii4 ,when the eye has become acquainted with the half-ball angle1 ball #b should be set up anywhere within the lines ,p ,m1 ,q ,n 7,diagram ,,ix471 between the centre and billiard spots1 and practice continued4 ,unless for some special purpose1 endeavour should be made to leave ball #b within the space enclosed by these lines4 ,on ,diagram ,x4 two hazards1 when ball #b is further up the table than the pyramid spot1 are shown4 ,they are types of two classes1 either soft or strong strokes--forcing hazards1 as they are called4 ,a is of the latter class2 that is1 though the hazard can be played quite gently by the use of side1 yet as a plain stroke from the left corner of the the strength required would be such as to make it probable that ball #b would be left in baulk after the stroke4 ,to avoid this1 place ball #a so that the hazard may be played with strength sufficient to bring ball #b in and out of baulk4 ,place ball #b about #af in4 from the top cushion1 and #bf in4 from cushion #b2 ball #a should be played from baulk #h in4 to the left of the centre1 a free ,no4 #b or ,no4 #c strength4 ,ball #b will travel somewhat as shown by the dotted line2 if struck fuller it will go further and keep better within the lines ,p ,m1 ,q ,n4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ix4 ,b is an example of a gentle stroke1 and of a type which frequently occurs in the course of a game4 ,ball #b1 #d in4 from the left side cushion and #d in4 from the top cushion4 ,place ball #a on the baulk-line on the left corner of the 4 ,play on to the left top cushion so as to rebound on #b about half-ball4 ,as in most other strokes1 there is considerable latitude both as regards strength and the fulness or fineness with which ball #b may be struck4 ,a few trials will show where it is desirable to place ball #a if a very gentle stroke is required1 and where it should be put if a stronger one is wanted4 ,that the latitude both as to the position of ball #b and to the point of aim is great is clear from the results of a number of trials1 ball #a being played at a point on the left side cushion about #ah in4 below the top cushion2 the path taken by ball #b varied generally between the two shown on the diagram2 when it was struck full or nearly so1 it impinged on the top cushion at ,r1 and travelled towards the pyramid spot1 and sometimes beyond it2 when struck fine it was cut towards ,m1 and of course did not travel so far4 ,it is useful to be able to play this stroke when ball #b is at some distance from the pocket until1 in fact1 the direct losing hazard becomes possible1 and therefore it should be practised till the eye can select with tolerable accuracy the point of the cushion at which ball #a should be aimed4 ,this method of playing by first striking a cushion or bricole is too much neglected in the ,english game1 which suffers thereby2 when played it is often considered a fancy stroke1 whereas numerous plain strokes1 specially cannons1 are advantageously made by its judicious use4 ,seeing that play from a cushion is sometimes imperative1 as1 for example1 when player's ball is in hand and a certainty left in baulk1 bricole practice from a variety of positions will well repay the labour bestowed4 ,what has been mentioned about the elasticity of balls and the consequent rebound after impact has a special importance in treating of cannons4 ,this class of strokes has a tendency in the recent development of the game of billiards to supersede in a measure losing hazards which formerly1 without doubt1 were the mainstay of our players4 ,the inferiority of losing to winning hazards in respect to influencing the game was conclusively shown when the spot stroke was played1 but that stroke was rarely formidable save in professional hands2 the amateur1 as might be expected1 clinging to the easier losing hazard4 ,when the spot stroke was barred1 a substitute had to be found1 and in a great measure this has been supplied by the cannon1 chiefly1 no doubt1 in runs or series of strokes called nurseries 7of which more will be said hereafter71 but also by strokes which have the result of leaving the three balls close together1 gathering them1 as the ,americans say4 ,to deal fully with these involves the use of side and of other refinements of play with which as yet the student is not supposed to be familiar2 at present attention is confined to plain strokes1 which include those made direct from ball to ball and those made after impact with one or more cushions1 but all played without side4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,x4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,the general rule to be observed as to strength is to make it proportional to the distance to be traversed and to the angle between the paths of ball #a4 ,that is to say1 the smaller the angle between balls #a1 #b1 and #c1 the greater the strength required4 ,figure #d shows at a glance what is meant4 ,ball #a1 played half-ball on #b1 cannons on #c1 as indicated by the lines4 ,the nearer #c approaches the position #c1 which is nearly at right angles to a line joining the centres of #a and #b1 the harder must the stroke be played4 ,when it passes the right angle and approaches to #c1 screw is required in addition to strength2 that is1 ball #a1 though still truly struck in its vertical central line1 must be struck below its true centre4 ,hence it may be said that1 the greater the angle or the finer the stroke1 the more gently should it be played2 the smaller the angle1 or the fuller the stroke1 the greater is the required strength4 ,the other point of importance is common to all plain strokes1 but may here be usefully repeated2 the player should stand for the stroke so that the line from #a to #b prolonged through #a backwards shall form the axis of his cue4 ,another matter never to be forgotten is that the finer the stroke the less velocity ball #a loses1 and consequently the less is imparted to ball #b2 the fuller the stroke the more #a loses and #b gains4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,it is evident that1 in every instance given of losing hazards1 if ball #c be substituted for the pocket the stroke will be converted from a hazard to a cannon2 indeed1 if that ball lie on any part of the path of ball #a after impact or within the distance of a radius 7#a in47 on either side of the path1 a cannon must result4 ,hence the examples for losing hazards are equally available for practice cannons1 the eye-training for the requisite angle being the same4 ,the cannon is in fact easier than the hazard1 the target being nearly equal to the width of two balls1 as fig4 #e shows2 #a played on #b may just touch #c to the left1 when it would occupy the position #a1 or it may just touch the other side as shown1 #a4 ,the width of this target varies with the distance between balls #b and #c2 at greatest it may be taken as double the size of a ball1 or #d in4 ,the pocket on the other hand is usually #c in4 at the fall1 the target it presents being under the most advantageous circumstances somewhat larger2 on the other hand1 when it is blind the target is reduced4 ,a few cannons useful for practice1 which if properly played result in gathering the balls1 that is in leaving the three balls together1 or so placing them that another stroke is left1 are shown in the accompanying diagrams4 ,in every case when indication is desirable the path of ball #a is marked by a thin line2 that of ball #b by a dotted line2 and that of ball #c by a line consisting of a dash and dot alternately4 ,in some cases the positions of the balls after the stroke are indicated thus3--#a1 #b1 #c2 #a being the position which #a has taken1 and so on2 in other cases this is not done because the situations are somewhat indeterminate1 and also when the balls are but slightly moved the diagram would be confused and needlessly complicated4 ,the cannon shown in ,diagram ,,xi4 is not merely an excellent plain stroke for practice1 but the position is not infrequently met with or played for in a game1 and is of a type which will repay close attention4 ,as in all other cases1 the measurements are merely approximate1 and it is evident that a great variety of similar cannons can be set up simply by varying the position of ball #b4 ,for ball #c is supposed to be on the spot1 and ball #a in hand1 so that a slight change in the position of ball #b1 either up or down the table or in its distance from the side cushion1 merely entails a corresponding move of ball #a1 so that the cannon on ball #c may always be played a soft half-ball4 ,in the present instance1 ball #b is #ah in4 from cushion #f1 and #f in4 above the central transverse line of the table4 ,if ball #a be placed a little to the left of the baulk centre1 say from #a to #b in41 and played half-ball1 so as to do little more than reach ball #c1 and cannon on its right side1 ball #b will be brought towards the spot from which ball #c has not been far removed4 ,the balls may not improbably be left in the positions #a1 #b1 #c1 in which case there is an excellent opening2 but it must not be expected that in every instance fortune will be equally favourable4 ,still1 unless the stroke is very badly played1 the three balls will be left not far from each other1 and at the top of the table1 and that is a sufficient recommendation4 ,the stroke1 when correctly set up1 simply requires a true half-ball plain stroke1 with attention to strength4 ,if ball #c is sometimes hit on one side1 sometimes on the other1 and occasionally missed altogether1 the inference is that accuracy in the half-ball stroke is wanting1 and it is well to try and recover that by the methods previously recommended2 when confidence is restored1 then pay particular attention to the strength4 ,do not be satisfied till ball #c is displaced from the spot not more than a few inches1 say under six4 ,hence1 in this class of cannons1 which1 like all other strokes1 should1 whenever possible1 be practised under professional supervision1 the first thing to do is to place ball #a correctly for the half-ball angle2 the next is to strike #b precisely half-ball2 and the last is to regulate the strength so that ball #a shall strike ball #b very gently4 ,these remarks are to some extent general1 and may be usefully applied1 at the reader's discretion1 to many strokes4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xi4 ,diagram ,,xii4 shows a variation of the stroke just described2 ball #b is still #ah in4 from the left side cushion1 but is #c in4 below the central transverse line4 ,there is1 it is clear1 a losing hazard into the left middle pocket from about the right corner of the 2 but it is a better game in this position to place ball #a #b to #b in4 left of the baulk centre1 and play the half-ball cannon4 ,if ball #b were further from the side cushion1 the losing hazard would become the better stroke1 and this example may be considered as almost the limit at which the cannon is to be preferred4 ,the balls will approximately follow the paths indicated1 and their positions after the stroke may be about #a1 #b1 #c1 a fair chance remaining for continuing the break2 and if1 as will often happen1 ball #a1 placed a little wider or played a little finer1 should strike ball #c on the other side1 i4e4 on the side next the left top pocket1 then ball #c is driven towards the right top pocket1 leaving a hazard 7a winner for preference7 into it1 ball #b is left1 as before1 near the spot1 and the situation is still eminently favourable4 ,if played a great number of times1 some unfortunate results will occasionally happen2 the three balls may be left in a line1 all nearly touching the top cushion1 and ball #a between #b and #c2 even then a way may be found out of the difficulty1 but at present the plain cannon is being considered1 and it is difficult to set up on the table a better practice stroke4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xii4 ,the cannon shown in ,diagram ,,xiii41 though apparently a little different1 is1 in reality1 played precisely like the others2 the results1 too1 are in a way the same1 for the three balls are gathered at the top of the table4 ,the main difference is that1 the cannon being made off the top cushion1 ball #a is generally left above ball #c--;a situation not so favourable as when ball #a is below the other two balls4 ,it often happens1 however1 that ball #b is so left that a losing hazard from it into the left top pocket can be made1 and the break may be thus continued4 ,the further it is desired to bring ball #b towards the left top pocket1 the more towards baulk centre should ball #a be placed2 and the nearer to the spot it may be wished to leave it1 the finer should the stroke be set4 ,one advantage of practising this stroke is that confidence is acquired in making the cannon from the cushion1 which is in this instance greatly preferable to playing a forcing stroke direct1 though many persons1 thinking of the cannon alone1 would erroneously select the latter mode of play4 ,a substantial gain is made when the player has recognised that the stroke is almost exactly like the two just described1 and that the top cushion may1 save in a small extra allowance of strength1 be completely ignored4 ,on ,diagram ,,xiv4 two cannons are shown2 to that marked ,a special attention is invited4 ,the position1 or a similar one1 often occurs1 and is as often incorrectly played by amateurs1 when balls #b and #c are on the table1 and #a in hand4 ,thinking solely of making the cannon1 the player usually spots #a towards the right of the baulk for a half-ball stroke4 ,result1 a cannon and separation of the balls1 #b being doubled towards baulk1 #c carried up the table and not improbably lodged in safety under cushion #f4 ,place ball #b1 #ad in4 from cushion #e1 #cj in4 below the left middle pocket4 ,ball #c1 #aa in4 from cushion #e1 #ag in4 below the left middle pocket4 ,ball #a1 #i in4 to the left of baulk centre4 ,play a gentle stroke on #b so as to double it from the cushion to #c and with strength sufficient for ball #a to reach #c4 ,the three balls will be left close together and not far from the left middle pocket4 ,care must be taken to prevent the balls being left in one straight line1 and also to avoid a kiss between balls #a and #b before the cannon4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xiii4 ,example ,b1 though not of so common occurrence as ,a1 is also an excellent practice stroke4 ,ball #a1 #e in4 from cushion #c1 #ba in4 from the bottom cushion4 ,ball #b1 #d in4 from cushion #c1 #cc in4 from the bottom cushion4 ,ball #c1 in front of the left top pocket1 #c or #d in4 from it4 ,play a centre ball stroke1 about half-ball on #b1 with strength to carry #a to #c--say a free ,no4 #a4 ,ball #b will double from cushion #c and join #a and #c near the left top pocket4 ,in this stroke accidents may happen1 and if it be missed by a hair's breadth the adversary will rejoice4 ,ball #c may be cannoned into the pocket and ball #b may also go in2 but1 if played often1 the result will generally be satisfactory and the stroke is therefore a fairly sound one4 ,if ball #c were the red1 it would be prudent to play so as to leave ball #b somewhat behind and thus reduce the danger of losing it in the pocket4 ,a little consideration will show that the varieties of this stroke are numerous1 and that by means of some of them the three balls may be brought to the top of the table4 ,the strokes shown in ,diagram ,,xv4 exemplify that most useful class of cannons in which the velocity of ball #a1 struck often with considerable force1 is almost wholly transmitted to ball #b1 and #a retains little more than is required to reach #c4 ,this is achieved in the first place by playing as full as the cannon will admit of on #b1 and next by a peculiar use of the cue1 which the ,french term arrt because it is grasped and not permitted to follow the ball more than an inch or two after delivery4 ,the stroke is a stab1 and its intensity can be varied by raising the butt of the cue4 ,the point of ball #a to be struck is1 as before1 the centre1 but delivery instead of being horizontal is at a smaller or greater angle with the surface of the table4 ,the stroke is made as though the striker desired to stab the ball through its centre to the table4 ,it springs away with more life than can be communicated by a horizontal stroke1 and parts with that life on impact with #b more readily1 and therefore expires or comes to rest on reaching #c with greater certainty4 ,the stab is not required in every case1 but where ball #b has a long path to travel and ball #c is at a right angle from #b or less1 it cannot be dispensed with4 ,classified as a stroke1 it may be placed between the horizontal centre and the screw1 which will be described in the next chapter1 whereby ball #a is made to return towards the point of the cue after impact with #b4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xiv4 ,a simple form of these cannons is shown at ,a on this diagram4 ,no measurements are required1 as the position is perfectly simple and equally good for practice when varied according to pleasure4 ,it can be conveniently played when ball #c is on the pyramid spot1 ball #b about #f in4 from it and rather nearer the player1 ball #a being between the player and #b near the latter as shown4 ,play ball #a nearly full on #b with strength sufficient to cause its return from the cushion to #c1 which #a should reach but scarcely move4 ,when played as shown across the table the stroke is always a gentle one1 and when the balls are close to the cushion from which #b has to return it must be played very softly indeed4 ,the usual faults made in playing are that #b is struck too hard and too fine1 the result being that the three balls separate instead of coming together4 ,for ,b1 a pretty little stroke useful in turning the corner at the left top pocket1 the following measurements will help in placing the balls1 which can however be set up from the diagram with sufficient accuracy4 ,ball #a1 #e in4 from cushion #f1 #bb in4 from the top cushion4 ,ball #b1 #c in4 7full7 from cushion #f1 #af in4 from the top cushion4 ,ball #c1 #h in4 from cushion #f1 #ac in4 from the top cushion4 ,play a gentle stroke on #b from to to the right so as just to reach #c2 #b will return from side and top cushions1 and the three balls will be left together4 ,it is evident that this stroke may be adapted to any corner of the table1 an exercise which may be left to the student4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xv4 ,example ,c4 ,ball #b1 #ai in4 from cushion #f1 #af in4 from the top cushion2 ball #c on the spot2 ball #a1 #ah in4 from cushion #f and #ab in4 from the top cushion4 ,play a little less than full on #b with strength to bring it back from the bottom cushion to the neighbourhood of the spot2 ball #a to travel to #c1 which it moves slowly towards the right top corner pocket4 ,this stroke as exhibited at ,c is not very difficult1 though some moderate execution is required1 and an intelligent application of the stab will give more perfect control of the balls4 ,as ball #c is placed further from #b and nearer the top cushion1 so does the stroke require greater skill and judgment1 the stab then becoming more necessary1 as the energy or life of ball #a must expire about the moment it reaches #c1 otherwise the success of the stroke is much endangered4 ,diagram ,,xvi4 shows a position of the balls which at first sight is apt to be regarded with dissatisfaction by the player4 ,ball #b is too near cushion #b and too far from the right top pocket for a certain losing hazard2 say #bh or #bi in4 from top cushion and #e in4 from the side4 ,ball #c is #c in4 from cushion #f and #ab in4 above the middle pocket4 ,ball #a is in the central line of the table1 from #i to #ac in4 below the pyramid spot4 ,play ,no4 #a strength finer than half-ball on #b1 which strikes cushion #b and travels towards ball #c2 ball #a makes the cannon off cushions #b and #a1 and sometimes off cushion #f as well4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xvi4 ,the danger of this stroke is that balls #a and #b may kiss just before ball #c is reached1 the result being disappointment for the player and a good opening for the adversary4 ,in the modern game1 however1 a man should look for success to skill and enterprise which1 though not without risk1 lead to rapid scoring1 rather than to tactics of obstruction1 so dear to the heart of respectable mediocrity4 ,the results of this stroke will be found to vary considerably4 ,sometimes ball #c will be placed over the left middle pocket with a winning or losing hazard for next stroke4 ,again1 if the cannon is made on the right side of ball #c1 ball #a will travel below the pocket1 and the next stroke will probably be another cannon4 ,it is clear that this type of stroke can be modified at will2 ball #a may remain fixed whilst ball #c is moved up the left side and #b down the right side of the table1 or ball #a may be shifted a little up or down the central line2 the limits being when losing hazards become preferable to the cannon4 ,illustration3 ,high ,bridge for a ,cramped ,stroke ,,chapter ,,vi ,,on ,,the ,,rotation ,,of ,,balls ,the subject of this chapter is a very difficult one to deal with in a manner at all satisfactory1 and the writer is conscious that the want of minute knowledge1 both theoretical and experimental1 must render the task before him formidable in every way4 ,yet there is no intention of evading it1 for the remarks which will be offered for consideration are based on a lengthened observation of the behaviour of billiard balls under various conditions1 and will1 it is believed1 prove of interest1 if not of use1 some to one person1 others to another1 even though put forward in an unscientific manner4 ,in most books on billiards the subject is avoided2 a chapter 7of a page or two7 is devoted to side1 and those writers who have dealt with it most briefly have probably made the fewest mistakes4 ,an exception1 however1 must be made in the case of ,m4 ,vignaux1 in whose #8,manual' endeavour is made1 with considerable success1 to explain many phenomena in a homely way2 and as the observations and deductions therein recorded often agree with those arrived at in this book independently1 it is not remarkable that the courage which the ,professor has shown in attempting a difficult subject should be admired1 and that the skill which has led him to no small measure of success should be praised4 ,besides1 in trying to convey instruction the teacher is much assisted1 and the learner finds his task more easy1 in proportion as the reasons for orders are understood4 ,a rule whereby a player is desired to use right-hand side for a certain stroke from baulk to the top of the table1 and left-hand side for a similar stroke from the top to baulk may be perfectly correct2 but it is much more likely to be remembered and put in practice at the moment of need if the reason why has been explained and is known4 ,hence1 some space will be devoted to the consideration of rotation1 and it may be that when attention is drawn to the various effects1 or some of them1 due to this cause1 a better qualified writer may be induced to study and deal with the subject in a more scientific and satisfactory manner4 ,if this should happen1 the remarks now made1 however imperfect and conjectural1 will not have been thrown away4 ,it has already been brought to the reader's notice that a ball1 when set in motion by the stroke of a cue1 does not merely slide forward1 but at once commences to rotate round its horizontal axis1 which is at right angles to the axis of the cue1 or the path of the ball4 ,that is1 in addition to the movement of displacement1 or movement from one place to another 7which can be effected by taking the ball in one's fingers and placing it down in its second position71 called by the ,french #8translation1' there is generated a distinct movement of rotation1 which is for the most part latent and invisible till after impact with another ball or with a cushion4 ,that the motions are distinct is evident2 for a ball or a cube may be so pushed or removed from one spot on the surface of the table to another that no rotation results4 ,again1 the same ball may be made to spin or rotate by the action of the fingers1 and dropped vertically on the table1 so that no impulse forwards or backwards is communicated1 and yet no sooner does the ball fall on the cloth than it will commence to travel in a line at right angles to the axis of its rotation4 ,hence1 both motions may produce displacement or translation1 and when both are at the same time active in a ball the path travelled1 whether straight or curved1 is the resultant of the two movements4 ,illustration3 ,in ,or ,out ,of ,baulk8 ,now at p4 #acb-c the divisions of balls were explained1 and the same figure will suffice to assist in defining the various classes of rotation used in the game of billiards to effect different purposes at the discretion of the player4 ,there are four main divisions1 corresponding to the four sectors into which the lines ,h ,b and ,g ,d divide the ball4 7#a7 ,forward rotation1 or follow1 is communicated by striking the ball on the line ,c ,h above the centre ,c4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a 7#b7 ,backward rotation1 retrograde1 or screw1 is obtained by striking the ball on ,c ,b below the centre4 7#c7 ,right side1#ae or rotation round the vertical axis ,h ,b from left to right1 is attained by striking on the line ,c ,d2 whilst 7#d7 ,left side1#ae or rotation from right to left1 results from striking on ,c ,g4 ,and these can manifestly be combined2 thus1 the ball struck in the sector ,c ,h ,d has both follow and right side2 struck in ,c ,d ,b the combination is screw and right side2 in ,c ,g ,b screw and left side2 and in ,c ,g ,h follow and left side4 ,these are the practical divisions for purposes of play1 but it must be borne in mind that so long as the cue is delivered horizontally the path travelled is the prolongation of its axis1 of a line parallel to that axis1 and the effect of the rotation communicated does not show itself1 save to a very minute extent1 till after impact with a ball or cushion4 ,then it becomes immediately apparent and often bewildering in the strangeness of its results4 ,who1 for example1 has forgotten the feeling of awe with which he first contemplated the result of a well-executed screw1 ball #a striking ball #b smartly and thence returning to the point of the cue8 ,and to this day the most consummate masters cannot explain some of the strange results whose practical effects are sufficiently well known4 ,before passing from this figure it may be as well to explain that the maximum of rotation can best be effected1 or most side given1 by striking at the ends of the diameters ,h ,b and ,g ,d1 on the principle of the lever being longest at those ends2 but practically the limit is reached at the point on either line beyond which a miss-cue would result4 ,each player will in time find out this point for himself1 and it is remarkable how practice improves the power4 ,with it a man can hit clean and sharp further out on the arm of the lever--that is1 further away from the centre--than is possible for an untrained person1 and it will be found1 moreover1 that in time and by practice a delicacy of touch and increase of effect are acquired4 ,but what is this rotation1 what causes it1 and how is it regulated8 ,the main factor1 or at any rate the main reason whereby its effects become visible and are regulated1 is friction with the cloth or bed of the table4 ,if balls were perfectly smooth1 the bed also being equally hard and smooth1 and if they were unaffected by the resistance of the air and the force of gravity1 once set in motion they would continue to slide along for ever within the limit of the length of the bed4 ,they would not roll1 but would slide as a curling stone does on smooth ice4 ,but the practical condition of affairs is different4 ,in the first place1 the surfaces of the balls1 be they never so finely finished1 instead of being smooth1 are if examined under a microscope found to be palpably rough4 ,the cloth1 too1 no matter how well stretched or of how fine a texture1 is both soft and rough4 ,a ball at rest on it is standing in a little cup1 whilst one travelling forms a narrow groove1 along which1 it is plain1 resistance will vary according to its direction and that of the nap of the cloth4 ,if with the nap the friction will be less1 if against it more4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,hence it follows that in considering the motion and rotation of billiard balls on a table1 we must picture to ourselves a toothed-wheel working on a toothed-plane1 and one toothed-wheel working into another1 rather than a perfectly smooth surface on a similarly perfectly smooth plane1 or two perfectly smooth spherical surfaces in contact4 ,the accompanying drawings1 in which the roughness is purposely exaggerated1 will convey the idea better than much elaborate description4 ,no4 #a shows a ball in contact with the cloth1 and ,no4 #b one ball in contact with another4 ,from these it is easy to realise that a ball rotating has a bite of the cloth1 and will travel along it in the direction of the rotation1 and also that a ball rotating round its vertical axis brought into contact with another must transmit a portion of its rotation1 the effect of which is to make the second ball revolve in the opposite direction1 precisely after the manner of one toothed-wheel working into another4 ,such transmitted side is no doubt very small and difficult to perceive1 save in the matter of results which cannot otherwise be accounted for4 ,it is indeed probable that side can in this way be communicated to a third ball provided it be touching the second ball4 ,by its means certain kiss strokes can be made which without the use of side are impossible4 ,the subject is undoubtedly complicated1 and the suggestions here offered may be wrong2 they are those which1 after much consideration1 have commended themselves as most in agreement with known facts concerning the rotation of bodies1 and as accounting for the behaviour of billiard balls in a manner which is not repugnant to common-sense4 ,nevertheless it must be admitted that absolute proof of transmitted side can scarcely be said to exist1 that many experienced persons deny its existence1 and1 moreover1 it is never safe to jump to conclusions4 ,let us now consider the four classes of rotation which have already been defined1 and begin with forward rotation or follow4 ,this is the most important of all2 for1 as will be seen1 it is present and active in almost every stroke unless special means are employed to counteract it4 ,it is generated in two ways--spontaneously1 and by striking the ball above its centre4 ,when a ball is struck by a cue in the centre1 no rotation is thereby communicated4 ,its first impulse is to slide along with a velocity and for a distance proportionate to the force employed4 ,but the instant that motion is communicated1 resistance to sliding forward is experienced4 ,the ball then is subjected to two forces1 one from the cue impelling it forward1 and the other a retarding force caused by the friction of the cloth4 ,the impelling force drives ,c in the direction ,m1 and the friction or retarding force acts on ,b in the direction ,b ,n4 ,the point ,b is thereby retarded1 and the result of the two forces is that ,c travels towards ,m1 whilst ,a advancing1 ,b being retarded1 a rotatory motion is produced whereby ,a at the top gradually lowers its position till it reaches the bottom and rests on the cloth4 ,it is evident that this spontaneous rotation exists in every plain stroke2 it is separate from the mere displacing or translating force1 and has a separate life4 ,one may outlive the other2 an ordinary example of this is when ball #a is played full on ball #b4 ,when the distance between them is small1 little or no rotation has been acquired and the force of ball #a is transmitted to ball #b1 the former remaining nearly stationary1 or dead1 after impact2 but when there is considerable distance between #a and #b1 rotation is well established and asserts itself after impact1 which destroys the life of the force of displacement or translation4 ,thus ball #a on impact stops merely for a moment1 for rotation coming into play carries it forward on its original path4 ,a very common illustration of this is unpleasantly familiar to young pool players4 ,they cannot prevent their own ball from following into a pocket after a long straight hazard4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,but follow can be increased or accelerated artificially1 and the object of doing so is to augment the progress of ball #a after impact4 ,no gain in propulsion results from hitting a ball over the centre1 for what rotation gains translation loses1 and when there is no obstacle to run or follow through it is a mistake to strike above the centre1 for a ball will travel less truly when so struck1 and further1 should it encounter unperceived obstacles1 such as grit1 or dust1 or tobacco1 the tendency to leap is enhanced by follow1 and the result is greater or less deviation from the true path4 ,the chief use1 then1 of follow is to control deviation and prevent stagnation after impact4 ,when a fine stroke becomes dangerous a follow may not only be safe1 but may be played so as to leave a good game4 ,the stroke should be delivered gently1 smoothly1 and the cue should be held as horizontal as possible1 the butt being lowered1 and the bridge raised so as to bring the tip opposite the part of ball #a to be struck4 ,after impact the point of the cue should be permitted to follow on with a flowing motion4 ,another and at first sight quite different use of follow is to decrease the velocity of rebound from a cushion or from a ball touching a cushion4 ,the reason is that after impact rotation is reversed1 and a stroke which reaches a cushion with follow rebounds with retrograde or drag4 ,if played with strong follow1 the ball will not improbably leap in the air after impact1 and either stop short on reaching the bed or even return towards the cushion4 ,as is perhaps evident from what has been explained1 follow is very useful when balls #a and #b are so close that little or no rotation can be spontaneously acquired2 its absence is supplied by striking ball #a above the centre4 ,the next rotation to be considered is round the same axis--horizontal--as follow1 but is in the opposite or backward direction1 whereby what we call #8screw' and #8drag1' the ,french #8retrograde1' and the ,americans #8draw1' are effected4 ,the point of aim is on the line ,c ,b 7p4 #aia1 fig4 #a71 and the lower the ball is struck the greater the rotation1 the limit being as usual where a miss-cue would ensue4 ,to ensure striking low1 the cue should be made to bear somewhat heavily on the bridge between the thumb and forefinger1 and the butt should be slightly raised4 ,the result of the stroke is that ball #a is forced forward but does not acquire spontaneous rotation1 that being counteracted by the inverse rotation or screw communicated by the cue4 ,if the stroke be played the length of the table close observation will disclose a different behaviour of the ball from that which results from a plain stroke4 ,in the first place1 the ball will start for an equal transit or length of path with greater initial velocity1 it will slow down much more abruptly1 will apparently stop for a moment1 and then continue its course till it comes finally to rest4 ,analysing this path1 the first portion is traversed by the ball with inverse rotation and under the influence of a stronger stroke than would have been necessary had it been struck in the centre2 the slowing down is the struggle between the screw or backward rotation artificially given and the spontaneous or forward rotation naturally acquired2 the momentary check or stop is when the one rotation exactly counterbalances the other1 and the ball on an instant slides forward without any rotation2 and the final part of the course is when 7the backward rotation being dead7 the spontaneous rotation has conquered1 and in turn dies with the force of displacement or translation4 ,that is what is seen when a master of the art plays with drag4 ,he uses it to overcome irregularities in the ball or bed1 and is by its means enabled to combine the advantages of a strong and of a gentle stroke4 ,if ball #a cannot be trusted the length of the table for a slow hazard or cannon1 the player strikes it comparatively hard with drag2 the ball then runs fast over the greater length of its course1 but pulls up in the manner and for the reasons above described1 and reaching ball #b with gentleness does not displace it to any great extent4 ,that is the complete stroke2 but if it should happen that ball #b is so near ball #a that impact takes place before the backward rotation is dead1 if the stroke be full the whole of the forward motion 7translation7 is communicated to ball #b1 and ball #a1 which has apparently stopped for a moment on the spot which ball #b occupied1 will return towards the point of the cue by reason of its inverse rotation or screw4 ,the result is what is known as a #8screw back stroke4' ,the more full ball #a is played on ball #b1 the further will that ball travel and the greater will be the recoil and screw back4 ,the finer ball #b be taken1 the less velocity will be imparted to it and the less will be the return of ball #a4 ,screw back is not possible1 unless1 perhaps1 the balls are very near each other1 if ball #b be struck half-ball or finer4 ,when the student has acquired confidence that he can play ball #a on ball #b direct and full and screw back1 he may with advantage study the various angles at which ball #a will come off ball #b when hit at certain divisions between full and half-ball4 ,a convenient mode of practising these strokes is to place ball #b on the baulk-line1 and ball #a #f in4 to #h in4 below it4 ,thus1 if ball #a1 struck three-quarters low1 or wherever the player can communicate most screw1 be played full on ball #b1 the latter will travel up the table parallel to the cushion1 whilst ball #a will return over the position it occupied1 also parallel to the cushion1 in the direction of the bottom cushion4 ,the distance travelled will depend on the strength and truth of the stroke as well as on striking ball #a so as to obtain the maximum reverse rotation4 ,that is the limit in one direction of the screw stroke2 the other limit is to aim at the edge of ball #b1 ball #a being1 as before1 struck three-quarters low4 ,in this instance the path of the latter after impact is along the baulk-line1 or1 in other words1 practically perpendicular to its path before impact4 ,that is what is known as a #8right-angled screw1' a most useful stroke to master1 as is evident after a moment's consideration4 ,in the first place1 if ball #c were situated anywhere along the baulk-line1 a cannon becomes a reasonable probability2 and next1 if there were a pocket at either end of the baulk-line1 the losing hazard would be far from impossible4 ,the way to acquire confidence in this right-angled screw is to begin softly1 but always endeavouring to give ball #a the maximum of screw4 ,the beauty of the stroke is that it is impossible to give ball #a too much screw1 and that its path1 when struck truly1 must lie on the baulk-line2 if it leaves the baulk-line and goes up the table1 then ball #b has been struck finer than half-ball1 or ball #a has had insufficient screw given1 or both2 if it comes back from the baulk-line1 ball #b has been struck fuller than half-ball4 ,so here1 again1 is an example of a practice stroke which records exactly the causes of failure1 thereby saving much time in fruitless inquiry1 and pointing directly to the required remedy4 ,now1 having acquired the power of bringing ball #a back from ball #b in a direction perpendicular to the baulk-line1 and also of screwing off ball #b along the baulk-line1 it follows that by subdividing ball #b between full and half-full1 and by regulating the strength used1 the path of ball #a after impact can be foreseen1 and it may be made to travel thereon with some certainty4 ,thus #a played full on #b returns towards ,a2 #a half-ball on #b travels towards ,l or ,b2 when struck fuller than half-ball it returns towards ,c or ,k2 fuller still towards ,d and ,h2 and so on in succession towards ,e1 ,f1 and ,g4 ,now the acquisition of these strokes is not nearly so difficult as it seems1 specially when a cannon is played for1 and the power and confidence acquired by knowing that wherever a ball is situated--for example1 anywhere on or near the various lines drawn on fig4 #d--there is a reasonable prospect of scoring1 are of great advantage4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,in the example just explained ball #a is supposed to be near ball #b1 say from #d in4 to #h in4 distant2 when they are further apart the stroke must be played with greater strength1 and ball #b must be struck fuller to compensate for the tendency of ball #a to travel past the position which was occupied by ball #b before the screw takes effect4 ,as the distance between the balls increases so must the strength of the stroke be greater1 and so also must ball #b be struck more nearly full4 ,this question of regulating the strength of screw strokes is of great importance4 ,the general rule is as above stated1 but there are many instances when a player1 to obtain position1 will vary the stroke4 ,thus1 in order to make ball #b travel he will play fuller on it1 reducing the amount of screw1 though the stroke might be equally certain if played gently1 half-ball1 but with more screw4 ,there must be no slavish adherence to any one division of ball #b2 the screw must be made at will off a full1 fine1 or intermediate ball1 and the strength must be varied to suit the division of the ball1 and the distance between the two balls4 ,at the risk of incurring the charge of repetition1 let it be further explained 7for this elementary fact should never be forgotten7 that the reason why greater strength and more screw must be used as the distance between the balls is increased is because of the tendency ball #a has to develop rotation in the direction of its path4 ,when the balls are near each other but little spontaneous rotation can be acquired1 and therefore ball #a need not be struck hard or very low2 when they are very near1 the spontaneous rotation is so slight that in order to screw it is unnecessary to strike ball #a below the centre4 ,on the other hand1 when the distance between the balls is increased1 the opportunity for acquiring forward rotation or follow is greater2 and greater1 therefore1 must be the strength and screw used for its conquest4 ,that being so1 it is further necessary to abandon attempts to screw off the finer divisions of ball #b4 ,endeavours to do so will end in failure1 for the needful strength will carry ball #a past ball #b and the screw will be overcome4 ,hence the necessity for playing more and more full on ball #b as the strength of stroke is increased4 ,the fuller the stroke the more is forward motion transmitted to ball #b1 and the less is the screw imparted to ball #a interfered with4 ,these matters1 which are very difficult to deal with in a lucid way on paper1 can be plainly demonstrated on the table without much trouble2 there the student should repair with his instructor1 and soon what may seem confused and useless in the above remarks will appear plain and of great value4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,the consideration of regulated screw leads to the insertion of fig4 #e1 in which a class of strokes of common enough occurrence1 but little relished by players whether amateur or professional1 is illustrated4 ,they are intermediate between the path of a forcing stroke and that of the right-angle screw4 ,now the latter1 though decidedly difficult when the balls are far apart1 say #b ft4 or so1 yet admits of some certainty in playing1 for it represents about the maximum of most men's power2 but the intermediate strokes1 though they require less execution1 are yet oftener missed1 because the player has no definite measure of them1 no guide or clue to which he can trust4 ,if the paths represented from ball #a to ball #b and then to ball #c be those of a hard forcing stroke1 and the paths #a to #b and #b to #c;,a those of a right-angle screw1 the strokes referred to lie between the two1 and may be represented by the dotted lines from #b to #c;,b1 #c;,c1 c4 ,the balls may be set up as shown2 ball #a on the right spot of the 2 ball #b at the same distance from the side cushion line and opposite the centre of the middle pocket2 ball #c anywhere between the pocket and the limit of a forcing stroke in the positions marked #c;,b1 #c;,c1 c42 or ball #a may be advanced nearer to ball #b1 in which case the strokes are easier4 ,in either case practice at these intermediate angles will not have been thrown away if the remarks and advice respecting screw be appreciated and followed4 ,do not forget that when played with strength ball #a will pass beyond ball #b before the screw takes effect4 ,in practising the straight screw back it is advantageous to keep the cue exactly in position after the stroke1 which1 if true1 will result in bringing ball #a back to the tip4 ,also the behaviour of ball #b after each stroke should be noted1 in order that when playing in a game its position may be approximately foreseen4 ,always chalk the cue before attempting a screw4 ,rotation round a horizontal axis having been considered1 it is necessary now to examine side1 or rotation round a vertical axis4 ,this is communicated by every stroke of the cue which is not delivered precisely on the vertical line ,h ,b 7fig4 #f71 and is1 as may readily be conceived1 generally applied unintentionally4 ,in fact1 much of the preliminary practice has been recommended in order that the power of striking a ball without side might be acquired4 ,still1 when intelligently used1 side gives great additional scope to a player and will well repay attention and study4 ,to discuss right side and left side separately is unnecessary1 for the one is simply and solely the reverse of the other4 ,side1 or rotation round the vertical axis1 does not convey to a ball a movement of displacement or translation2 on the contrary1 its tendency is to bring the ball to rest1 precisely as a top when thrown with heavy spin at first gyrates or travels a little1 but soon comes to rest1 or sleeps1 whilst revolving at a great rate4 ,hence it follows that some compensating strength has to be used when playing with side4 ,now1 the student cannot have got so far1 supposing that the various strokes have been practised1 without having acquired some knowledge of the effect of side4 ,he has learnt1 for example1 that the more out of the centre his ball was struck1 the more did the angle of reflexion vary from the angle of incidence2 if struck on one side1 the angle of reflexion was enlarged2 if struck on the other side1 it was diminished4 ,side also makes some1 though less evident1 modification in the angle of deviation after impact with another ball4 ,the proper mode of communicating side to a ball by means of a cue must now be considered1 ,g ,h ,d ,b is a ball standing on the table ,t ,t2 ,h ,b is its vertical axis1 ,c its centre1 ,e and ,f represent the cue-tips at the moment of striking the ball3 ,e for right side1 or side which tends to take the ball towards the right1 and ,f for left side1 which will carry the ball to the left4 ,it will be observed that the cue is delivered on the central horizontal line1 for on it the maximum of rotation round the axis ,h ,b can be given2 in other words1 the height of the stroke is precisely the same as that for a plain or true centre stroke1 and is equal to half the height of the ball4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,the next point is the proper alignment of the cue4 ,in a plain stroke it has been shown that the path of ball #a previous to impact is the prolongation of the line of the cue's axis4 ,for a side stroke1 the point of aim being the same1 the only difference is that ball #a must be struck on the side instead of in the centre4 ,hence1 to preserve the same path1 the cue's axis must be parallel to that in the plain stroke and distant from it in proportion to the amount of side to be given4 ,fig4 #g illustrates the chief points connected with side strokes1 and admits of comparison between them and an ordinary plain stroke4 ,ball #a played half-ball plain on ball #b travels the path shown by the continuous line #a #a #a and #a1 and the angle at which it comes off the cushion is nearly equal to that of approach4 ,the position of the cue is the central one on the prolongation of the path #a #a4 ,the same stroke played with right side is thus effected3 the cue is moved to the right1 its new axis being parallel to the original axis4 ,the stroke is delivered in precisely the same way and in the same direction1 save that the point of ball #a struck by the cue is to the right of the centre4 ,ball #a1 if struck with the strength of a full ,no4 #a or more1 travels practically the same path until it strikes ball #b1 after which it deviates slightly to the right1 following the path marked by dot and dash alternately1 and reaches the cushion at ,r1 whence it flies off at an enlarged angle in the direction of ,r4 ,right side for the stroke figured increases the velocity of ball #a after impact with the cushion1 from which it shoots perceptibly faster than does a ball plainly played4 ,hence1 this side is termed direct1 being given in the direction that the ball is intended to travel4 ,played with left side1 the cue is shifted to the left of the centre1 but is still parallel to the original direction4 ,as before1 on delivery of the stroke ball #a travels to ball #b1 but after impact follows the dotted line #a ,l ,l1 returning from the cushion at once more perpendicularly and with reduced speed1 the left side with which ball #a is charged tending to reduce velocity1 specially after impact with the cushion4 ,in respect to this stroke1 left side1 conveying as it does rotation in a direction contrary to that of the ball's path1 is termed reverse4 ,of course1 if the other side of ball #b were played on1 the left side would become direct and the right side reverse4 ,illustration3 ,,edge ,,of ,,cushion ,fig4 #g ,there1 in a nutshell1 lies nearly all that is essential in the matter of side4 ,a man with ordinary powers of thought can for himself apply the lesson either to cannons or to losing hazards1 and nothing but practice1 as far as possible under the supervision of a master1 will suffice to produce the confidence and certainty which is necessary to good play4 ,be careful about the alignment of the cue2 see that the left hand1 which forms the bridge1 is so placed that the part of forefinger and thumb on which the cue lies is precisely opposite the point on ball #a to be struck1 and as there is special danger of a slip or miss-cue when much side is used1 never neglect to chalk the cue carefully before the stroke4 ,attention to this1 though it seems but a small and self-evident matter1 will save many a game and much temper4 ,there are1 however1 certain other matters connected with rotation which1 though not so important as what has already been explained as far as the game of billiards is concerned1 are yet of considerable interest1 partly as they affect the game1 but chiefly in so far as they may add to our knowledge of the various forces which affect a ball in motion4 ,amongst these is the side which may be acquired from friction with the cushion4 ,the probability that such side is so acquired is understood1 but the conditions are little known4 ,m4 ,vignaux remarks that it depends on the angle of impact1 on the velocity1 and on the strength2 and he gives as an example a plain stroke played gently in a corner of the table1 when the ball always has a tendency to come off at a diminished angle of reflexion1 specially when the angle of incidence is about #de4 ,the side acquired is probably greatest when a ball is played along and touching a cushion2 if played from baulk up the left cushion the tendency would be for the ball to acquire right side1 and up the right cushion left side2 but all such strokes are complicated by the much more important friction with the cloth on the bed of the table4 ,it is unnecessary here to speculate further on a matter which so slightly influences the game4 ,of vastly greater significance1 though its action is still most imperfectly apprehended1 is the effect of the nap of the cloth on the rotation and path of a ball4 ,amateur players scarcely understand the subject at all1 and no doubt the habitual strength with which they play in a great measure destroys or smothers the effect of the nap1 which tells more when the execution is delicate4 ,there is also another reason why they are ignorant of its effect1 which is that markers1 to please the great majority of their patrons1 smooth and iron away the nap in order to make the table faster4 ,by this means they ruin it for the very few who can play1 for without plenty of nap the slow screws and gentle side strokes will not tell1 the ball1 so to speak1 cannot obtain a bite or grip on the cloth1 and the result is that strokes which should be played softly1 and from which the position of the balls can be foreseen with some accuracy1 have to be forced1 and an ignorant hard hitter may on such a cloth defeat a player of a much higher class4 ,thus the common fault of amateurs1 in attempting by strength results which should be effected by skill1 prevents them from acquiring a practical knowledge of the use of nap1 which is consequently sacrificed1 to the detriment of the game4 ,it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that there are but few tables in ,london clubs the cloths of which are in fit condition for play4 ,now1 though the professional scarcely understands better than the amateur why the game can be more scientifically played on a cloth with nap1 yet from practice1 and because of his habitually gentler touch1 he prefers a slower table and a cloth with proper nap4 ,for all serious matches a new cloth is used2 and in some cases when the game is very long1 extending for two weeks1 a condition is made that one player shall supply the cloth for one week and the other for the next4 ,of course there is a limit to the amount of nap which is desirable2 it is quite possible to have a cloth which is too coarse and rough1 but the usual mistake is the other way4 ,persons are apt to think that the more friction is reduced the better2 but it is not so1 and even an average club amateur would find if he tried to play on glass or ice how impossible many ordinary strokes would become4 ,in a general way1 in very delicate strokes side should be reversed when playing against the nap4 ,many examples can be shown1 and a good professional will easily set them up on the table4 ,one may be mentioned here1 as it affords an excellent illustration of the general principle4 ,if ball #a be in baulk1 almost touching the left cushion1 and it be desired to run a coup in the left top pocket1 a gentle stroke with side next the cushion1 or left side1 will cause the ball to hug the cushion and fall into the pocket4 ,but reverse the stroke1 play from the top of the table down the same cushion2 if cushion side1 or right side1 be used1 the ball will run fairly straight as long as the forward force 7translation7 overcomes or neutralises the side2 but whenever the latter can assert its power the ball will show a distinct tendency to leave the cushion altogether4 ,it will even strike the bottom cushion #f in4 away from the side cushion1 and return towards the latter by reason of the side4 ,play the same stroke with left side--i4e4 side away from the cushion--and as soon as the side tells the ball will most distinctly hug the cushion1 and if repelled from it will endeavour to return again4 ,at present the full effect of playing with or against the nap is neither understood nor practised1 but it has attracted attention1 and the more skilful and thoughtful players are studying and utilising its effects4 ,it is sufficient here to notice a refinement of play from which considerable development may confidently be expected4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h ,many diagrams are unnecessary for this chapter1 which is rather an essay or series of suggestions on matters connected with rotation than part of a manual of billiards2 examples of following1 side1 and screw strokes will be dealt with in the next and subsequent chapters4 ,still1 practice is useful at this stage1 and some strokes are accordingly indicated4 ,the opening stroke of a game may be taken as the first example4 ,place ball #a in baulk on or close to the baulk-line ,a ,b and at a convenient distance to reach1 say1 the centre spot1 or1 perhaps better still1 an inch or so beyond it1 in order to avoid playing from a spot which1 however thin1 must on a new cloth1 at any rate1 be raised above the general level4 ,if the player stands at ,a1 he should strike ball #a with right side and strength sufficient to take it to the cushion above ,b and back as nearly as possible to the central longitudinal line of the table1 or below the centre baulk-spot1 thereby securing a good position1 marked ,p1 and making his opponent's next stroke1 also usually a miss1 as difficult as possible4 ,if played from ,b1 left side must be used1 and the stroke must be practised till complete confidence as to angle and strength is acquired4 ,then marks should be set up at ,c1 ,d1 ,e1 ,f1 and each stroke practised till ball #a can be brought with fair accuracy to follow the lines ,b ,c1 ,b ,d1 ,b ,e1 and ,b ,f1 which1 as is seen from the figure1 will result in a coup in the left bottom pocket4 ,at first this is about the maximum of side a beginner can command1 but after some practice he will succeed in striking the bottom cushion near ,g1 a stroke which is useful when a ball is left over the pocket1 as a losing hazard may be made with sufficient strength to bring ball #b out of baulk4 ,these strokes should be played from ,b as well till some certainty is acquired4 ,they are very useful for disturbing a double baulk1 and even for scoring from one1 and a good break so made has a somewhat disconcerting effect on the adversary4 ,a side stroke played back to baulk is shown in ,diagram ,i4 ,place ball #a on the right corner of the 1 and play on the left top cushion #ad in4 above the middle pocket with a little right side a free ,no4 #b strength2 the ball should follow approximately the course indicated1 and run into the left bottom pocket4 ,similarly played from the other corner of the to the right top cushion1 the ball should fall into the right bottom pocket4 ,these strokes are often useful in a game when a double baulk is given and one or both balls are over a pocket4 ,a little modification too1 either by aiming higher or lower on the top side cushion1 or by using more side1 makes this stroke available for cannons in the neighbourhood of the bottom pockets1 and for disturbing the balls when the adversary has left a certain score for himself in the corner4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,the next stroke is also well worth acquiring4 ,it is differently played by different people1 but the main point is to bring the ball on to the bottom side cushion a few inches below the middle pocket4 ,if that is done the path thence is practically a straight line to the centre of the bottom cushion4 ,it is interesting to practise thus3 place balls #b and #c as shown in ,diagram ,,ii4 on the central longitudinal line of the table1 ball #c near the bottom cushion1 and ball #b immediately above1 but not necessarily touching it4 ,set ball #a on the baulk-line about the centre spot1 play at the side top cushion1 #cj in4 from the pocket1 a free ,no4 #b with a little direct side4 ,the stroke can be played off either right or left side top cushion1 and should be tried from both4 ,it can also be made from the corner spot of the 1 aiming at a point #ae in4 above the pocket1 if the stroke be played more gently and the side correctly regulated4 ,it follows1 therefore1 where there is so great possible divergence in the manner of play1 that each person should find out that mode which best suits him1 and practise till confidence is gained4 ,the cannon may be made in many ways1 sometimes as indicated1 on other occasions ball #a will strike the bottom cushion first and thence cannon from #c to #b1 and so on1 showing that there is considerable latitude for error in striking4 ,once the player realises the path of ball #a from below the middle pocket to the centre of the bottom cushion1 it is clear that many possibilities of scoring cannons in baulk are opened4 ,the reader can no doubt supply them for himself1 and it is well that he should take the necessary thought to do so2 but one example is indicated4 ,if balls #b and #c occupy the positions #b and #c the same stroke will probably result in a cannon4 ,mr4 ,john ,roberts often uses this stroke or a modification of it1 and when the result is successful the delight of the spectators is unbounded2 they applaud and regard him with the awe and respect due to supernatural power4 ,yet there is nothing remarkable in the stroke4 ,mr4 ,roberts knows approximately the course of the ball after it has struck the bottom side cushion1 he sees that ball #b is on or near that path1 and therefore that there is a fair certainty of his hitting it1 and if he does so on the proper side the cannon on #c or #c is probable4 ,it is well to be conversant with strokes of this nature1 though as a rule they should only be resorted to when clearly necessary1 and never used simply to show off or to bring down the gallery4 ,other examples might obviously be added1 but these are sufficient to illustrate the principle1 which is1 when learning the stroke1 always play it as nearly as possible in the same way and under the same circumstances4 ,the result is that the eye becomes familiar with the tracks of the ball1 and then moderate ingenuity and observation will serve to guide the player when he may make use of his knowledge to advantage in a game4 ,this chapter1 wherein are raised interesting and suggestive questions which may hereafter be more thoroughly investigated and applied to the game1 may be appropriately closed by an illustration1 the idea of which is borrowed from #8,modern ,billiards1' the text-book of the ,american game1 prepared by the ,brunswick-,balke-,collender ,co4 of ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,place fig4 #i so that ,a is in position for reading1 and follow is illustrated4 ,reverse it1 bringing ,b into position1 and screw or drag is shown4 ,bring ,c into position for reading1 and a side stroke1 in this case right side1 is represented2 and if this be reversed1 ,d being brought into position2 the mass stroke1 which will hereafter be explained1 is seen4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i ,,chapter ,,vii ,,miscellaneous ,,strokes ,under the above heading it is proposed to describe a variety of strokes many of which may be played in different ways1 according to the position which it is desired to leave4 ,some of these are genuine strokes1 whether plain or whether rotation is applied2 others partake rather of the nature of tricks1 but as they do not contravene existing rules they must be treated as legitimate1 and their effect on the game is so important that they must not be neglected in any manual4 ,following strokes belong to the former class1 and are of much importance to the game2 the principle involved in playing them was explained in the last chapter4 ,the number of such strokes which may be set up on the table is infinite1 whilst the examples here given are necessarily few4 ,they have1 as in other cases1 been selected after much thought1 and being in some instances strokes commonly met with in a game1 similar diagrams will be found in other books on billiards4 ,yet this does not involve plagiarism1 for in many instances repetition cannot be avoided1 as will be apparent when the spot stroke is described4 ,endeavour has been made to give examples which may readily be varied at the will of the player1 and so that slavish adherence to the measurements given may be unnecessary4 ,this is important1 for not only do tables vary slightly in make1 but persons vary the manner of measuring4 ,the diagrams1 as before1 must simply be considered approximate1 but are1 it is hoped1 sufficiently correct and intelligible to enable a careful reader to set up the strokes when disposed for practice4 ,diagram ,i41 stroke ,a4 ,ball #a3 #cd in4 from cushion #b2 #bc in4 from cushion #a4 ,ball #b3 #cj in4 from cushion #b2 #cg in4 from cushion #a4 ,ball #c3 #bd in4 from cushion #b2 #ej in4 from cushion #a4 ,strike ball #a one-half above the centre1 a free ,no4 #a strength1 play nearly full 7between three-quarters left and full7 on ball #b1 and cannon gently on ball #c2 ball #b will follow the course indicated or some modification thereof1 and after contact with two cushions rest near the middle pocket2 ball #c will also be driven gently in that direction1 and the situation of the three balls after the stroke may be as indicated by the figures #a1 #b1 and #c1 leaving1 as is evident1 an excellent opportunity for further play4 ,played fifty times1 this stroke may never result twice precisely alike2 yet it is scarcely possible to make the cannon and fail to leave a good opening4 ,that is one beauty of the stroke4 ,even if1 as will happen occasionally1 ball #a cannons fine on ball #c 7which it may easily do in a slight variation in the stroke7 and runs into the pocket1 ball #b comes up from the bottom cushion and there is a fair chance of scoring from baulk4 ,there may1 of course1 sometimes be an unlucky leave1 but if the stroke be played with freedom this will rarely happen4 ,the general fault made in all following strokes is to play too fine on ball #b1 specially when some strength is used2 hence it is prudent to play what seems to be rather too full4 ,this should never be forgotten2 ten strokes are missed because they are played too fine for one that fails because it was played too full4 ,another set of measurements which may be substituted for those given1 and which will exhibit a somewhat similar stroke1 are here appended4 ,they are taken from the same cushions1 which are not therefore again indicated4 ,ball #a1 #cc #bg in42 ball #b1 #ca #cf in42 ball #c1 #bj #eb in4 ,this stroke and many variations of the same type will suggest themselves to the player1 and may with much advantage be practised4 ,at first sight position ,a might seem to an amateur a rather unfortunate conjunction of the balls2 yet see what an excellent opening may be left in one stroke6 ,it is the power to recognise such situations and to profit by them which makes the great difference between players4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,diagram ,i41 stroke ,b4 ,no measurements are needed4 ,ball #b is on the spot1 and balls #a and #c as indicated4 ,ball #a1 struck slightly above the centre1 aimed at ball #b about right1 medium ,no4 #a strength1 will cannon on ball #c and scarcely disturb it1 whilst ball #b will return from the side cushion and the balls will be gathered about ball #c4 ,this is a very common position from which endeavour is made to start a series of nursery cannons2 but if this is not desired1 and if ball #b be the red1 then a winning hazard to the left top pocket will leave a good opening for continuing play at the top of the table4 ,when balls #b and #c are touching the cushion1 as shown in ,example ,c1 ball #a being in hand or suitably placed on the table1 the cannon can best be made as a simple following stroke1 because aim is easier when no side is used4 ,play thus3 ,ball #a1 to high1 ,no4 #b strength full on ball #b1 which will escape in the direction shown by the dotted line1 whilst the follow will cause ball #a to run up the cushion and make the cannon4 ,the stroke may be played with left side and slower1 with the advantage that the position of the balls afterwards may be roughly foreseen1 and that if the cannon be missed direct it may be got off the top cushion4 ,if the losing hazard into the left top pocket be desired1 then left side must be used1 for the pocket is as blind as possible1 and the side is necessary not so much to keep ball #a close to the cushion on its way to the pocket1 as to cause it to enter the pocket after contact with the shoulder of the top cushion4 ,for the cannon1 the further ball #a is from ball #b the safer is it to dispense with side and trust to follow4 ,diagram ,,ii4 shows types of losing hazards made by use of follow4 ,example ,a may be set up by eye1 measurements not being required4 ,play ball #a1 striking it about one-half left and over rather than under the height of its centre2 impact with ball #b should be about three-quarters left or fuller1 and the latter ball will take a course somewhat as indicated by the dotted line1 on which it is evident that once out of baulk there is a considerable margin as regards strength within which the ball is left in play4 ,if there is a heavy nap on the cloth1 and if for some reason it may be desired to play this stroke very gently1 the reverse side may be used1 ball #a being struck one-quarter right4 ,the side acting against the nap and outliving or predominating the forward motion 7translation7 will powerfully draw the ball into the pocket4 ,it is understood1 of course1 that the reverse side is only used when playing against the nap of the cloth4 ,example ,b1--,ball #a3 #cj in4 from cushion #e1 #ae in4 from cushion #d4 ,ball #b3 #ab in4 from cushion #e1 #c in4 from cushion #d4 ,this is a useful stroke for practice1 and may be played in many ways1 either without side or with it1 either gently or with considerable freedom1 according to the position in which it is desired to leave ball #b4 ,for a plain stroke deliver the cue medium ,no4 #a strength on ball #a rather over centre than under1 striking ball #b three-quarters right or fuller2 ball #b will rebound off two cushions towards the centre of the table1 leaving the path of ball #a to the pocket clear4 ,this stroke may be varied by advancing ball #a on the line #a1 #b2 but as the distance between the balls decreases strength should be reduced and follow increased1 the reason being that there is less space within which ball #a can develop rotation1 which1 therefore1 must be artificially supplied4 ,ball #a may be retired on the same line1 in which case the stroke is plain--i4e4 the cue is delivered on the centre of ball #a4 ,it may also be played with side1 which has two effects1 both beneficial4 ,if ball #a be struck one-half left on ball #b1 as before1 nearly full1 the side used tends to prevent the common error of playing too fine on that ball1 and further it enlarges the pocket1 or1 in other words1 will cause ball #a to drop into the pocket even if it may have touched the dangerous shoulder1 as that corner of the cushion is called which partly blinds the pocket4 ,as a variation of this stroke1 place ball #a #cj in4 by #ac in41 and ball #b #ab in4 from cushion #e1 and touching the bottom cushion--i4e4 ball #a is moved #b in4 nearer the bottom cushion and ball #b is set touching it1 the other measurements being unchanged4 ,play with strong left side1 striking ball #a above the centre2 impact with ball #b as before4 ,the stroke may be played with almost any strength desired1 and the distance between the balls may be varied2 the usual error is to play too fine on ball #b1 probably from forgetting to allow for the difference between the points of impact and of aim4 ,as certainty is acquired ball #b may be placed further from the pocket1 when the stroke1 though otherwise similar1 requires greater accuracy4 ,example ,c is not of uncommon occurrence in a game1 and is specially useful when #b happens to be the adversary's ball which would be lost for play if dropped into the pocket4 ,by playing a free stroke with strong left side full on ball #b1 the latter is driven along the cushion1 catches in the shoulders of the pocket1 and travels down the table1 leaving an open path for ball #a to the pocket4 ,ball #a should be struck above the centre to secure follow1 and with plenty of side1 to cause it to cling to the cushion4 ,the stroke is an easy one1 soon acquired2 but the same can scarcely be said respecting ,example ,d1 which1 though merely a variation1 yet requires more judgment and accuracy4 ,the difficulty1 of course1 is how to give ball #b time to take the corners of the pocket and get out of the way4 ,solution is simple1 and might be correctly arrived at by a careful student who has read thus far2 but the stroke requires some neatness1 and time and temper will be saved by watching an expert and by playing before him4 ,it is far from easy to describe such a stroke so as to make its execution by another person certain2 all that will be said here is that1 to give ball #b the required time1 ball #a must after impact travel very slowly1 whilst ball #b has considerable velocity1 and this is effected by delivering the cue slightly under the centre4 ,if it be struck too low or too sharply1 it will stop altogether2 and if struck true centre or above1 it will follow too soon and again collide with ball #b1 the result in both cases being failure4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,diagram ,,iii4--,measurements are not required1 as the balls can be placed from the diagram with sufficient accuracy4 ,from position #a the stroke can be made by a well-executed screw either direct or off the top cushion1 but it is easier and more certain if played as a following stroke2 but from positions #a and #a the screw is all but impossible1 whereas the high follow offers a reasonable prospect of scoring4 ,let the cue be well aligned and let the player stand carefully1 so as to ensure free delivery4 ,get well down to the stroke2 play ball #a a free ,no4 #b strength1 three-quarters high1 nearly full on ball #b2 after impact ball #a will follow a path somewhat as indicated1 the curve being usually very pronounced4 ,the first and sharper curve is apparently due to the rebound after impact modified by the strong follow1 whilst the second and more gentle curve is the result of impact with the cushion4 ,the tendency of the latter is1 of course1 to reverse the follow and send the ball down the table2 but the strong follow appears to fight with this1 and to prevail so far as to maintain its bias for the cushion and its disposition to return towards it4 ,ball #a may almost be placed anywhere towards the left side of the table1 and the stroke remains much the same4 ,as the distance between balls #a and #b increases1 follow becomes less necessary1 its place being supplied by naturally developed rotation4 ,the variety of strokes which may be played on this principle is very great4 ,too much force should not be employed1 or that will in the final conflict defeat the follow1 of which it is ordinarily impossible to give too much4 ,fine strokes should rarely be attempted unless ball #a is near ball #b2 they are1 then1 however1 often of great value1 because1 being played gently1 the positions of the balls after the stroke can be foreseen with tolerable accuracy4 ,the great secret of success is to stand properly1 so that the edge of ball #b may be clearly seen4 ,a few examples are shown on ,diagram ,,iv4 ,they can be set up without measurement4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iii4 ,example ,a4--,a fine stroke on ball #b will make the losing hazard and leave that ball about #b 4 ,example ,b4--,ball #a played fine on ball #b will make the losing hazard and leave an opening from baulk4 ,example ,c4--,a very useful stroke4 ,ball #a played fine on ball #b will cannon rather full on ball #c1 which it will drive as shown by the dot-and-dash line2 ball #a will stop between the other two1 and a winning or losing hazard will almost certainly be left in either top pocket4 ,in playing nursery cannons fine strokes are often useful2 indeed1 a player who possesses great delicacy of touch may make a series of strokes yet scarcely move balls #b or #c4 ,these cannons will be considered hereafter1 and1 therefore1 are not at present further noticed4 ,fine strokes have the following drawbacks3 they must usually be played so softly that the least obstacle or untrueness of ball will cause deflection from the proper path2 the target presented by ball #b is small1 sometimes merely an edge2 and an error so slight as to be imperceptible in the division of ball #b may result in leaving the balls safe4 ,illustration3 ,a ,push ,stroke ,the next variety of strokes to be considered are those in which the ball is pushed rather than struck2 they are usually subdivided into push and half-push strokes4 ,great difference of opinion exists as to whether push strokes should be lawful in the game1 but at present we are not concerned with what should be1 but with what is allowed4 ,the question whether1 in the interest of billiards1 the stroke should or should not be foul will hereafter be considered2 at present1 it is permitted by the rules1 and without it much delicate play and many long breaks would be sacrificed1 consequently a few examples are introduced4 ,in learning this stroke1 instruction from an expert is indispensable3 there are various ways of playing it1 some grasping the cue tightly with both hands to secure rigidity and sliding the bridge1 which is boucle1 the forefinger being hooked round the cue and the other fingers shut on the cloth2 others somewhat shorten the cue1 or hold it further from its butt and play over a bridge in the usual way2 but in any case the cue-tip should be brought as close as possible to ball #a1 short1 of course1 of touching it1 and not withdrawn before the stroke1 but pushed gently and steadily forward4 ,contact between cue-tip and ball #a must be preserved till the position occupied by ball #b is passed1 and ordinarily no more strength should be employed than is necessary to carry ball #a either to ball #c or to the pocket4 ,the idea of the stroke is that1 by dint of steady pushing1 ball #b is removed from the path of ball #a1 which is more nearly unaltered on impact the more perfectly the stroke is made4 ,in practice1 if the distance between ball #b and the pocket or ball #c is considerable1 some allowance must be made1 and the player cannot safely ignore ball #b2 he must not push exactly for the part of ball #c he desires to hit1 or straight for the pocket1 but compensate for the throw-off from ball #b by aiming somewhat fuller than would be necessary were it removed4 ,the more perfect the performer1 the more may ball #b be neglected1 and the less compensating allowance is necessary4 ,for example1 if the cue-tip were stuck to ball #a1 so that interruption to contact was impossible1 ball #b might be wholly neglected2 ball #a could be pushed through a pyramid of balls and made to enter a pocket1 or cannon simply by aligning correctly and pushing straight for the object4 ,by common consent1 however1 long push strokes--i4e4 when ball #a is far from ball #b--;are avoided2 it is very difficult1 if not impossible1 to make them without interruption to the contact between cue-tip and ball1 and consequently they either fail if the cue be withdrawn1 or are foul if it be reapplied4 ,some cases when the push stroke is specially useful are shown in ,diagram ,v4 ,a is an example of the commonest and simplest type4 ,ball #a pushed on the alignment shown will move ball #b slightly to the left 7thereby opening the losing hazard from baulk71 and cannon full on ball #c1 leaving a losing hazard in the middle pocket4 ,b4 ,ball #a pushed gently through ball #b on the alignment shown1 will enter the pocket and leave a losing hazard from baulk4 ,c is a bricole push1 a useful and very pretty stroke4 ,the three balls are so nearly in a straight line1 so near each other and so near the top cushion--which1 however1 they do not touch--that a score by an ordinary push or stroke is impossible4 ,if1 however1 the cue be aligned as shown1 and ball #a be pushed without touching ball #b on to the cushion1 it will escape between the cue-tip and cushion in the direction of ball #b1 and1 entering between it and the cushion1 will push it out of the way and make the cannon4 ,this stroke is made easier and more certain if the cue is applied to the left side of ball #a2 if by chance it was applied to the right of the centre1 there would be much probability of the ball becoming jammed between cue and cushion4 ,d is another ingenious adaptation of the push stroke4 ,ball #a pushed gently on ball #b1 which touches the cushion1 is slightly kissed and travels quietly to ball #c1 whilst ball #b squeezed between ball #a and the cushion indents the latter slightly and escapes to rejoin the group at ball #c4 ,some players1 perhaps ,mitchell specially1 use this stroke with great effect in nursery cannons4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iv4 ,in ,example ,e the situation is shown when assistance cannot be got from a cushion4 ,the balls are too nearly in a straight line for the ordinary push1 it being impossible to get #b out of the way before #c is reached2 if1 however1 the cue be carefully aligned on the right edge of ball #c1 a steady push will result in #b striking #c on the left1 causing it to travel to the right1 where it meets ball #a1 which has been slightly deflected in the same direction4 ,this is a pretty example of a class of strokes which requires great accuracy of eye and a wonderfully just judgment to invent or to modify in a game2 of course1 when a situation somewhat similar to that now shown occurs1 and a player profits by the advice given here1 he may not necessarily possess these qualities in an eminent degree1 but his recognition of the stroke and its successful execution will encourage him to try modification1 and may elicit the sound judgment which is so greatly to be desired4 ,on ,diagram ,,vi4 ,a is an example of as easy a push hazard as can be found on the table4 ,ball #a is very close to or touching the top cushion1 ball #b partly masks the pocket4 ,align the cue parallel to the cushion1 and push ball #a along its edge past ball #b1 which may be wholly neglected4 ,the cushion forms a guide to both cue and ball1 and the stroke can scarcely be missed4 ,b is a modification of the cannon already explained 7,diagram ,v41 ,example ,c74 ,in this case1 ball #b is too immediately in front of the pocket and too nearly equidistant from the top cushion with ball #a to permit of the treatment just recommended for ,a4 ,it is necessary to align the cue as shown1 and to push ball #a on its right side to the cushion4 ,the squeeze between cue and cushion will cause that ball to remove ball #b and enter the pocket4 ,the half-push is quite a different stroke from the push2 it has always been considered a fair stroke1 whilst some years ago the push stroke was held to be foul2 but both are open to the same objection4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,v4 ,when balls #a and #b are very near each other1 their surfaces being not much more than an inch apart1 and ball #c is so placed that the cannon would ordinarily be made by use of follow1 but so far away that sufficient follow cannot be communicated to ball #a1 the stroke may be made by the half-push4 ,c is a favourable example4 ,ball #a is on the right corner of the 2 ball #b immediately in front of it1 slightly nearer cushion #c2 ball #c is placed1 say1 #cj in4 from the top cushion1 and so near cushion #b that a ball cannot pass between them4 ,imagine a straight line through the centres of #a and #b prolonged to ,p1 a point equally distant from #b with ball #c4 ,halve the space between ,p and ball #c1 and let ,q be that point4 ,strike ball #a in the centre about ,no4 #c strength1 aiming at ,q1 or slightly nearer ball #c1 as a precaution1 because there is a large margin for error on the right of that ball2 it will deflect sufficiently to make the cannon4 ,similarly1 it is evident losing hazards can be made by the half-push1 the pocket being substituted for ball #c1 but they are seldom useful and will not be further considered4 ,in making push strokes1 good players often apply the cue to the side instead of to the centre of ball #a1 with the view of supporting it and of modifying its escape on that side4 ,this precaution is often required in order to obtain position4 ,kiss ,strokes4--,in the ,english game the term kiss is used rather vaguely1 so that precise definition is difficult if not impossible4 ,it includes the strokes which the ,french call coups durs1 in which ball #b is touching a cushion and cannot give way as usual1 but throws off ball #a with the recoil of balls and cushion combined1 as well as those termed rencontres1 or the meeting of balls #a and #c1 the former having been put in motion by the cue and the latter by collision with ball #b4 ,of the former kind examples are shown in ,diagrams ,,vii4 and ,,viii4 ,in playing these strokes recollect that screw or retrograde rotation augments the velocity of ball #a after impact1 whereas follow has the opposite effect4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vi4 ,illustration3 ,a ,push 7boucle7 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vii4 ,example ,a1 ,diagram ,,vii41 is the simplest form of the stroke1 the three balls being in one line--ball #b against the cushion1 and ball #a between #b and #c2 a stroke full on ball #b will result in a cannon4 ,b is a modification1 for ball #c is out of the straight line2 the cannon is made by a slight division of ball #b1 say right2 if ball #a be played on that spot it will cannon on ball #c4 ,the student can set up examples for himself1 and by careful division of ball #b make many cannons4 ,the greater the distance ball #a has to travel1 the lower and harder must it be struck4 ,a very excellent practice to train the eye to the angles and the hand to control strength is afforded by ,example ,c1 which is otherwise not of much use in a game4 ,mark the positions of balls #a and #b slightly with pipeclay1 and try to make losing hazards into every pocket on the table4 ,after each stroke the balls are replaced1 and the number of strokes taken to make the six losing hazards is the measure of accuracy in play4 ,the first stroke into the right bottom pocket is easy2 it will soon be made in one trial1 for it is almost a plain half-ball stroke4 ,the second into the left bottom pocket is perhaps the most difficult of all1 for not merely has ball #b to be correctly divided but strong left side is used2 the left middle and top pockets are made direct1 accuracy depending solely on the correct division of ball #b1 finer for the former1 fuller for the latter pocket4 ,the right top and right side pockets are made off the cushion1 and in the last-named side is used4 ,this hazard may be made without a kiss2 ball #a1 played a free ,no4 #a strength half-ball on ball #b1 will touch bottom and side cushions and travel towards right middle pocket4 ,it is needless to enter into further detail1 for the advantage of the stroke is to accustom the eye to the angles at which ball #a comes off the various divisions of ball #b1 and that is learnt solely by practice4 ,to try for the pockets merely gives an object or interest to the stroke1 and1 if further incentive be required1 back yourself to complete the hazards in fewer strokes than another person may require4 ,the practical application of the knowledge thus obtained is that1 should ball #c happen to be on the lines #b,p1 #b,p1 #b,p1 or #b,p1 the cannon may be played with some confidence1 and if it be anywhere else on the table1 a reasonable attempt to score may1 if needful1 be made1 and a game in extremis may thus be saved4 ,diagram ,,viii4--,example ,a is an easy and useful stroke4 ,ball #a is #cj in4 from cushion #c1 #ae in4 from bottom cushion2 ball #b on the baulk-line touching cushion #c2 ball #c is as shown in the neighbourhood1 say #ah in4 from the right top pocket and within #b in4 of cushion #b4 ,play ball #a with high right side half-ball or slightly fuller on ball #b1 free ,no4 #a strength4 ,example ,b is1 in its way1 a curiosity1 but the stroke is by no means devoid of use4 ,first1 suppose ball #b on the baulk-line touching the cushion at its left extremity4 ,place ball #a for a half-ball kiss hazard into the right top pocket4 ,this is squarer than an ordinary half-ball angle1 because ball #b1 being against the cushion1 cannot give way2 but the difference is not as great as might be imagined1 and the stroke is not very difficult4 ,what is curious1 however1 is that1 if ball #b be moved a certain distance up the cushion to positions #b1 #b1 c41 a half-ball cannon will be made on balls placed #c1 #c1 c41 at exactly the same distance along the top cushion4 ,that is1 if ball #c be placed at the centre of the fall of the pocket1 the distances between #c and #c1 and #c and #c1 shall exactly equal those between #b and #b1 and #b and #b4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,viii4 ,the other class of kiss strokes is illustrated in ,diagram ,,ix41 from which it is seen that ball #b is in no case touching the cushion1 but that 7except in case ,e7 it is used to kiss or plant ball #c in such a direction that it advances to meet ball #a1 and the cannon is thus effected4 ,in case ,e the course of ball #a is modified by a second impact with ball #b4 ,example ,a4 ,the three balls are in a straight line perpendicular to the cushion4 ,if ball #a be played absolutely full on #b1 that ball will strike #c full also1 and no score will be made2 but if ball #b be struck slightly out of the centre--that is1 between centre and --a cannon will result4 ,play ball #a a soft ,no4 #a strength slightly to the right of the centre of ball #b1 which will travel proportionately to the left and strike ball #c to the left of its centre4 ,ball #c will strike the cushion slightly to the right of the perpendicular line1 and1 returning therefrom1 will meet ball #a when the cannon is complete4 ,ball #b may be struck similarly on the left of its centre1 and the stroke be made on the same principle as before4 ,example ,b4 ,balls #b and #c touch1 and the line through their centres is slightly inclined to the cushion4 ,ball #a is so placed that the fine cannon is either impossible or dangerous4 ,play a gentle ,no4 #a centre stroke on ball #b about three-quarters left2 ball #c will be planted on to the cushion1 and1 returning1 will meet ball #a4 ,the general fault is to play too fine on ball #b1 but the stroke is easy4 ,example ,c4 ,place the balls as shown2 do not attempt the fine stroke1 but play half-ball on ball #b2 the cannon is inevitable4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ix4 ,example ,d partakes more of the nature of a fancy stroke than of one useful in games2 nevertheless1 it illustrates in a striking way what may be done by means of the kiss or plant4 ,set up the balls as shown in a straight line4 ,balls #b and #c should touch1 and ball #a should be a little apart1 to permit of a stroke on ball #b4 ,the balls should touch or be very near the side cushion4 ,play ball #a one-quarter right1 ,no4 #b strength on ball #b1 so as to impinge on the side cushion above the right middle pocket4 ,ball #b1 being thus struck rather fine1 causes ball #c to travel at a moderate pace down the table towards baulk1 whilst ball #a1 travelling faster1 comes off cushion #b and meets or catches ball #c generally in baulk4 ,a similar and easier stroke may be from positions #a1 #b1 #c1 near cushion #e1 ball #a being played on ball #b to strike cushion #c4 ,example ,e is a very pretty little stroke1 which may be thus placed4 ,ball #a3 #f in4 from cushion #f1 #g in4 from top cushion4 ,ball #b3 #aa in4 #f1 #b in4 ,ball #c3 #ai in4 #f1 #g in4 ,it will be observed that there is no direct stroke whereby ball #b may be kept at the top of the table1 nor is the fine side stroke 7ball #a with strong right side played fine on the left of ball #b7 possible2 in fact1 the position seems far from being desirable4 ,yet1 if the directions for playing this stroke be followed1 the cannon will be found almost a certainty1 and the balls will generally be well left for further play4 ,the stroke is made thus3 play ball #a centre1 a soft ,no4 #a on ball #b1 three-quarters right1 which will return from the cushion1 kiss ball #a on to ball #c1 and often remain between ball #a and the pocket4 ,hence1 if ball #b be the red1 a better opening for a break could scarcely be desired4 ,the stroke should first be practised from the positions indicated until fair certainty is acquired1 then the positions may be slightly varied1 and it may with advantage be set up without measurement1 so that the eye may become trained and able to recognise the situation should it occur in a game4 ,example ,f happens occasionally1 and1 therefore1 it is well to be prepared4 ,the three balls are in one straight line1 and the situation generally comes about thus3 the red ball being on the spot1 the adversary's ball happens to stop directly above it1 between the red and the top cushion1 ball #a being in hand4 ,the easiest way to score is to place ball #a in line with balls #b and #c1 in this case on the centre spot of the 1 and play full on ball #b4 ,personal inaccuracy will in this case insure the score1 for ball #b will rarely be struck so full as to impinge on the centre of ball #c2 it will strike it on one side or the other1 and a cannon will result on the same principle as that explained under ,example ,a4 ,the general warning as to kiss strokes should be remembered4 ,avoid attempting doubtful strokes1 specially when the balls are not close together4 ,jennies4--,in ,chapter ,v4 p4 #afj1 an example of the plain half-ball stroke was described1 and whenever the pocket is fairly open these strokes can be best made without side2 but when the pocket is very blind1 the losing hazard cannot be thus made1 and side1 which takes ball #a into the pocket after touching the farther shoulder1 must be employed4 ,the nearer ball #b is to the side cushion the more difficult is the stroke and the more side is required4 ,the general fault in playing these strokes is that ball #b is struck too full1 a natural result of the use of reverse side1 of which it is impossible to put on too much1 specially for long jennies4 ,diagram ,x4--,example ,a4 ,ball #a3 about #a in4 behind and right of the centre spot of the 4 ,ball #b3 #bb in4 below the left middle pocket1 #f in4 from the side cushion4 ,play ball #a one-quarter left medium ,no4 #a strength on ball #b1 half-ball or rather finer2 the hazard will be made off the far shoulder of the pocket1 and ball #b will rebound nearly perpendicular to the side cushion towards the centre of the table4 ,example ,b4 ,ball #a3 on baulk-line1 #h in4 to the right of centre4 ,ball #b3 #aj in4 below the right middle pocket1 #d in4 from cushion #c4 ,play ball #a one-quarter right free ,no4 #a on ball #b half-ball or finer4 ,the more side the stroke is played with the better2 it will often compensate for inaccuracy of aim4 ,example ,c4 ,ball #a3 as in last example4 ,ball #b3 #i in4 above the left middle pocket1 #d in4 from cushion #f4 ,play ball #a one-quarter left ,no4 #a strength on ball #b from half-ball to quarter-ball4 ,jennies are not nearly so difficult as they seem at first sight4 ,the general rules for playing them are1 for middle pockets1 plain wherever possible1 ball #a being struck rather below than above the centre4 ,but when ball #b is so near the side cushion that the hazard cannot be made by a plain stroke1 and for long jennies1 use as much side as possible and endeavour to aim on ball #b finer than half-ball4 ,in ,diagram ,,xi4 a few examples will be found of bricole strokes1 or those in which ball #a strikes a cushion before impact with ball #b1 side being used4 ,plain strokes of the sort have been mentioned in ,chapter ,,vi4 ,example ,a4 ,ball #a3 on baulk-line a little to the right of centre4 ,ball #b3 over the left bottom pocket as shown4 ,play ball #a one-quarter right1 aiming just out of baulk1 ,no4 #a strength2 the side1 if correctly judged1 will bring the ball back as indicated1 and the losing hazard may be made4 ,example ,b4 ,ball #a3 on the centre spot4 ,ball #b3 on the centre transverse line of the table overhanging the pocket1 with just room on either side for ball #a to pass without touching it4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,x4 ,the losing hazard may be easily made as shown from either side of ball #b4 ,take first that from the left side4 ,play ball #a one-quarter right1 medium ,no4 #a strength1 so as just to pass ball #b to the left without touching2 ball #a will return from within the shoulder1 strike ball #b1 and fall into the pocket4 ,for the hazard from the right of ball #b1 ball #a is played one-quarter left1 to pass the right of ball #b4 ,example ,c is precisely the same stroke into a corner pocket4 ,example ,d may occasionally be of use1 though generally a miss would be the proper game under the circumstances4 ,ball #a is supposed to be in hand1 ball #c having stopped near ball #b on the spot1 but not sufficiently straight above it to warrant playing for the kiss cannon4 ,in this case the knowledge acquired by playing an old fancy stroke--to make the losing hazard off ball #b from baulk by playing bricole--is utilised4 ,in that stroke an approximate guide as to the point of aim on the side cushion was obtained by aligning the cue so as to pass over the left bottom pocket1 and the left corner of the 3 the prolongation of that line indicated the point4 ,hence1 by aiming a little above the point thus found1 ball #b is struck on the right side1 and the cannon is possible4 ,place ball #a on the left corner of the 1 play a free ,no4 #a strength at the side cushion1 aiming as directed4 ,one or two trials will determine the correct point of aim with a given strength2 if the strength is altered1 the angle of reflexion will also alter4 ,example ,e1 on the other hand1 is perfectly simple and most useful4 ,measurements are unnecessary4 ,play ball #a to the cushion with slight right side2 ball #b will be pocketed1 and ball #a will rest in a good position for a losing hazard from spot into the right top pocket4 ,example ,f4--,ball #a in hand1 balls #b and #c as shown about the diameter of a ball or a little more from the side cushion1 so placed that the fine cannon from #b to #c would be very difficult4 ,by placing ball #a on the baulk-line as shown1 and by playing with a little right side behind ball #b1 ball #a will1 after impact1 run down the cushion and make the cannon4 ,when the eye is trained1 ball #b may be a considerable distance--say six or eight inches--from the cushion1 and the stroke may be made with a reasonable chance of success1 whereas played in any other way the result would almost certainly be failure4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xi4 ,plants 7see definition in ,chapter ,,iii47 are perhaps more connected with pyramids and pool than with billiards2 nevertheless1 they may be occasionally used1 and1 therefore1 must be briefly considered4 ,the simplest form is when the centres of balls #b and #c are on a straight line which leads to the centre of a pocket4 7,see ,diagram ,,xii47 ,example ,a4--,balls #b and #c are on the line ,p ,q and touch each other4 ,ball #a may be on any part of the table from which ball #b may be struck save the small corner cut off by the line ,r ,s perpendicular to ,q ,p1 and if played on ball #b with sufficient strength ball #c will run into the left bottom pocket4 ,it is hardly possible to miss the winning hazard1 and hence1 whenever two balls touch and are so aligned1 a very easy stroke is presented if ball #a be suitably placed2 for1 no matter how badly it may be played on ball #b1 ball #c must of necessity travel to the pocket4 ,so far the matter is simple enough2 but the next example1 ,b1 at once introduces difficulties which it is proposed to observe and notice rather than attempt to explain4 ,a glance at the diagram will show that in this case ,g ,h1 the alignment through the centres of balls #b and #c1 does not terminate in the pocket1 but falls slightly without2 hence1 if the plant were played in the ordinary way1 ball #c would impinge near the shoulder at ,h4 ,in the first place1 let ball #a be removed from the table1 and let the problem be to play ball #b with the cue so as to put ball #c into the pocket4 ,if this stroke be presented without explanation1 nine men out of ten or more will attack ball #b from the baulk side1 playing towards the top of the table4 ,the more they do this the further up the table will ball #c strike the cushion2 but let the player go round and place his cue on the alignment shown so as to strike ball #b on its side towards the top of the table--that is with right side--a medium ,no4 #a stroke1 when1 wonderful to relate1 ball #c will travel to the pocket in the most docile manner4 ,that having been established to the satisfaction of the player1 let him replace ball #a on the table anywhere as shown--that is1 in any of the positions marked #a or in any intermediate position4 ,for the stroke as now set up1 play ball #a one-half left1 ,no4 #a strength1 on ball #b half-ball or fuller to the right2 again ball #c will roll obediently to the pocket4 ,if by an error of judgment ball #b be played on to the left1 ball #c will strike the cushion above the point ,h4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xii4 ,example ,c is merely an amplification of the same stroke4 ,ball #b is conveniently placed in front of the pocket1 and ball #c is placed touching it first on the line ,p ,r1 when the straight plant is to the left of the pocket1 and next on the line ,p ,s1 when it is to the right2 ball #a being somewhere as shown1 an exact position for it being of no consequence4 ,now1 when ball #c is on the line ,p ,r1 to the left of the pocket1 play ball #a on the left side of ball #b2 when it is on the line ,p ,s1 to the right of the pocket1 play to the right of ball #b2 in both cases the winning hazard will be triumphantly made4 ,these strokes are capable of ready demonstration on a table1 but the laws which govern them are not certainly known4 ,the results seem to point partly to transmitted side1 but that is scarcely sufficient to account for so considerable a deviation from the straight plant1 specially if it be considered that such side can hardly be detected by the unassisted human eye4 ,very likely1 when once it is understood1 the explanation will seem simple enough2 at present1 so far as is known1 the result has not been accounted for in a satisfactory manner4 ,example ,d is worth mentioning and worthy of practice2 like most other strokes1 it can be far more satisfactorily explained on the table by a man who can play it than by the most careful description on paper2 yet1 as in spot play and possibly in other circumstances it may be useful1 an attempt to convey an idea of the stroke will be made4 ,ball #b is on the spot2 ball #a1 too near it for any ordinary stroke with fair chance of success1 but not necessarily touching1 is first on the line ,t ,u1 the straight plant being therefore on the point ,u4 ,now1 if the cue be aligned as shown on the right side of ball #a1 pointing towards ,x1 and a medium ,no4 #a strength be delivered1 ball #b will be deflected into the pocket4 ,conversely1 when ball #a is on the line ,v ,w1 close to ball #b1 the cue must be aligned on a point ,y below ,w1 and a stroke on the left side of ball #a will1 as before1 result in sending ball #b to the pocket4 ,the principle is apparently the same in all oblique plants1 if those may be so called whose path is not the prolongation of the straight line through the centres of the two balls4 ,in ,example ,c ball #c1 and in ,example ,d ball #a1 are not drawn1 in order to avoid complicating the diagram2 their positions are indicated by the figures4 ,the subject of screw strokes was fully considered in last chapter1 and practice was recommended with the view of facilitating the acquirement of the stroke rather than of illustrating its application to the game2 hence it is now appropriate to give some useful examples4 ,diagram ,,xiii4 ,example ,a4--,balls #a1 #b1 and #c as shown4 ,this stroke may be played in many ways1 depending on where it is desired to leave the balls4 ,if ball #b is to be brought back1 play ball #a one-quarter low about ,no4 #b strength nearly full on ball #b1 which will travel to and return from cushion #a2 ball #a1 having parted with its velocity1 will return slowly to ball #c1 and the three balls should be left together4 ,it might be desirable to play the stroke in a totally different manner if1 for example1 #b were the adversary's ball4 ,in this case it would suffice to send ball #b up the table towards spot1 and cannon on ball #c so as to leave a winning hazard in the left bottom pocket4 ,to do this the strength communicated to ball #b must be diminished1 and this may be effected by playing finer on that ball and by using more screw in compensation4 ,example ,b is a good practice stroke1 and may be played harder or softer at will4 ,it does not require to be laid down by measurement1 and may be set up wherever convenient4 ,play ball #a about one-half low and left1 medium ,no4 #a strength on ball #b1 about three-quarters right4 ,example ,c1 a screw back losing hazard1 is often useful1 ball #a being between ball #b and the pocket2 no instruction is required beyond that given in last chapter for playing the stroke4 ,it may be varied by moving ball #b round ball #a as far as the cushions will permit2 the stroke is always possible1 and in trying to make it some practical lessons in the matter of compensation will be learnt4 ,example ,d4--,place the balls as shown4 ,play ball #a three-quarters low on ball #b1 half-ball or rather fuller1 but avoid the kiss4 ,ball #a will travel up cushion #b and make the cannon or hazard1 whilst ball #b will escape towards the left middle pocket4 ,example ,e is a screw off a fine ball1 a stroke at which many amateurs fail chiefly because they do not stand properly for it--do not usually align their cue fine enough on ball #b4 ,if played very slowly1 very fine1 and with the maximum of screw1 the stroke is perhaps more certain of execution1 but ball #b will probably be left in baulk4 ,to obviate this1 play rather fuller1 with less screw1 and with more strength4 ,the stroke is conveniently made from the spot1 ball #a being placed variously between the angle at which a losing hazard with side can be made and the vertical1 or when the ball #a is directly above the spot4 ,the position shown in the diagram is a fair one1 the stroke being not very difficult2 it becomes more so as ball #a approaches the position above the spot4 ,it may be thus played3 ,align the cue as shown for a fine stroke1 play ball #a one-half low ,no4 #b strength on ball #b1 one-quarter right4 ,it is difficult in a stroke of this nature to give precise instructions for making it1 because it varies with every slight variation of the position of ball #a and with the power of each player to communicate screw2 hence it is advisable at first to get the assistance of a competent person1 and then to practise before minor details are forgotten4 ,example ,f is well worth mastering2 it is easier the nearer ball #b is to the pocket4 ,play ball #a one-half low and right on ball #b about three-quarters left a free ,no4 #a strength4 ,ball #b may thus be brought out of baulk1 whilst the reverse side carries ball #a into the pocket4 ,in strokes of this kind care should be taken to avoid the kiss4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xiii4 ,close screws1 when ball #a is so near ball #b that the stroke cannot be made in the ordinary way1 are worth mastering1 but as some execution is required1 they should at first be played under professional supervision4 ,the chief point about them is to convey to ball #a a maximum or nearly so of screw and side2 the cue has to be delivered with great freedom1 and ball #a passes well beyond the position occupied by ball #b1 then the forward force 7translation7 having been chiefly transferred to ball #b1 the screw and side conquer the small balance left and ball #a returns more or less towards the player4 ,a rather neat example of a close screw is shown on ,diagram ,,xiv41 and may be set up on the table without measurements4 ,play ball #a one-half low and one-half right1 a free ,no4 #b strength on ball #b between three-quarters left and centre1 so as to cause its return after impact with cushion #a2 ball #a should make the cannon off cushion #d and perhaps cushion #e as well1 and the three balls should be gathered at the left bottom pocket4 ,this kind of stroke is useful for losing hazards also1 but should not be practised until the player has acquired much confidence in the delivery of his cue1 lest accidents should happen4 ,another stroke which must be noticed1 though it should be rarely employed1 is that known as the leap or jump1 whereby ball #a leaves the bed of the table during part of its course4 ,it is made in two ways3 either by laying the cue on the table1 aligning it as usual in the direction desired for ball #a1 and striking that ball so low that the tip touches the cloth before it reaches the ball4 ,this is practically equivalent to putting the cue under the ball and throwing the latter upwards2 but there being at the same time a forward motion1 the result is a leap higher and longer in proportion to the strength of stroke4 ,played in this way there is no danger of cutting a sound cloth1 and the ball may be made to jump higher with less strength1 and to be better under control than when the leap is otherwise effected4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xiv4 ,ball #a may also be made to leap by striking it down towards the bed1 the cue being oblique1 its butt elevated--in fact1 by an exaggerated stab4 ,the ball is thus momentarily squeezed between cue-tip and bed1 and leaps as it escapes from the pressure4 ,this stroke should be practised with the greatest moderation2 indeed1 not at all until the player is well experienced and confident in handling the cue1 for it commonly results in knocking the balls off the table and damaging them1 and may further cut the cloth4 ,the stroke is sometimes of use1 and1 therefore1 must not be ignored2 but it is safe to say that no one who valued his table or a good set of balls would willingly see them used for this class of practice4 ,illustration3 ,the leap or jump stroke ,diagram ,,xv4 shows a few instances in which the leap stroke is legitimate1 and as safe for the balls and table as is possible under the circumstances4 ,example ,a4--,it is desired to play the winning hazard on ball #c without disturbing ball #b4 ,align the cue on the table in the direction required for the hazard1 see that the tip is on the cloth and kept there1 and play a medium ,no4 #a strength4 ,ball #a will leap over ball #b and make the winning hazard4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xv4 ,example ,b4--,the three balls as shown are in a straight line with no reasonable chance of a score4 ,the situation happened at a critical moment in a match which the writer played many years ago1 and a successful leap cannon enabled him to win4 ,place the cue in alignment with the three balls1 and play the stroke as directed for the previous example2 ball #a should jump on ball #b and roll off to ball #c4 ,the difficulty1 of course1 is to control the strength used2 the top of ball #b must be cleared1 and yet the ball must not be wholly missed4 ,it is a question of nerve and judgment tempered very considerably with good luck4 ,there is little or no danger to cloth or balls in practising this stroke4 ,example ,c is one which is not infrequently played in exhibition games4 ,ball #b is so placed that it cannot be got rid of by means of the shoulders of the pocket1 and there is not sufficient room for a cushion or bricole hazard4 ,a delicate leap stroke played between ball and cushion will make the losing hazard4 ,it is not a desirable stroke for a beginner to practise1 for he will inevitably cause ball #a to jump beyond the pocket and roll away till brought up by some obstacle more or less destructive4 ,example ,d is of a class which occurs occasionally in actual play4 ,balls #a1 #b1 #c are nearly in a straight line1 ball #c being about #b in4 from the side cushion1 so that a ball cannot pass between4 ,an ordinary following stroke is difficult and uncertain1 so usually the best play would be to give a miss2 but the state of the game may render that impossible or undesirable1 in which case the best chance of scoring is to strike down on ball #a1 causing it to leap on to ball #b1 which in turn bounds away1 leaving the course clear for ball #a to reach ball #c and make the cannon either direct1 off the side cushion1 or even possibly from the top cushion4 ,the effect of ball #a1 so struck1 causing ball #b in turn to leap1 is prettily shown by placing the pool basket and balls as drawn in ,example ,e4 ,a smart stroke down on ball #a will cause ball #b to jump into the basket4 ,many examples of fancy strokes made by means of the leap could be given1 but they are purposely withheld1 as there is no wish to encourage experiment as useless to the game as it is detrimental to the implements4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,piqu and mass are not often used in ,english billiards2 the latter1 indeed1 seldom or never1 whilst the former1 when used1 is miscalled mass4 ,they form in reality a continuation of the series of strokes which1 departing from the normal or horizontal1 culminate in one delivered vertically on the top of the ball4 ,thus1 in fig4 #a1 ,q1 ,q1 c41 represent the axes of a cue presented at various angles to the ball whose centre is ,c on the table ,t ,t4 ,it has already been explained1 but may without harm be repeated1 that1 the strength of stroke being equal1 the maximum forward motion to the ball1 or translation1 is given by the horizontal delivery of the cue on the line ,q ,c4 ,as the angle of delivery increases1 so does the forward impulse decrease until the limit #ij1 or a vertical stroke1 is reached1 when there is manifestly no forward motion communicated to the ball1 the entire force of the stroke being counteracted by the rigidity of the table4 ,now1 without any attempt at fine distinction or any claim to precise accuracy1 it may1 in a rough way1 be said that plain strokes are delivered on the axis ,q ,c2 that stabs lie between that and ,q ,c1 which is at an angle of #de with ,q ,c1 or half-way to the vertical2 that piqu commences at ,q ,c and ends at ,q ,c1 beyond which the strokes are termed mass4 ,this is not exactly correct1 for there may be a mass with less inclination than ,q ,c1 the real distinction between piqu and mass being that in the former the cue's axis is directed to the centre of the ball1 and therefore the effect is to drive it straight with reverse or retrograde rotation2 in the latter1 the cue's axis is not directed through the centre1 but on one side or other of it1 with the consequence that the path of the ball is no longer a straight but a curved line4 ,this is the case to such an extent that the rotation round an oblique axis will often conquer the small measure of translation or displacement conveyed by the stroke and produce some beautiful curves4 ,now1 so long as the push stroke is allowed1 mass will not be much attempted2 it is difficult of execution at any time and in any position1 impossible on a large ,english table save when the balls are near a cushion4 ,it further has the great disadvantage1 when played hard1 of causing a dent or pit in the cloth sufficient to deflect or arrest a very slow ball1 and therefore soon spoils a cloth near the cushions on the very part most used for nursery cannons4 ,it is also doubtful whether with the most skilful manipulation effect can be got with small balls and fine-pointed cues at all equal to that which is obtained in the ,french game4 ,hence for many reasons we are indisposed to recommend the study and practice of this undoubtedly beautiful stroke4 ,quite otherwise1 however1 with piqu1 which may often be used with advantage in the ,english game and without harm to the table4 ,the stroke is indispensable when ball #a is so near ball #b that the screw back cannot be made in the ordinary way1 or when the cushion prevents the application of the cue to the proper part of the ball4 ,in ,diagram ,,xvi4 a few examples are shown4 ,a learner should get some person who can make them--and they are all very simple--to play the strokes before him once or twice1 when he will observe that no great strength is required3 the weight of the cue let drop on the right part of ball #a will almost do what is needed1 and by restraint of force the danger of cutting the cloth is greatly reduced4 ,more harm is done by hitting the ball hard vertically1 for then the cloth is damaged in the same way1 though not so badly as when a careless or thoughtless person in spotting the red ball1 finding that it has a tendency to move on the spot1 hammers it down with force1 thus in a very short time forming a cup sufficient to ruin all delicate play from the spot1 and with a hard stroke very likely to cause the red ball to fly off the table4 ,the practice is most reprehensible1 and persons doing it should invariably be remonstrated with1 for they are ruining the table for more intelligent players4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,xvi4 ,example ,a4 ,balls as shown4 ,play ball #a a gentle piqu1 the cue at an angle of about #fj1 inside1 i4e4 to the left of the centre of ball #b2 ball #a will return and cannon on ball #c2 ball #b will be left in the neighbourhood of the left bottom pocket4 ,if it be desired to move ball #b very slightly1 the stroke may be played mass1 the cue being nearly vertical1 and ball #a struck slightly to the right of the centre1 nearer ball #c than the centre4 ,this mode of play gives greater rotation but less forward motion to ball #a4 ,example ,b4 ,balls as shown4 ,play ball #a piqu1 cue from #ej to #fj according to the distance it is desired to make ball #b travel2 aim at ball #b about three-quarters right1 a clean gentle stroke1 say equal to a medium ,no4 #a4 ,ball #a will make the losing hazard4 ,example ,c4 ,balls as shown4 ,play ball #a piqu #de to #ej nearly full on ball #b1 which will cross the table and return or remain near the spot as may be desired4 ,the strength employed should be almost entirely communicated to ball #b1 whilst the rotation will make the cannon4 ,if ball #b be the red1 it may be as well to bring the balls together for the next stroke2 if it should be the adversary's ball1 it would be better play to leave it near the spot and pocket the red next stroke4 ,example ,d4 ,balls as shown4 ,ball #a is too near the top cushion for a screw in the ordinary way1 whilst ball #c is so placed that a ball cannot pass between it and the cushion4 ,play ball #a piqu #ee to #fe1 so as to bring it well on the right or cushion side of ball #c1 which is by its situation what is termed in billiard language greatly enlarged4 ,a few remarks respecting this term will be found a little further on4 ,respecting mass proper1 it is not proposed to write in detail4 ,those who desire more information are referred to #8,le ,billard1' by ,m4 ,vignaux1#af from which excellent work1 though on the ,french game1 much may be learnt by players of the ,english game4 ,two of his remarks may be quoted3--#8,no stroke is more difficult4 ,good players hesitate to attempt it1 for the slightest inadvertence causes failure4 ,the fault of amateurs is always to play too hard1 a stroke which requires the greatest delicacy and the lightest possible touch4' ,this chapter may be suitably closed with a few remarks on what are called precautions and compensations4 ,in certain situations we have already frequently remarked that a pocket was blind--that is1 was more or less narrowed by one of its shoulders1 and as a precaution1 if a hazard is desired the player has been warned to avoid the dangerous shoulder4 ,sometimes it is sufficient to play inside the other shoulder2 at other times1 when the pocket is more blind or less open1 reverse side has to be added in the case of losing hazards to induce the ball to enter the pocket after contact with the far shoulder4 ,the side so used is said to enlarge the pocket1 and the expression is appropriate1 for if the ball struck the part of the shoulder which is exposed and had no side it would simply rebound and remain on the table2 the side overcomes this tendency and the hazard is made4 ,again1 in case of cannons1 a cushion or two cushions1 if judiciously made use of1 similarly enlarge the size of a ball4 ,when ball #c is near an angle of the table so placed that another ball cannot pass between it and either cushion1 a very large target is presented1 and there is room for much inaccuracy without imperilling success4 ,the thoughtful player will avail himself of this when it is of paramount importance to make the stroke1 as1 for example1 when it is the game stroke1 and so aim as to have the widest margin for error on either side4 ,this is an instance in which there are many chances whereby a cannon may be made direct or off either cushion1 so that ball #c has for practical purposes a size equal to three or four balls4 ,similarly1 when a ball is within a diameter of a cushion1 it may be enlarged by judicious precaution4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,thus1 in fig4 #b1 ,c ,c is the cushion1 #a1 #b1 #c are the balls4 ,if it were the last stroke of the game1 and therefore the cannon were of chief importance1 the stroke should be played to make ball #a after impact with ball #b travel towards a point ,p between ball #c and the cushion1 and not direct on that ball4 ,if ball #a should strike the cushion anywhere from ,p to a point opposite the centre of ball #c1 the cannon is certain2 hence1 aiming at ,p1 a convenient spot between ,p and ball #c1 a margin for error is left on either side4 ,the subject of compensation is very interesting1 and its proper use is one of the refinements of play4 ,certain elementary forms will be described1 but the application of the principle to the execution of strokes must be left to the intelligence of the player2 and this may with safety and a clear conscience be done1 for the less ambitious and clever player will not concern himself with the question4 ,perhaps the simplest form with which ordinary amateurs are familiar is that whereby the angle between the paths of ball #a before and after impact with ball #b is diminished or enlarged by side which compensates for strength4 ,thus1 taking plain losing hazards of the simplest type 7,diagram ,,iv4 p4 #aeg71 side may be substituted for strength1 and the angle of deviation altered so that with the strength prescribed for the first hazard the second and even the third hazard may be made4 ,similarly1 reverse side will compensate for fine striking2 it will1 in other words1 decrease the angle of deviation4 ,these remarks of course apply equally to cannons1 and with them also compensation is used in order to control the movement of ball #b4 ,without a knowledge of the motions which may be communicated to a ball by a cue1 and the skill to apportion them at will1 no long break can be continued4 ,for the power to leave ball #b in a certain position or direction is often a necessity2 hence1 whilst the actual stroke is made1 that ball must be struck sometimes on one spot1 sometimes on another1 and therefore compensation must be supplied for the variation of aim4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,consider a right-angle screw stroke4 ,in fig4 #c let #a1 #b1 #c be the balls2 if played half-ball1 ,r will be the point of impact between balls #a and #b1 therefore the path of ball #b will be in the direction ,r ,p4 ,but suppose for some reason it is desired that ball #b should travel towards ,p4 ,then impact must be at ,r1 and1 this being fuller than before1 ball #b will travel faster and ball #a slower1 if the strength of the two strokes is the same4 ,but as ball #b is struck fuller1 less screw is required1 and therefore ball #a need not be hit so low4 ,here the additional fulness on ball #b is compensated for by a diminution of screw1 and the cannon is made2 were the screw kept the same as that necessary when impact was at ,r1 ball #a would return to some such position as #a1 and the cannon would be missed4 ,again1 suppose that it is wished to send ball #b towards ,p2 ,r must be the point of impact1 and that makes the stroke so fine that ball #b will travel much more slowly1 and ball #a as much faster2 hence1 to get the cannon1 ball #a must be struck extremely low to compensate for the loss of recoil occasioned by taking ball #b so fine4 ,so1 if it be desired to make ball #b in this case travel as far as before1 additional strength must be used to compensate for the fineness of the stroke4 ,this example shows the principles involved2 working them out and applying them correctly to particular strokes is a matter of practice and experience1 without which theoretical knowledge is useless or nearly so for purposes of play4 ,another common illustration of the principle of compensation is the drag stroke1 which was explained at p4 #aig4 ,as the ball is hit more and more below the centre according to the length of the path to be travelled1 so must greater strength be used to compensate for the loss of naturally developed rotation2 and1 conversely1 when that rotation is too powerful1 or when there is special need for accuracy of path1 or necessity for diminishing the travel after impact with ball #b1 compensation is given in the form of retrograde rotation by striking ball #a below the centre4 ,it is hardly necessary to give more examples1 the great matter being to direct attention to the general principles which govern the conversion of strokes1 and to make the player inquire why he attempts a stroke in a certain way4 ,when he begins to do this and can solve such questions satisfactorily1 the power will soon follow to realise at sight the compensations which he must apply to each stroke as it occurs in order to continue a successful break2 and then1 as in other matters affecting us1 the value of calm sound judgment becomes apparent4 ,in almost every stroke in a break some compensation or other is used in order to control the paths of the balls4 ,strength is substituted for side or vice vers2 screw is increased or diminished according to the fineness or fulness of the stroke1 which in turn involves variation in strength1 and so on2 substitution of one element of a stroke for another is constant1 even though the player may scarcely appreciate the fact4 ,illustration3 ,when player's ball is near a cushion ,,chapter ,,viii ,,the ,,spot ,,stroke ,hitherto the theory of the game and the strokes recommended for practice have been such as are required in learning to play a sound and perhaps old-fashioned game1 that of an amateur in distinction to that of a professional player4 ,but in dealing with the spot stroke a wholly new field is entered2 much more severe and constant practice is needed if any real measure of success is to be attained1 and if this cannot be bestowed the amateur would act wisely in never sacrificing an opening at the ordinary game for the sake of the spot4 ,if he does so he will assuredly verify the truth of the old saying1 that the spot has lost far more games to ordinary players than it has ever won4 ,still1 it stands unrivalled as practice in winning hazards combined with getting position for another similar stroke2 and even moderate familiarity with its variations and their results is of much advantage to the average player who cannot give the time and attention needed for their complete mastery4 ,hence he is recommended to practise the stroke as much as possible1 and when some certainty in its execution is reached to take advantage of his knowledge and skill when favourable opportunities present themselves in games2 but cautioned not to neglect ordinary openings for the sake and on the chance of making a few spots4 ,it is difficult to say when that stage is reached at which it may be sound policy to throw up an ordinary for the sake of a spot break4 ,circumstances vary so much 7and prudence must take them all into consideration7 that what is wise in one case may be foolish in another1 whilst it should never be forgotten that1 as a rule1 failure to make the hazard results in an easy break for the adversary4 ,taking a considerable class of amateurs1 those who can occasionally make breaks of thirty1 and who perhaps once or twice in a season make fifty1 their average score is probably nearer four than five--that is1 they take nearer twenty-five than twenty innings to score a hundred4 ,now at first sight it would seem that as soon as a player of this class was fairly certain of making three or four hazards he might reasonably discard the ordinary for the spot game1 because such a break would be double or treble his average2 but he would scarcely find it advantageous to do so2 for1 having made say four spots and failed at the fifth1 he would leave the red ball over a pocket1 so that an equal opponent was nearly sure of three1 and might get six1 in addition to the chance of making his average four4 ,hence the advantage is largely discounted1 but very little more than four hazards as a measure of spot play will give the man who can make them a distinct superiority4 ,he does not play the all-round game worse because he can make from six to ten spots2 quite the contrary1 and soon experience will act as a safe guide when to make use of them and when to play the ordinary game4 ,if an amateur improves on this and becomes capable of making ten spots commonly and twenty occasionally1 he passes into a higher class2 the average of such a player would probably be seven or eight1 and he has reached a stage to maintain which constant practice is required4 ,beyond this the amateur becomes gradually so merged in the professional that it is difficult to define the differences in their play1 the excellence of which mainly depends on their state of training4 ,this is specially true in respect to spot play2 the late ,william ,cook1 whose delicacy of touch was unrivalled1 has recorded that if he ceased to practise even for a week his execution suffered4 ,so it will be readily understood that an inferior player1 whose practice is much less1 soon loses touch1 and is very apt to hurt his game rather than benefit it by too persistent employment of this particular stroke4 ,illustration3 ,the ,long ,rest4 ,on the other hand1 the general game is greatly assisted by improvement in making winning hazards1 and hence practice of spot play1 though wholly insufficient for producing a spot stroke player1 may yet vastly improve the all-round game4 ,without it the modern game played at the top of the table is impossible2 that being1 in fact1 merely a development of spot play into which the element of cannons has been introduced1 whilst the number of consecutive winning hazards is limited4 ,again1 of all breaks made on the table none is more genuine1 none owes less to chance1 than a series of spots2 and it is far from impossible that its monotony1 as it is called1 does not in a great measure arise from the absence of luck4 ,partly1 at any rate1 from this1 and partly because the complaint of monotony was judiciously fanned by those whose performances at this stroke were not of the highest order1 spot play fell out of fashion1 and in the present state of public knowledge and education in matters concerning billiards it is not likely to resume the position it legitimately held for many years4 ,as has happened to the spot stroke1 so in course of time and with far more reason will cushion nurseries of cannons be in turn abandoned2 but what will take their place it is difficult to say4 ,it may1 however1 be safely affirmed that the former1 having genuine value1 will continue to influence the game1 and consequently will be practised2 whilst the latter1 being made by trick1 of little service beyond the continuation of the series1 will when once discarded perish for ever4 ,the positions and their variations from which the spot stroke should be practised have been defined in most books on billiards1 amongst which the treatises by ,bennett1 ,cook1 and a small volume by ,mr4 ,j4 ,p4 ,buchanan may be mentioned4 ,there is no new position to illustrate1 and even the modes of play do not greatly vary1 though where one player will elect to get position from two cushions1 another will obtain it from one4 ,and it is well to remark here that perhaps in no strokes do the different qualities of ivory and bonzoline balls make themselves so evident2 whilst with ivories in a certain position a following stroke off two cushions would be the preferable mode of playing1 with bonzoline balls it would undoubtedly be better to play a stab from one cushion only4 ,in some strokes the advantage clearly lies with ivory1 in others as clearly with bonzoline2 and so it may be said than on the whole the merits of either sort of ball are about equal4 ,but bonzoline is cheaper1 and can be got more uniformly accurate in shape and weight1 hence it is not unlikely to supersede ivory in a great measure2 therefore1 a mention of the differences of behaviour as a warning to players is not out of place in this chapter4 ,it is of course understood that some sets of bonzoline balls are more like ivory in behaviour than others1 and then the warning is scarcely required2 but in other sets the difference is marked and cannot safely be neglected4 ,when playing it is better to adhere to one or the other sort of balls1 and to practise with the kind selected4 ,it is also desirable to practise each position and variation separately till confidence is acquired1 and then gradually try to make breaks4 ,it will often be found that1 after certain positions have been fairly mastered1 the work at a new one will cause the student to forget what he has learnt1 and to fail when an old position recurs4 ,for this there is no remedy save practice4 ,the same thing occurs in other strokes1 and those whose memory is retentive have no doubt a great advantage over those who soon forget1 and the only way in which the latter class can at all compensate for their defect is by working harder and longer at each stroke4 ,by resolute labour they may bring themselves on a par with their more fortunately constituted brethren4 ,it is an ordinary experience that at one time a player excels at winning hazards1 at another he succeeds with every follow1 whilst he fails with every screw2 again1 he will find much certainty in playing fine strokes one day1 whilst the next he can do none but the simplest of that sort4 ,so it is with the spot stroke1 and against failure there is no remedy but hard work1 involving not improbably a return to the simplest one-ball practice to correct inaccurate delivery of the cue4 ,in playing or practising the spot1 the cue should be constantly chalked1 or the requisite delicacy of touch will be lost1 and miss-cues will result2 side should never be used when the stroke is possible without it1 for the actual hazard is by its use at once made a difficult stroke4 ,stab or screw are much safer because the cue is delivered on the central vertical line of ball #a1 and they can in a great measure supersede side1 but there are strokes in which the latter is obligatory4 ,again1 contrary to what is often recommended1 a free style of stroke is1 we believe1 to be preferred to very great delicacy4 ,the latter is often the result of timidity or nervousness1 which is sure to be soon fatal to accuracy2 it also places the player far more at the mercy of untrue balls or table4 ,readers whose experience dates from the early seventies will understand precisely what is meant if they recall the play of ,william ,cook and ,john ,roberts1 junior4 ,when balls1 table1 and player were all that could be desired1 ,cook's delicacy of play gave him a distinct advantage at the spot2 but let any little disturbing element intervene1 and ,roberts's freedom of stroke carried all before it4 ,it was a far better style for lasting1 and rendered him far less dependent on absolute perfection of implements4 ,it is just the same in other strokes--trying to be too clever1 too delicate in strength1 is not to be recommended2 in nursery cannons it results in leaving the balls touching after every third or fourth stroke1 whereas a firmer delivery of cue will result in a far longer break4 ,no doubt the general fault of beginners is to play too hard1 and the reason is obvious2 brute force in all things precedes science4 ,but excessive strength is found often to cause disaster1 and when that is realised1 and the student has learnt how to compensate for strength1 he is very apt to fall into the opposite extreme1 and to play in too slow and hesitating a manner4 ,of two players1 there is more hope for the one who strikes rather too freely than for the other who just fails from want of strength1 for the man who is too quick rather than for the man who is too slow4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,the limits within which it is prudent to confine spot play may be roughly ascertained from the accompanying figure4 ,s is the spot1 ,s ,p and ,s ,p being the paths which the red ball should travel1 in order that the pocket1 which is somewhat blind1 should be enlarged as much as possible by directing the red ball to the shoulders of cushions #b and #f1 thereby avoiding the dangerous shoulders of cushion #a4 ,a ,a is a straight line passing through the spot parallel to cushion #a4 ,s ,b and ,s ,b are prolongations of the paths of the red ball1 so that if ball #a be placed on either line1 the hazard is played full ball1 ,s ,c and ,s ,c are each #fj from ,a ,a1 leaving an angle of #fj1 ,c ,s ,c1 in which the spot cannot be played4 ,within the remaining angles1 ,a ,s ,c and ,a ,s ,c1 the stroke may be considered possible1 but the practical limits are much smaller4 ,it is unwise to attempt to lay them down dogmatically1 for those which are right for one man are wrong for another1 and therefore advice must be general4 ,perhaps the simplest definition is to recommend that play be confined within the dotted lines ,s ,d and ,s ,e on one side and ,s ,d and ,s ,e on the other2 ,d1 ,d1 it will be seen1 are but very slightly below the line ,a ,a1 and ,s ,e1 ,s ,e are at angles of #ej with ,a ,a1 the arcs ,d ,e1 ,d ,e being #ah in4 from ,s4 ,within these limits endeavour should be made to leave ball #a after each stroke as nearly as possible on the lines ,b ,s or ,b ,s1 and from six inches to a foot distant from ,s4 ,it is just as bad a fault in spot play to get too near the red as to get too far from it2 in fact1 of the two1 it is1 in the same way as the extremely soft play already referred to1 the more objectionable1 for a very slight error of strength will result in the loss of position4 ,spot hazards may be conveniently divided into those above the full ball strokes on the lines ,b ,p1 ,b ,p and those below4 ,of the former there are two classes1 the drop stroke and the stab follow4 ,the limits are marked as before1 ,d1 ,d and ,e1 ,e4 ,commence with a stroke on the limit line from ,d to ,s1 and place ball #a about eight inches to a foot from the spot1 ball #b 7the red7 on the spot4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,play ball #a rather below centre1 a gentle ,no4 #a1 the strength being just sufficient to carry ball #b into the pocket2 ball #a after the stroke will rest in a position near #a4 ,this stroke can be played in a variety of ways1 but the plain stroke is unquestionably the best4 ,if there is much nap on the cloth1 right side may be used in the hope that the ball's path will curve towards cushion #a1 and if there is little nap the reverse or left side will have a tendency to keep ball #a up the table2 but in either case the difficulty of making the hazard is greatly enhanced by the use of side1 and the advantage is microscopic in the extreme4 ,the next stroke is an easy one1 consequently the position is good for play4 ,instead of placing ball #a on the limit line from ,d to the spot1 place it above1 between the lines ,d ,s and ,b ,s4 ,this is also a plain drop stroke1 but as ball #b must be struck fuller1 it may be played with greater freedom4 ,place ball #a as directed1 eight inches to a foot from the spot1 ball #b on the spot4 ,play ball #a centre1 a gentle stroke on ball #b2 the former will follow through and come to rest about #a1 a position somewhat similar to that played from1 but on the other side of the table4 ,the first point to ascertain is the correct division of ball #b1 and the next is so to regulate the strength that ball #a should remain within a foot of the spot4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,the stroke shown in fig4 #d is played differently from the preceding ones1 and requires a little making4 ,ball #a is placed between its position in the last stroke and the line ,b ,p for a full ball4 ,it is1 indeed1 only so far from that line that a screw back would cause position to be lost4 ,place ball #a as directed at the same distance from ball #b as before4 ,play a gentle stab on ball #a rather below centre2 ball #b1 being struck nearly full1 will acquire most of the velocity1 whilst ball #a will follow slowly through and obtain position on the other side of the table4 ,the further ball #a is from #b the harder must the stroke be played1 and the nearer the softer2 indeed1 when ball #a is within six inches the stab is scarcely required2 a medium ,no4 #a strength one-quarter low will suffice4 ,the stab or screw corrects the tendency ball #a has to follow straight after ball #b4 ,if it did so position would be lost4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,when ball #a is moved further down the table than the position described in the previous example1 so as to be on the line ,b ,p1 the stroke is evidently full1 as the hazard is perfectly straight4 ,position is retained by screw back4 ,place ball #a as shown eight to ten inches from ball #b1 and in direct line for the corner pocket4 ,play ball #a one-half low1 a medium ,no4 #a strength full on ball #b1 which should be pocketed1 whilst ball #a should return on the line ,s ,b4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,though this stroke seems very easy1 yet no position for the spot requires longer and more careful practice4 ,at first1 beginners will find that they cannot make two similar hazards in succession2 either ball #a will have left the line ,s ,b1 or it will have travelled on it too short or too great a distance from the spot4 ,these errors can only be cured by practice4 ,if the screw back is not straight1 ball #b has not been struck full1 and for correction it is as well to remove ball #b to another part of the table1 say the pyramid spot1 where there is no question of making a hazard1 and there playing solely for trueness of screw back4 ,after delivery1 keep the cue exactly in position2 it should then point absolutely to the centre of the pyramid spot1 and ball #a should return to the tip4 ,strict practice in this way is not wasted2 the power of regulating the screw to compensate for strength is most valuable1 and in time the student will find1 to his satisfaction and profit1 that with a very gentle stroke he can screw far enough back for another chance1 and that the certainty of the hazard is greater as the strength decreases4 ,as in other similar strokes1 the further ball #a is from ball #b the more strength is necessary4 ,when by misadventure ball #a remains on the straight line1 but very near ball #b1 play may be continued by a piqu2 struck gently down1 the cue's axis being #fj or more with the surface of the table1 ball #a will return as before along ,s ,b or sufficiently near that line to leave another spot stroke4 ,again1 if similarly left very close to ball #b1 but slightly out of the straight line for the pocket1 the hazard may be made and position even may not be lost by use of the plant stroke described at p4 #bdf1 and exhibited on ,diagram ,,xii4 7p4 #bde74 ,we do not think this has ever been mentioned in any treatise on spot play1 and many persons who can make a considerable number of spots would consider the position lost were ball #a left as described and give a safety miss4 ,yet a little practice will prove that the hazard1 at any rate1 is not very difficult2 it is less easy to retain position1 for freedom of stroke1 amounting to double strength1 is generally required4 ,of the straight screw back there are two variations which require great delicacy of touch and accuracy of appreciation1 for side has to be used in compensation for a minute division of ball #b4 ,they occur when ball #a is left at a suitable distance from ball #b1 say1 from #d in4 to #i in41 not precisely on the straight line ,b ,p1 but very near it4 ,being off the line1 it is clear ball #b cannot be struck full1 but impact must be slightly to one side or other of the centre according to whether ball #a is above or below ,b ,p4 ,the divergence of return due to this slight division of ball #b may be counteracted by a minute allowance of side1 and the straight path may thus be regained4 ,or the screw back may be made without this compensation1 in which case ball #a will return either above or below the line ,b ,s1 whence1 though position for screw back may be lost1 spot play may be continued4 ,it has generally been usual to dismiss this straight screw back spot stroke somewhat contemptuously1 as too easy to require much comment1 an assumption which cannot be conceded4 ,the stroke has to be played harder than many other spot strokes1 and1 therefore1 greater accuracy is required4 ,the slightest inaccuracy or imperfection of balls is fatal unless the player is a master of no ordinary capacity1 and can1 by his skill1 apply the required compensations4 ,what can be done with it alone has been conclusively shown by the best performers of the day1 some of whom exhibit a marvellous power of retaining position directly behind the spot4 ,the writer has seen ,roberts do so with great ability2 but his performances at this special stroke have been eclipsed1 notably by ,sala1 who has made #ahf consecutive screw backs1 ,peall1 who has made #ahd1 and we believe ,memmott to have wonderful skill1 and to have made a much greater number of these strokes than any other player4#ag ,when ball #a is below the line ,b ,s1 and just so far from it that position cannot be retained by screwing back1 the stroke must be differently played4 ,place ball #a as shown below ,b ,s1 and distant a foot or so from the spot4 ,if the stroke were played full1 ball #b would just hit the dangerous shoulder of cushion #a4 ,that will suffice to give alignment1 which is of considerable importance for this hazard1 as freedom of stroke is required4 ,play ball #a one-half high1 free ,no4 #a strength or ,no4 #b1 on ball #b2 ball #a should follow through1 and1 returning from cushions #a and #b1 regain position on or near the line ,b ,s4 ,that is the simplest form of the stroke1 which is never an easy one1 and seems decidedly more difficult with bonzoline than with ivory balls2 the former requiring a stronger stroke to recover position1 and therefore endangering the success of the hazard4 ,when even thus but slightly out of the straight line1 some of the best players use side to compensate for strength1 an advantage1 doubtless1 if the hazard striking be very perfect4 ,yet for ordinary persons nothing is more difficult than to strike ball #b truly when ball #a is played with side2 hence we counsel practice of this position with follow1 but without side4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,a very small variation of the stroke1 however1 makes the use of side imperative4 ,if ball #a is near ball #b1 sufficient follow cannot be got on1 and position can only be retained by the use of direct side--that is1 playing from cushion #f1 right side2 this causes ball #a to shoot from cushion #a with increased velocity1 and at a different angle from that of incidence1 thereby impinging on cushion #b at a point above or nearer the pocket than it would otherwise have done4 ,the compensation for the side is a reduction of strength4 ,again1 if ball #a is a shade further from ,b ,s than the position shown and described for the plain follow1 the use of side becomes obligatory4 ,as ball #a is further from ball #b1 follow is less necessary1 or rather it becomes unnecessary to strike above the centre1 as developed rotation supplies the necessary follow4 ,this stroke1 and specially the variations which demand the use of side1 require long and constant practice1 and are always difficult4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,the position indicated in fig4 #g shows ball #a further down the table1 or from ,b ,s1 than that exhibited in the previous figure4 ,here1 with ivory balls it may still be possible to play off two cushions with a great deal of side2 but it is generally better1 certainly with bonzoline balls1 to obtain position from cushion #a only1 by means of a stab4 ,place ball #a as shown about eight to twelve inches from the spot2 play a stab through the centre downwards1 the angle of the cue being ten or fifteen degrees with the bed1 a free ,no4 #a strength4 ,ball #a will impinge on cushion #a1 and return in the direction indicated4 ,this stroke is not easy and requires considerable practice4 ,it is also difficult to determine when it should be played as a follow off two cushions and when as a stab from one4 ,no exact rule can be laid down2 one player will adopt one way1 another will choose another method4 ,it is clear that where follow with side off two cushions ends stab begins1 and therefore there is one position exactly between the two which may be played either way4 ,one's first impression or impulse is often a good guide1 with the reservation that ivory favours the follow1 whilst bonzoline favours the stab4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h ,similarly the stab is gradually merged into a perfectly plain stroke4 ,with ball #a further down the table than in the last example the stroke becomes easier4 ,as it is represented in fig4 #h nothing is required beyond the winning hazard and such regulation of strength as shall result in leaving another hazard from the opposite side of the table4 ,place the balls as shown2 play ball #a centre1 ,no4 #a strength1 on ball #b1 so as to make the winning hazard2 ball #a will return to position from cushion #a somewhat as indicated4 ,if it returns too straight back--that is1 too near the spot--in all probability ball #a has been struck either a little below the centre or slightly to the left4 ,the correction is obvious1 and a very small allowance will cause ball #a to come off the top cushion at a wider angle4 ,the stroke becomes more difficult the further ball #a is from ball #b1 because it must be played with greater strength1 which in turn may have to be controlled by delivering the cue rather under the centre4 ,as ball #a is placed further down the table1 it is evident that the winning hazard becomes finer till a point is reached at which position cannot be got from cushion #a by a plain stroke4 ,at first all that is required is to play the hazard with a little right side1 which causes ball #a to leave the top cushion at a sufficient angle2 but as that ball approaches the line ,e ,s 7the limit we have proposed for the spot stroke7 various modifications of play are introduced4 ,so long as the distance between balls #a and #b does not exceed a foot1 and the former is within the angle ,e ,s ,d1 the fine stroke with right-hand side may be played2 when the distance is greater1 or ball #a is on or very close to ,e ,s1 position is best gained by a gentle stab-screw1 whereby the ball returns from cushion #a1 as shown in fig4 #i4 ,different persons play this stroke and its variations--which are many--in different ways1 and it would be gratuitous to say that one way was right and another wrong4 ,so long as the hazard is made and a good position is left no one can condemn the stroke1 though one man may get position on one side of the spot and another man on the other side4 ,some players habitually use the reverse or left side if the stroke is played from cushion #f1 in order to keep sufficiently away from the spot2 but for reasons already given the use of side when attempting winning hazards is unadvisable4 ,sometimes it is obligatory1 and then the risk of missing the hazard must be taken1 for there is no doubt that even for the most accomplished hazard striker side greatly enhances the difficulty of the stroke4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i ,it is doubtful whether any further drawings are necessary to illustrate the spot stroke2 they could no doubt be multiplied almost indefinitely1 and one would be found to approach its neighbour so closely that even an educated eye and a much more elaborately drawn set of plates than those possible on the present scale would fail to detect the difference4 ,the stroke must be taught by a master1 and should occasionally be practised under his supervision1 when much that is difficult to make clear on paper will at once become evident1 and the variations of strokes 7that is1 those which are intermediate between the examples here given7 may usefully be set up and played4 ,it may be desirable to say that in each of the figures the nomenclature of fig4 #a has been retained3 the letters ,d1 ,d and ,e1 ,e representing the limits within which the stroke lies1 and ,b ,p1 ,b ,p are always the straight lines through the spot to the pocket4 ,the lines ,d ,s1 ,e ,s1 c41 have been omitted in order that the figures may not be needlessly complicated4 ,it is of course understood that the strokes should be made from both sides of the table1 and it will very likely be found that whereas1 playing from one side1 there is a tendency to strike ball #b rather full1 from the other side the error is just reversed4 ,this may partly arise from physical peculiarity--may be1 in fact1 an evidence of the personal equation or error of observation which everyone has to some extent--but it will often arise from error in the cue's delivery1 and1 if so1 will be greatly improved1 if not wholly eliminated1 by reversion to one-ball practice to secure truth of the centre stroke4 ,before leaving the spot stroke the methods usually adopted to continue the break or to obtain safety must be noticed4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,when ball #a1 failing to regain position1 is left above the spot1 or nearer to the top cushion than the spot1 several alternatives are presented4 ,if for any reason it is wished to continue spot play1 the hazard may be made with strength to cause ball #a to return to position after going round the table and striking at least three cushions4 ,this stroke1 though not so difficult as it may at first sight seem1 is not to be recommended1 chiefly because getting the exact strength must be to a great extent a matter of luck4 ,also when the necessary strength is used the hazard is very uncertain4 ,it is more or less a fancy stroke which greatly delights the gallery1 and is illustrated in ,diagrams ,i4 and ,,ii42 ,peall usually plays off three cushions1 whilst ,mitchell generally uses five4 ,it is much sounder play1 when possible1 to drop the red into the pocket and lie near cushion #b for a losing hazard 7see fig4 #aj72 and if that be impossible or very doubtful1 then a miss in baulk or a double baulk should be played4 ,the latter stroke1 or one of the same type1 will be hereafter explained when dealing with safety4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj ,this chapter may be closed--as1 indeed1 it was commenced--by reiterating the opinion that1 whether the all-in game be tabooed as monotonous or not1 the spot stroke is1 and1 as far as can be seen1 must remain1 of first-rate importance in modern billiards1 and its study and practice will well repay such thought and work as may be bestowed on it4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,safety ,,and ,,baulk ,,play ,the subject of this chapter1 though of very great importance1 is unquestionably of much less interest than the consideration of making strokes1 just as in war attack is preferred to defence4 ,yet no general is fit for command who does not well understand defensive tactics1 and in the same way a billiard-player must often play a defensive game4 ,in the first place1 such a game is advisable when the adversary is a stronger player2 he presumably will give points1 and almost certainly will try to force the game1 which may often be saved by prudent play4 ,again1 when in possession of a great lead a defensive rather than an enterprising game is to be recommended2 whereas1 if behind1 every reasonable endeavour to score and get a break should be made4 ,it is a difficult matter to say how far a cautious game should be advised1 for whilst prudence is praiseworthy1 timidity1 or cushion-crawling1 as it is termed1 is contemptible4 ,speaking generally1 and considering average people1 it may be said that if there is a small stake on the game1 or if1 what is in effect the same thing1 the loser has to pay for the table1 quite sufficient caution will usually be shown3 whereas where there is neither stake nor payment great laxity in playing is likely to result4 ,the same thing is seen in professional play2 nowadays there is rarely a genuine match1 the stakes are more or less imaginary1 and the consequence is that the strict game suffers if it seems to interfere with taking gate-money4 ,one evil effect of general laxity of play1 neglect of etiquette1 and so on1 is that if occasion should arise for a serious game caution is very likely to be completely overdone1 and a better player may1 by adopting over-cautious tactics1 actually throw the game into the hands of a more ignorant performer4 ,no doubt1 as in most other things1 a middle course between temerity and timidity is best4 ,it may be said that safety should be played for when there is no reasonable chance of making a score2 and from this it follows that an inferior player should often content himself with giving a safe miss when a superior player may try to continue the game4 ,safety is sought for in many ways1 but with the majority of amateurs is more often the result of accident than of design4 ,the simplest form1 and that which is most familiar1 is exhibited at the opening strokes of a game4 ,the person who commences has the red ball on the spot1 and may play at it if he please2 but he rarely does so1 preferring to give a miss in baulk4 ,the adversary then has all the chances which the other player had1 with the addition of those of a cannon2 yet1 unless the latter be very tempting1 he too follows suit with a miss below the middle pocket1 choosing the right or left so as to leave the squarer angle and more difficult score4 ,sometimes there is a good deal of fencing for the first opening1 and whenever a miss is given endeavour should be made so to place ball #a that not only is it difficult to score off1 but that at the same time the adversary is forced to try for a stroke beyond his powers1 or at any rate to disturb the position4 ,he is then at a disadvantage1 for he cannot give a miss because the other player has an easy stroke on the balls1 and if he fails to score a good opening may be left4 ,in giving a miss endeavour should always be made to place ball #a in a commanding position1 as well as in safety4 ,all misses must be played with the point of the cue1 and it is often advisable1 if a careless player gives the miss otherwise1 to insist on his making the stroke over again in the proper way4 ,another general rule is that when playing a miss back into baulk it is advisable to play from one or more cushions rather than direct for the desired position4 ,the stroke may thus be played stronger1 and the danger of failing to reach baulk is avoided4 ,another mode of playing for safety is to make a double or single baulk when the opponent's ball is in hand2 and there is yet a third mode1 respecting which it is difficult to write1 but which exists none the less1 and that is so to regulate play that if failure to score should result as little as possible is left4 ,such a game1 though fatal1 we imagine1 to anything like free play and long breaks1 is yet very effective amongst players of moderate capacity4 ,it will not1 however1 be seriously disputed that excessive safety play and use of obstructive tactics tend to alienate the sympathy of spectators1 often most unjustifiably2 witness the delight with which the public welcome a score in baulk from a safety miss1 even when success is gained by the most palpable fluke4 ,they seem to say1 #8,serve the cautious man right for his timidity'2 and the only persons who appear to hold other views are those who have backed the prudent though unfortunate player4 ,whilst on the subject of safety1 it is well to consider the question of pocketing the adversary's ball1 and giving a miss in baulk4 ,this mode of play is generally resented1 and it is at best a confession of weakness2 yet there are times when it is the game1 and should be played1 and the outcry against it should be promptly put down4 ,it is one of those matters in which sentiment is allowed to outweigh expediency4 ,yet no wise man will neglect sentiment2 and it is probably better to lose a few games by not availing oneself of the unpopular stroke than to gain them and lose the goodwill of the company4 ,nevertheless1 there are times when a man may be greatly blamed for omitting to take advantage of the opening2 for example1 if his score is #ie out of #ajj1 and he has the opportunity of putting his adversary down and giving a double baulk1 should he neglect to do so and1 in consequence1 lose the game1 neither he nor his backers are likely to be pleased4 ,so1 perhaps1 though sentiment is strong1 business is stronger1 and each may prevail at different times and under different circumstances without offence4 ,a few examples of safety and baulk strokes will be found in the following diagrams3 ,diagram ,i4--,ball #b1 say the red1 safe near cushion #a2 ball #a as shown near cushion #f1 ball #c in hand4 ,play ball #a a plain medium ,no4 #a strength against cushion #c1 whence it will impinge on cushion #d1 and travel in the direction indicated4 ,even if ball #a occupy the position #a1 it is still advisable to give a miss in baulk by striking cushion #c in the first instance4 ,diagram ,,ii43 ,example ,a4--,ball #a in hand2 ball #b over right top pocket2 ball #c or #c angled for ball #b1 which is supposed to be the red4 ,ball #a should be played a ,no4 #a strength to the top cushion to rest near ball #b1 where it cannot be directly struck by ball #c4 ,the best chance of disturbing the arrangement is to play ball #c off cushion #e or #f4 ,example ,b4--,balls #b and #c as shown1 the former being the red2 ball #a in hand4 ,there is a certain winning hazard from ball #c on ball #b1 and if ball #a has to play he should give a miss out of baulk1 but directly in line with balls #b and #c1 and as close to the latter as possible4 ,the hazard is then much cramped4 ,unless the balls are all close1 a miss of this sort would be imprudent1 for several solutions of the difficulty would present themselves to the player of ball #c4 ,diagram ,,iii43 ,example ,a4--,ball #b near or touching cushion #a as shown2 ball #a conveniently near it2 ball #c in hand4 ,play ball #a a low screw on ball #b1 rather fuller than half-ball1 but carefully avoid a kiss1 with strength about ,no4 #b4 ,ball #a will remain under cushion #a1 whilst ball #b is doubled to baulk4 ,this is an excellent type of stroke1 for by means of the screw ball #a returns to the cushion further from the pocket than ball #b1 and is almost always perfectly safe4 ,example ,b4--,balls #a and #b as shown2 ball #c in hand4 ,play ball #a1 with right side1 a gentle stroke on ball #b1 fine1 so as to cut the latter towards the right bottom pocket2 ball #a will come off cushion #c and rest in baulk4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iii4 ,diagram ,,iv4--,a very useful type of stroke is here exhibited4 ,when playing the spot stroke1 position is often practically lost by ball #a remaining very near the line ,a ,a parallel to cushion #a1 either above or below it1 at such a distance from ball #b as to make the hazard very dangerous4 ,similarly1 in top of the table play1 the loss of the adversary's ball1 whilst ball #a is left somewhat as shown1 necessitates safety play4 ,ball #c being in hand1 two courses are open for ball #a2 either it may be played into baulk in the way shown on ,diagram ,i41 or the double baulk1 which is not difficult1 may be played4 ,it is thus made3 ball #a three-quarters right about ,no4 #c strength on ball #b1 one-quarter right2 the paths indicated will be approximately followed4 ,the usual fault with this stroke is to play too full on ball #b4 ,if played fine with freedom and a little right side to ensure impact on cushion #e1 and to avoid cushion #f1 the stroke will generally be successful4 ,a little difference in the position of ball #a does not materially alter the stroke1 which should be played until the winning hazard and position may be tried with reasonable chance of success4 ,play the stroke from both sides of the table till confidence is gained4 ,diagram ,v4--,what is said of the last stroke applies for the most part to this one1 the difference being that ball #a is above the line ,a ,a4 ,to make a double baulk1 play ball #a one-half low and right1 about ,no4 #c strength1 on ball #b1 between one-half and one-quarter left4 ,a little practice will show that there is considerable margin in the division of ball #b1 within which the double baulk may be made2 consequently the paths travelled by the two balls will diverge materially from those shown1 which are for ball #b about one-quarter left1 or a rather fine stroke4 ,ball #a may be moved either nearer the spot or nearer cushion #a1 and the stroke may still be made1 its limit being1 of course1 when the winning or losing hazard into the right top pocket becomes worth playing4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iv4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,v4 ,diagram ,,vi4--,two very useful and very common types of double baulk strokes are here shown2 they should1 like most of the other strokes1 be practised on either side of the table till they can be made with certainty4 ,ball #b need not be touching the cushion2 some variation of play is required as it is moved away1 but not more than may be left to the intelligence of the reader who has thus far followed the advice given in this volume4 ,in practice it will be found that the method of play shown for ,example ,a holds good when ball #b is close to the baulk-line1 and for a certain distance above it when the other mode of play comes in4 ,with ivory balls #ah in4 above baulk may be considered the limit within which the stroke ,a should be confined2 after that1 and up to the middle pocket1 the double baulk should be made as shown at ,b4 ,with bonzoline balls the limit of the former stroke is considerably extended1 but the #ah in4 limit1 though it may easily be passed1 will be found safe with any balls4 ,the double baulk may be made with extraordinary differences of stroke2 the ball which has to travel round the table may impinge on cushion #a anywhere from the point ,p towards the right2 but it is advantageous so to play that impact with the cushion shall be to the right of the spot in order that the chance of the ball catching the corners of or entering the right middle pocket may be avoided4 ,example ,a4--,ball #b 7the red7 near cushion #e as shown1 within #ah in4 above the baulk-line1 ball #a in hand4 ,place ball #a towards the right of baulk2 play one-half right ,no4 #c strength on ball #b one-quarter right2 it will return from cushion #e towards the right bottom pocket2 ball #a1 after impact with cushions #e1 #a1 and #b1 will enter baulk towards the left bottom pocket4 ,the finer ball #b is struck1 the nearer to cushion #e will it come into baulk1 and the less strength is required1 which1 however1 must be compensated for by more side4 ,example ,b is in a way the converse of ,a1 for ball #a performs the short and ball #b the long journey to baulk4 ,place ball #b as shown #ah in4 or further from the baulk-line1 ball #a towards the left spot of baulk4 ,play ball #a from one-half to three-quarters low ,no4 #c strength on ball #b about three-quarters left 7as full as possible without the kiss72 it will rebound from cushion #e1 and after touching cushions #a and #b will enter baulk in the direction of the left bottom pocket2 ball #a will return from cushion #e towards the right bottom pocket4 ,this stroke can be made when ball #b is a little above the middle pocket1 but it requires execution and is too risky to be recommended4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vi4 ,diagram ,,vii4--,when the red represented by ball #b is above the middle pocket as shown1 a double baulk may be made1 and the stroke is worth working at for the sake of acquiring some certainty in striking ball #b with freedom fuller than half-ball4 ,it is not in reality a very difficult stroke1 but it is not one to be recommended at critical moments1 when the simplest solution would usually be to play back into baulk4 ,yet there are times when it is obligatory to hit the red ball1 as for example when the adversary is within one point of game2 and since with practice the stroke may be successfully made three out of four times1 and a person who has once mastered it is1 even if out of practice1 more likely to make it than to fail1 it should in such a case be played4 ,suppose ball #b to be placed as shown1 exact position by measurement being unnecessary2 balls #a and #c are off the table and the former is to play4 ,place ball #a on the baulk-line for a three-quarters follow stroke on ball #b1 so that it may strike cushion #a well to the right of the spot4 ,the diagram1 though without pretension to absolute accuracy1 will serve as a guide4 ,play ball #a centre or rather higher a free ,no4 #c or ,no4 #d strength on ball #b three-quarters left1 or slightly fuller1 which will then impinge on cushions #b1 #a1 and #f1 entering baulk in the direction of the right bottom pocket4 ,ball #a will after impact follow through ball #b to cushion #a and return thence to baulk4 ,the stroke is a pretty one1 and its practice is interesting4 ,another type of baulk stroke is shown in ,diagram ,,viii4 ,it is clear that the single baulk would be simpler than the double1 for by playing a more or less full stab on ball #b it would of necessity run into baulk1 whilst ball #a would remain near the position which ball #b occupied4 ,but the double baulk is not difficult4 ,place the balls as in the diagram1 play ball #a one-half high with left side1 a free ,no4 #b full 7if anything to the left of full7 on ball #b1 which will after striking cushion #f travel towards the right bottom pocket2 ball #a1 following through ball #b1 will strike cushion #f at the same place1 but by reason of the follow and side will shoot off at a different angle1 keeping nearer cushion #e4 ,when ball #a approaches position #a1 the stroke is similarly made1 but must be played a little harder1 for ball #b will strike cushion #c near ,p1 and thence enter baulk4 ,this class of stroke may be set up on either side of the table almost anywhere between baulk and the top4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vii4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,viii4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ix4 ,there are1 of course1 numerous other positions whence a double baulk may be played1 either with or without the help of a cushion2 but the examples given will1 it is hoped1 be sufficient to show how in positions where the mode of play is not self-evident the strokes should be attempted4 ,as a general rule1 endeavour should be made to leave the player's ball and the red some distance apart1 in order that the adversary may find it difficult to score from a cushion1 or to disturb a comfortable arrangement4 ,a useful set of strokes for such score or disturbance is shown in ,diagram ,,ix4 ,the three variations should be practised1 and then if in a game some intermediate stroke may be required1 the player will be able to judge where to place his ball4 ,the angle of return can also be controlled by the strength4 ,let balls #b and #c be in baulk as shown1 and ball #a be in hand4 ,it is desired to disturb balls #b and #c with the chance of scoring4 ,play ball #a from the right corner of the 1 centre on a point ,p about seven inches from the right top pocket1 ,no4 #b strength2 it will rebound from cushions #a and #b1 and following a path similar to that shown have a very fair chance of cannoning from ball #b to ball #c4 ,again1 place ball #a on the centre spot of the marked #a2 play as before on ,p a free ,no4 #b1 and it will arrive at a point about #b4 ,and1 lastly1 place ball #a on the left corner of the marked #a2 play ,no4 #c strength on ,p1 and it will return to #b and have a chance of cannoning on #c4 ,if these strokes are mastered they give a wide scope for the disturbance of certainties left in baulk1 for they can be played from either end of cushion #a1 and if balls #b and #c are missed1 ball #a has generally sufficient strength to carry it some distance up the table4 ,,chapter ,x ,,breaks ,in ,chapter ,,iii4 the term break was explained as a continuous score1 or one made in unbroken succession1 and the definition is in a general sense accurate2 nevertheless1 it has amongst the better class of players a higher signification4 ,with them it means a succession of strokes each of which has been played for1 and so played that the next has been foreseen1 calculated1 and left as desired by the player4 ,that is to say1 a break to be perfect includes not merely making a stroke1 but the preparation for another to follow4 ,hence the difficulty of making any given stroke is enhanced by the need of thought and of modification in play1 in order that the balls may be favourably placed for the next attempt2 but1 on the other hand1 making the next stroke1 that is1 continuing the break1 is so much more certain after reasonable preparation1 as in the hands of even a moderate performer to more than counterbalance the drawback4 ,indeed1 in many cases it is as easy to play the stroke in the right way as in the wrong1 and the eye once educated selects the proper method without conscious effort1 so that the difficulty referred to is reduced to a minimum1 and the advantage correspondingly preponderates4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,serious ,,game3 ,,nursing ,,the ,,balls4 ,on the other hand1 the great majority of amateurs1 for whom the game is one of chance rather than of skill1 either will not or cannot give the necessary attention to master its rudiments2 consequently1 they cannot be said to play for breaks1 nor is it desirable that they should make the pretence4 ,they will score faster by concentrating their attention on the stroke before them1 and by implicitly trusting to ,providence for the next4 ,it is true that they never make a break in the higher sense of the word2 nevertheless1 they often succeed in putting together considerable scores and in defeating better players4 ,for persons of this class--and let it be clearly understood that there need be no cause for shame in belonging to it1 because many cannot give the time nor afford the money required for practice and professional supervision--a few general hints will suffice4 ,what is ridiculous is when they pretend to a knowledge they do not possess1 and ascribe their failures to playing for position1 a crime of which they are wholly guiltless4 ,beyond these there are an increasing number of persons who have grasped the idea of playing a break1 who desire to do so legitimately1 and who can give some time and attention to the game1 and now and then get a little professional instruction4 ,though such are undoubtedly in a higher class than the former1 it by no means follows that they invariably defeat them4 ,their breaks though played for may very probably not equal by half the scores made by the others2 indeed1 until decided progress has been made the difficulty before alluded to of providing for the leave will result in the immediate stroke being missed so often1 as to more than neutralise the benefits which arise from occasional success4 ,in time1 however1 the average play and rate of scoring of this higher class will surpass the performances of those first mentioned to such an extent that they can give a start of from one-fifth to one-fourth of the game4 ,the best players of this higher class soon reach the standard of what for want of a better definition may be called good club play4 ,that is to say1 few players in ,london clubs can give them points1 they make consistent scoring1 and under favourable circumstances may play #bej points in an hour4 ,this means a considerable aptitude for the game1 as well as some knowledge of it1 and more or less education4 ,in fact1 a standard has been attained which will be lost unless kept up by steady work4 ,comparatively speaking1 very few gentlemen pass beyond this stage1 and when they do they seldom play in clubs4 ,the reasons are obvious2 in the first place they cannot get the tables for sufficiently long games1 and they are liable in club-rooms to all manner of interruption fatal to continuity of play2 they further meet no opponents from whom they have anything to learn4 ,hence naturally they prefer to play elsewhere1 and they often attain to a very high standard of excellence in cases rivalling not without success high-class professional form4 ,it must not of course be overlooked that certain natural qualities should be possessed by the student if he is to become a fine player1 and also that men in every class as players may be fortunate enough to enjoy them4 ,they will always be useful1 and will often lead their possessor to victory when contending with a harder working but less gifted opponent4 ,the most important of all is perhaps good health1 for that covers a multitude of excellences2 good nerve1 good sight1 quick and sound judgment1 good temper4 ,a good figure1 too1 is of great advantage1 and it is better to be tall rather than short2 yet how many short men have been and are fine players4 ,but these advantages will not of themselves suffice to make a player2 intelligent practice and plenty of it are required1 and the fewer or weaker the natural qualities may be the more must they be reinforced by work--#8 force de forger en devient forgeron4' ,the system of classifying a player by means of his average break is a safe one1 provided that the average is calculated from a great many games1 and that the other person with whom comparison is made is averaged from the same number of games played under the same circumstances4 ,unless this is attended to results may mislead4 ,the average break is found by dividing the points scored by the number of visits to the table4 ,thus if a player scores a game of #ajj in #aj innings1 the initial miss of course counting as #a1 his average is #aj2 #bj innings give an average of #e2 #be an average of #d2 and so on4 ,this process if continued over a large number of games will give a result on which dependence may be placed4 ,but a little consideration will make it plain that unless the circumstances are very similar comparison between players based on their averages may be misleading2 one table is much easier than another2 one adversary plays an open game and gives many chances1 another plays for safety and leaves no opening time after time2 the size of the balls1 the temperature of the room and the light1 the order maintained1 and a variety of circumstances will affect the average1 and moreover affect it differently in different men4 ,hence care is necessary before assuming as a result of one or two observations that the average derived from them is trustworthy4 ,still it is less liable to mislead than unassisted observation1 and a man who desires to play a match with another and who knows his own average is considerably helped by taking the latter's average1 even if only from one or two games4 ,if prudent he will allow a good margin in his favour to meet the unforeseen1 for few things are more difficult to explain than personal questions concerning play and that most potent factor which we call luck4 ,as regards the first of these1 it is a matter of common experience that men play differently--indeed1 very differently--with different opponents4 ,one man's manner1 or style of play1 or what not1 is aggravating and irritating to another1 and the feeling need not be mutual2 yet the man affected will play many points behind his real game4 ,it is no exaggeration to say that there may be three men1 ,a1 ,b1 and ,c1 equal players1 yet a record over a great number of games might show that whereas ,a generally beat ,b and lost to ,c1 ,b on his part generally defeated ,c4 ,such an anomaly is of course more likely to be found where men are acquainted with each other--indeed1 without acquaintance personal peculiarities would not count for so much4 ,the second subject1 that of luck1 must be approached with much caution4 ,one person1 generally that one who is enjoying fortune's favours1 will say that in the long run1 as between man and man1 luck is even4 ,indeed1 he may go further and practically deny its existence1 affirming1 what is no doubt true1 that the laws of nature are not altered or suspended in favour of any player1 and that effect follows cause irrespective of personality4 ,another will declare that some men are habitually lucky1 and that with certain players his chances are better than with others4 ,there is truth probably in both contentions2 luck is more likely to be evenly divided between the players in a long than in a short game1 yet we think no close observer would care to deny that some men seem habitually lucky at billiards1 just as it is generally admitted that certain persons are good cardholders1 and1 again1 that other men appear to be more than averagely unfortunate4 ,the better the player the more ready is he usually to admit his obligations1 but as a rule1 though no less valuable1 they are not so evident as the palpable fluke of the weaker performer4 ,they consist of trifles1 so to speak1 which are summed up in the phrase #8a kindly run of the balls1' and enable the fortunate man to compile breaks and play with confidence1 feeling that nothing can go wrong1 whilst all the time1 no evident fluke being made1 he is credited with playing a fine game4 ,his unfortunate antagonist meanwhile can do nothing right2 even when by dint of cue power and science he pulls off one difficult stroke after another1 each leaves a more difficult one to follow1 till failure is inevitable4 ,and this is not all nor the worst2 for whereas ,fortunatus on failing to score leaves the balls safe or nearly so1 our unlucky friend can scarcely touch them without leaving one certainty after another2 finally1 when attempting some impossibility1 he makes the most undeniable fluke1 at which the spectators smile in appreciation1 whilst he is engaged in trying to solve the problem of why a fluke even should leave nothing to follow4 ,luck plays an important part in most breaks1 more in those all-round and what are called #8out in the country' than in top-of-the-table play1 and least of all in spot breaks4 ,with professional players it affects the results of games less evidently1 and probably absolutely less than with amateurs1 yet even with the former its power is immense4 ,if they fluke seldomer1 they make far more of each piece of luck4 ,for example1 the writer saw a match of #a1jjj up between two very fine players1 one of whom conceded the other a start of #ajj4 ,he gave the usual miss in baulk1 and his opponent attempted to screw in off the red4 ,he failed egregiously1 but drove the red round the table into a pocket1 whilst his own ball after a strange career settled down beautifully for spot play4 ,from this opening #ajj spots were made1 and the game when he broke down was called love1 #djd4 ,though play on both sides was of a very high order1 the lead thus obtained made the final result almost a certainty4 ,in dealing with breaks1 one other matter must be kept in mind2 it is very important1 and must influence anything we have to offer in the way of advice1 making that of necessity general rather than particular4 ,this is1 that what is the game for one man is not necessarily the game for another1 and that no very moderate break can be twice played alike even by the same man4 ,still there are general principles which cannot be neglected with impunity1 and attention to them will without doubt improve the chances of the most moderate performers4 ,more experienced players adhere to them almost unconsciously1 and some even are disposed to push them too far1 thus occasionally sacrificing the break in attempting too minute and too perfect control over the balls4 ,this is a rock on which many a game is wrecked1 specially by players of great delicacy of touch4 ,a freer player1 who recognises the futility of attempting too great precision1 but who at the same time never loses sight for an instant of the general principles which should guide him1 and whilst obeying them leaves minuti to take care of themselves1 is far more likely to steer clear of trouble and to get home first4 ,a few words may suffice on the subject of nerve1 a quality which is intimately connected with making breaks4 ,all men at times suffer from nervousness1 and its effect is paralysing2 judgment1 sight1 and muscular control are all affected1 in some instances one might say arrested4 ,nerve is probably closely allied to courage1 yet in many respects it is quite distinct2 and very often a player at billiards who is nervous has his failure unwarrantably attributed to what is expressively though inelegantly called funk4 ,yet the man is no more a coward than the hundreds are who if called upon to make a speech suddenly find their tongues if not their ideas paralysed2 he would face danger1 moral or physical1 with average intrepidity1 but still under certain circumstances his play breaks down and he collapses4 ,in so far as the question is between man and man--one person's nerve being greater than another's--we have nothing useful to say3 one man is taller or healthier or stronger than another1 so much the better for the fortunate man2 but much that is set down by thoughtless spectators to fear is in reality want of confidence1 which happily may be supplied by intelligent work4 ,that1 with ordinary care in living and with a resolution never to play for stakes which cannot be lost with complete equanimity1 is the remedy which will be found most effectual4 ,allied to this gain of confidence is the consideration of whether beginners should select for purposes of play a difficult or an easy table4 ,the question is open to argument1 and perhaps what may suit one man may not suit another4 ,but judging from personal experience and from professional advice respecting training for a match1 we should counsel commencing to learn on an easy rather than on a difficult table4 ,many persons have doubtless experienced the feeling that when they have made #bj1 #cj1 #dj1 #ej1 or some greater number of points1 they are on the way to making a break1 and therefore must be careful lest they should fail4 ,the thought is fatal1 and is quickly followed by collapse4 ,the best prevention is to become accustomed to making such breaks1 and that is most easily managed on a table where the pockets are not very difficult4 ,as one's powers improve so may tighter pockets be encountered1 but if the same game be played the limits of divergence of tables must be small4 ,half an inch or less in the width of a pocket necessitates a very material alteration of the game1 which need not at this moment be further particularised4 ,a point of interest concerning breaks which may just be mentioned is that1 although the tables and method of scoring in the ,french game are different from ours1 yet the standard attained by amateurs is1 compared with professional form1 much the same in each country4 ,in a rough way professionals may be said to score from ten to fifteen times more than amateurs3 that is1 of course1 comparing class with class in this way2 an indifferent amateur occasionally makes #be or #cj points1 so a professional of not very high class may sometimes make #bej to #dej1 whilst the amateur who can occasionally make #ajj to #aej is to his fellows what the professional is who can score from #a1jjj to #b1jjj4 ,a series of #ajj cannons is a very fine break for a ,french amateur1 so may #ajj points be said to be a long break for an ,english amateur1 though there are a few gentlemen of whom it may fairly be said that such a break is by no means unusual2 they1 however1 have decidedly passed from amateur to professional form4 ,now as regards playing for a break the way for instruction is cleared by the system on which practice has been recommended and strokes have been explained in previous chapters4 ,a careful reader cannot fail to have noticed that in almost every type of stroke described1 the position of the ball or balls after the stroke has been considered in a way second only to actual execution4 ,the application of the knowledge thus acquired must chiefly be left to the intelligence of the player1 who will1 when several strokes present themselves1 at once select either the easiest1 or that which promises to leave most1 according as he plays for a score or for the break4 ,still a few remarks may be of use to the very large class of players who cannot undertake close study of the game1 and if they seem to more advanced readers self-evident and unnecessary1 we must crave their indulgence and try to be brief4 ,an important point to keep in view is as far as possible after a losing hazard to leave the balls within the parallel lines ,p ,m1 ,q ,n 7see ,diagram ,i471 and then they will usually be well in play4 ,very often1 however1 one of the balls will be left beyond these lines and virtually safe2 when that is so1 an opportunity should be watched for1 and may sometimes be made1 to bring the other ball near to it1 so that by means of a cannon it may be moved from its unprofitable situation4 ,thus if the result of a few strokes has been to leave ball #c out of play near a side cushion1 ball #b being near the centre of the table and ball #a in hand1 the game is to continue the losing hazards till ball #b is so left that the cannon on ball #c bringing it into play is easy4 ,suppose ball #b to have been left exactly on the central longitudinal line of the table1 in which case it is clear that the losing hazards into the top pockets are exactly alike4 ,yet1 if ball #c is in the position shown1 play into one pocket will result in leaving the balls together1 whilst if the other pocket be thoughtlessly selected the balls will be separated4 ,first as a typical stroke let ball #b be placed on the centre spot2 the losing hazard into either top pocket is a known practice stroke 7see ,chapter ,v4 p4 #afd74 ,place ball #a for the half-ball hazard1 and play the stroke in the usual way1 when ball #b will stop near the left middle pocket1 and it is probable that either a hazard or cannon will be left4 ,the one serious danger of the stroke is that ball #b should run into the middle pocket and the break be lost2 even then a miss in baulk would leave its player with the best of the deal2 besides1 the mishap can be guarded against by being careful not to play on ball #b fuller than half-ball1 and with rather less strength than is required if a middle pocket loser were desired4 ,but if the hazard be made into the right top pocket1 then ball #b1 after contact with cushions #f and #a1 would stop near the right middle pocket on the opposite side of the table from ball #c4 ,this type of stroke or break should be played as indicated1 so long as ball #b strikes cushion #b first2 when ball #b is so far up the table that 7when the half-ball losing hazard is played7 it strikes cushion #a first1 then the hazard should be made into the right top pocket4 ,this will be at once seen by placing ball #b on the pyramid spot1 ball #c being as before4 ,place ball #a on the left spot of the 1 and play the usual half-ball hazard into the right corner pocket2 ball #b will return from cushion #a towards ball #c4 ,place ball #a on the right spot of the 1 and play into the left corner pocket1 and ball #b will return towards cushion #b away from ball #c4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,again1 with ball #c as before1 but ball #b below the middle pockets1 with a hazard from baulk right and left1 ball #a in hand4 ,if the right middle pocket loser be played1 place ball #a for a fine rather than for a full stroke1 in order that ball #b may be cut towards ball #c2 if the left middle pocket be selected1 place ball #a for a full rather than for a fine stroke1 so that ball #b after impact with cushion #a may return to the left side of the table1 and admit of bringing ball #c into play4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,an excellent rule is to play known strokes in preference to inventions of the moment4 ,those who have practised the examples previously recommended will know with tolerable accuracy where ball #b is likely to stop1 at any rate in the commonest sort of plain strokes1 and it is well to profit by this knowledge4 ,thus with the balls as shown in fig4 #a1 where #b is the red1 and #c1 #c are positions for the opponent's ball1 it is better1 at any rate for those who are not considerably advanced1 to play the half-ball losing hazard into the left corner pocket1 than to endeavour to secure a chance of a top of the table break by making the cannon4 ,for the hazard is more certain to most persons than the cannon1 and if the stroke is made balls #b and #c must almost inevitably be left in play4 ,similarly in the positions shown in fig4 #b1 although the cannons from #a to #b and #c are perfectly easy1 yet it is better to play the known losing hazard #a from #b 7which is supposed to be the red on the spot7 into the right corner pocket4 ,ball #b will then be left over or near the right middle pocket1 into which a hazard will be left1 or if the stroke has been played without enough strength there may remain a cannon from which the balls should be gathered at the top of the table4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,with balls #b and #c so left that there are plain losing hazards into the middle pockets whilst at the same time1 ball #a being in hand1 a cannon is as easy or easier than either hazard1 there is some difference of opinion as to which stroke a moderate performer should play4 ,in case of being within two points of game the cannon may be chosen as rather the easiest1 but except in that case we recommend playing the losing hazards4 ,for at the worst there are two easy strokes on the table against one if the cannon were played1 totalling five against two4 ,if1 however1 the balls were so placed that one of them was too far up the table for a plain hazard1 then it is possible that the cannon might pay better4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,for the class of players to whom these few hints are specially offered it is1 we believe1 sound advice to say--do not vary your strength of play greatly1 accustom yourself to a free ,no4 #a or ,no4 #b1 and do not ordinarily depart from it2 avoid extremes of strength and the use of side1 specially with winning hazards2 master the plain half-ball stroke1 and many other things shall be added to your score4 ,do not concern yourself more than you can help about your adversary's good or your own bad luck1 and do not think it incumbent to explain for the instruction of spectators 7some of whom at any rate presumably know more of the game and understand it better than yourself7 the reasons of your failures4 ,now in addition to the players just referred to--and they form the great majority--there are those who can devote considerable time and attention to the game1 who can play the spot stroke in the sense of knowing how each position should be treated1 and can usually make from five to ten spots1 besides having a fair general notion of the game4 ,such persons represent the better class of club play1 and from among them at rare intervals a few appear whose form approaches that of the professional4 ,for their special behoof little need be said2 they have acquired and practise unconsciously the principles already recommended2 in order to improve in the matter of breaks they must work on professional lines1 and may1 within the limits which their powers prescribe1 follow professional play4 ,that is to say1 it is not desirable to try to prescribe a separate style of break for persons who are fairly grounded in the grammar of the game1 even though they may never attain great excellence4 ,as a rule1 they owe the length of their scores1 which are often considerable1 to small genuine breaks connected together by providential bounty2 every now and then in a score they are obliged to give sole attention to making the stroke1 and what is left is therefore due to luck1 which may be good or bad4 ,the truth of this becomes apparent if they are set to a break which must be thought out and which does not often admit of adventitious aid1 such as the spot stroke or a nursery of cannons4 ,they will rarely make more than ten or twenty consecutive strokes1 and how often not more than five4 ,nevertheless1 their profit will lie in trying to follow the lead of the masters1 modified1 as may be required1 by personal proficiency4 ,illustration3 ,preparing to play behind the back3 the right way ,and here1 lest it may be justly said that the interests of the vast majority of billiard-players and of our readers are in danger of being somewhat neglected in favour of a small minority who alone may reasonably aspire to professional form1 we have much pleasure in introducing a paper by ,mr4 ,a4 ,h4 ,boyd1 who is well qualified to deal with the subject1 on #8,every-day ,billiards4' ,from his paper1 which is commended to the careful attention of readers1 it may be gathered that he has successfully passed through many of the sorrows of the self-taught student of the game1 and is now enabled to attain to a measure of his legitimate aspirations4 ,,every-,,day ,,billiards ,,by ,a4 ,h4 ,,boyd ,as a great deal of the instruction contained in this volume may be too scientific for the ordinary amateur1 it has occurred to me that a few simple hints1 from a moderate player1 who has experienced1 and is daily meeting1 difficulties which possibly a brilliant performer hardly understands1 may be of some assistance to those who1 like himself1 are fond of the game1 appreciate its fascinating variety1 and are honestly anxious to improve4 ,the correct method of playing almost every stroke that is likely to occur in a game has been so lucidly laid down in previous chapters1 that my efforts will be limited to pointing out where moderate players are apt to go astray1 and to dealing with a few salient points1 in the hope that ,i may be able to show what to avoid1 rather than what to do or how to do it4 ,by the moderate player ,i mean the average player as found in the average club billiard-room1 a man who is capable of running up #bj or #cj1 and who has on certain happy days passed the ,rubicon of #ej4 ,i believe the use1 and particularly the abuse1 of the expression #8power of cue' has led to more slipshod play1 and done more harm to young players1 than anything else4 ,in ninety-nine billiard-rooms out of a hundred a steady1 unpretending player1 who makes simple strokes with tolerable certainty and with fair strength1 is considered a far inferior performer to the gentleman who plays every hazard with side on his ball1 who delights in extravagant screw shots1 but who is supremely indifferent to the subsequent career of the object ball4 #8,power of cue' unfortunately1 as understood by ordinary billiard-players1 means want of command of cue4 ,the mere power of imparting side1 or making screws1 though valuable enough in itself1 falls very far short of #8power of cue' as rightly understood4 ,the real meaning of the expression is the ability to combine the various elements1 such as side1 screw1 follow1 or stab with varying strengths1 so as to convert a forcing shot into a soft screw1 or a gentle stroke into a fast and fine shot1 always with a view to improved position4 ,without the power of control or combination1 the power of imparting side may be and very frequently is positively harmful4 ,an enormous number of young players with a certain amount of aptitude for the game become so enamoured of this showy gift that they insensibly drift into the habit of playing every stroke1 however simple1 with side1 and become absolutely incapable of striking their ball in the centre1 thus increasing their difficulties at the outset4 ,it is comparatively easy to strike a ball in the centre as often as may be desired2 it is next to impossible to strike it on the side in the same place a dozen times running4 ,hence1 players who habitually use side constantly miss simple shots1 because the amount of side they put on is continually and involuntarily varying4 ,the worst case ,i ever met was that of a man who had allowed the habit to grow upon him so far that he could only strike his ball on the right side4 ,the natural consequence was that half the table was practically closed to him3 he would not attempt a jenny into the left-hand top pocket1 and his long losing hazards were of course very uncertain4 ,many others there are1 however1 who1 even when playing from hand1 evince a decided preference for playing to a particular side of the table1 and it is evident that1 although possibly they don't realise it themselves1 they have more command of one side than of the other4 ,if this inclination is felt1 it should be fought down at once by playing for the opposite side of the table2 and a little resolute discipline of this kind will soon eradicate the fault4 ,curiously enough1 moderate players rarely use side for following hazards near a cushion1 although a liberal use of it converts an extremely difficult stroke into a comparatively easy one4 ,the explanation1 ,i imagine1 is1 that when they began billiards1 they were told to hit their ball high in order to follow1 and it is of course a difficult operation to put side on a ball that is struck near the top4 ,they1 therefore1 do not choose to increase the risk of a foul by aiming at the side of the top1 and take some pains to strike their ball on or near the vertical centre line4 ,did they but know it1 the same pains expended upon the same object1 when playing ordinary losing hazards1 would rapidly improve their game4 ,it is easily understood that from near a cushion a pocket is a very small target1 and the margin of error in aim reaches the irreducible minimum4 ,so that this follow is rightly considered by moderate players who play it in the way ,i have described as difficult1 dangerous1 and hardly worth attempting4 ,if1 however1 there is plenty of reverse side on the ball1 and it strikes anywhere on the shoulder of the pocket1 it is sure to go in4 ,another fault very commonly committed is1 where there are two ways of playing a stroke1 men take the way they fancy rather than the way which will pay them best4 ,nothing stands more in the way of improvement than this habit4 ,very likely games may be lost by trying for a little more1 and spectators are often too severe on what they consider as want of proper caution4 ,but let them say what they like4 ,if a player is honestly anxious to improve1 he can afford to let the particular game take care of itself1 and even if he lose a dozen games running1 patient practice will bring its reward in the end4 ,i do not wish to be misunderstood4 ,i am not advocating #8playing to the gallery1' merely for the sake of bringing off a showy stroke1 but playing out on purpose to try for position4 ,there is1 of course1 a time for everything4 ,in a match involving a stake1 or when competing in a club handicap1 a player should throw no chance away1 and play carefully and cautiously1 especially near the end of the game with the lead4 ,but in an ordinary game he should play out and try whatever comes4 ,though many shillings may be thus lost1 it is comforting to reflect that they are really the fees for learning1 and they will ultimately prove to have been well spent4 ,nothing is more melancholy than to watch a couple of men who have devoted many hours daily for many years to their favourite game1 poking about with safety misses1 white winners and double baulks1 and spinning out a game of #ajj to a weary length4 ,in all those years they have not added one stroke to their battery1 and they will go on to the end of the chapter1 unimproved and unimproving1 confirmed cushion-crawlers4 ,just as at whist1 there is such a thing as playing to the score1 so there is a time to be bold as well as a time to be cautious2 and many a match has been lost by over-caution4 ,i once saw a game in a club tournament1 where one of the players was immeasurably superior to the other1 and1 although he had given his opponent a long start1 he had caught him #ajj from home4 ,he then took it into his head that his proper tactics were to play for safety on every occasion4 ,the result was what might have been expected4 ,his antagonist took a clearer view of the situation1 saw that the game was desperate1 and played out every time after the other's safety stroke4 ,there were many occasions when the better player1 if he had taken the least risk1 would probably have run up a nice break1 and possibly have finished the game2 but he waited and waited1 and his antagonist got home4 ,clearly1 with #ajj to be made and playing on level terms1 his proper course would have been to play his usual game1 when his superior skill must have brought him in an easy winner4 ,a player must remember that it is not enough to hamper the enemy's chances of scoring2 he has got to make the points himself4 ,the four-handed game1 which is a very popular institution with the cautious1 is one of the very worst schools for a young player with any enterprise4 ,he will be drilled into everlasting safety1 and if he is at all ambitious of playing a good game1 he should avoid it as he would the plague4 ,on the other hand1 he should never lose an opportunity of playing with better players2 for1 although at first he will find the rapid scoring of his opponent very disconcerting1 still1 in time1 the feeling will wear off1 and the necessity for doing better will of itself induce improved play4 ,the tactics of the over-cautious school lead one to consider the question of #8leaves' as generally understood4 ,the hard-hitting1 slap-dash player1 after having sent all the balls flying in various directions1 will often bitterly bewail his luck if nothing is left after what he considers a brilliant stroke2 and amateurs are prone to look for this chance-leaving as a fairly earned reward of their skill4 ,the less one looks for this sort of thing the better4 ,a leave which has been carefully planned and successfully engineered is more meritorious than a dozen of such1 and will1 in the end1 bring a more certain reward4 ,nothing is more mortifying to the player who is honestly trying to place the balls than to find1 as he often will at first1 that time after time he has just failed1 perhaps by a few inches1 to attain the desired position2 while a hard-hitting1 careless friend is merrily scoring all round the table after strokes which have apparently hopelessly scattered the balls4 ,curiously enough1 a large share of this particularly exasperating form of luck falls to the lot of the careless4 ,i once saw a man make #fb without a fluke as popularly so-called1 and yet every leave was the result of accident rather than of design4 ,this is what one must be prepared for1 and suffer gladly4 ,don't be cast down or disgusted if the adversary drives a ball anyhow to the baulk end and finds an easy losing hazard left4 ,it is all the more annoying because one cannot call this sort of thing by its true name--viz4 a fluke4 ,another form of annoyance is the fluked safety1 which will sometimes run almost through an afternoon4 ,it is very hard to bear1 especially when the adversary takes spurious credit for playing a wonderfully safe game4 ,if under these trying circumstances the temper can be kept1 things will not only right themselves eventually1 but a reputation for good-nature and saintliness may be earned4 ,that these things worry is not wholly discouraging4 ,unless one is absolutely indifferent to the game they must be felt1 and the keener one is the more must their injustice be resented4 ,but1 after all1 they teach patience and coolness--two very valuable allies--which have many a time pulled a game out of the fire1 after it has seemed utterly and irretrievably lost4 ,careful students of ,chapter ,v4 will have realised that perhaps the most important thing for the learner to devote his attention to is the winning hazard2 but that stroke1 at once the most difficult and the most important at billiards1 is sadly neglected by the vast bulk of amateurs4 ,seldom1 or never1 is a break of over #dj made which does not involve a winning hazard1 which must be accomplished in order to continue the break4 ,all strokes are largely a matter of confidence1 and this is especially true of the winning hazard4 ,unless it is played with the confidence which practice alone can give1 the stroke seldom succeeds4 ,here pool comes in as an excellent training school4 ,it is wearisome drudgery practising these strokes simply2 but in the friendly rivalry of pool1 with the added zest of a prospective sixpence1 the winning hazard becomes quite attractive4 ,in a long spot-barred break a spectator1 if his attention has never been directed to this point before1 will be astonished at the number of times the red is holed1 and1 of course1 the immense possibilities of the #8all-in' game are obvious to everyone4 ,it is the spot practice1 and nothing else1 which has given the leading players their complete mastery over winning hazards2 and though it is the fashion nowadays for even the most moderate players to declare #8the spot' tiresome to watch and not worth their attention1 yet a little quiet spot practice will not be thrown away4 ,although the learner may not attain sufficient proficiency to justify him in going for the spot in an important game1 still he will pick up almost unconsciously a notion of the right place to strike the object ball for a winning hazard1 and1 in addition1 one or two little wrinkles as to #8touch' and #8strength' which will stand him in good stead in other parts of the table4 ,another great point in winning hazard practice is that it directs the learner's attention1 forcibly and practically1 to the dangers and disadvantages of misapplied side4 ,in the first place1 the hazard itself is rendered more difficult1 and repeated failures will compel a learner to take pains to strike his own ball in the centre4 ,and1 in the second place1 the run of ball #a1 after impact with ball #b1 will be checked or accelerated1 as the case may be1 to an extent which may lead to disaster4 ,young pool players1 when playing from baulk on a ball at the top of the table with their player in hand1 frequently experience the mortification of seeing their ball1 after an unsuccessful shot1 come back into baulk a helpless prey to the next player4 ,it may very well be that they have not put too much force into their stroke1 but they have probably struck it off the centre4 ,in this1 one of the commonest of pool strokes1 it is of the last importance to avoid putting on side4 ,it is worth remembering1 too1 that it is not necessary1 as so many amateurs appear to think1 to make all winning hazards at forcing strength4 ,as a matter of fact1 the pocket is considerably larger for a stroke played at drop strength1 although of course it requires some nerve to play the hazard in that fashion4 ,losing hazards have been so exhaustively dealt with in ,chapter ,v4 that nothing need be said here concerning them2 but there are two faults very commonly committed by amateurs which are fatal to accurate hazard striking1 and the first of these is pointing the cue at one part of ball #a and striking another4 ,some men habitually aim with the cue-tip pointing over the top of their ball1 others again with the tip almost touching the cloth1 no matter whether the stroke they intend to play be a follow or a screw1 a centre stroke or a stroke with side4 ,those who are familiar with golf are well aware that in those places where grounding the club behind the ball is not allowed it is exceedingly difficult to hit the ball cleanly and truly1 because there is nothing to guide the aim4 ,similarly1 at billiards1 if the cue be aimed exactly at the point on the ball that it is intended to strike1 the stroke is more likely to be accurately delivered than if it be pointing at some other spot or be brought down or up1 to the left or to the right1 at the last moment4 ,it is a rare occurrence to find a moderate player who aims as he should aim4 ,the second fault is the widespread belief among inexperienced players1 that in order to impart the maximum amount of side to a ball the cue should move in a horizontal curve--that is to say1 that believers in this strange theory 7and they are legion71 when they are attempting a stroke involving1 say1 right side1 sweep the point of their cue to the right as they deliver the stroke4 ,students of ,chapters ,,iii4 to ,,vi4 will readily see that the theory is absolutely fallacious1 and fully understand that1 the straighter the cue is pointing along the path of ball #a or parallel to it1 the more power it has over the ball4 ,but1 as the theory is firmly maintained1 it may be worth while to draw attention to it in order to emphasise the instructions contained in ,chapter ,,iii4 ,in most billiard-rooms the balls receive somewhat severe treatment1 and of necessity are constantly travelling to the makers to be adjusted or turned down4 ,therefore1 it often happens that they are smaller and lighter than they should be4 ,now1 such balls are more easily sent flying up and down the table1 and they are not quite so liable to catch in the jaws of a pocket and stop outside as full-sized ones4 ,hence they are popular with free hitters2 but in other ways they are very objectionable4 ,being light1 they are more liable to turn aside over any slight obstruction on the table2 and1 as they start away after contact faster than heavy balls1 it is a difficult matter to play quietly with them and keep the balls together4 ,it may be that at first1 with heavy full-sized balls1 the breaks are neither so many nor so long2 but perseverance will result in more command over the heavy balls than was possible with the light ones4 ,the very fact that continual slogging with heavy balls is arduous work1 and distinctly damaging to the top of the cue1 will of itself induce a quieter style of play and more thought for the hereafter4 ,simple as it may seem1 very few men know how to practise4 ,it is a common experience to walk into a billiard-room and find a player idly knocking the balls about--now a losing hazard1 now a cannon1 all too rarely a winning hazard1 with no method1 and with no attention to the run of the balls4 ,nothing is really more useless4 ,to practise properly1 one should have a distinct idea of what is wanted and how to set about getting it4 ,chapter ,,viii4 clearly shows the great merit of the spot stroke as a means of practice4 ,the combination of strength and accuracy is most important training4 ,one or other position will probably prove more difficult than the rest4 ,practise that particular stroke till it is mastered--i4e4 till not only is the hazard made1 but position is obtained for the next stroke4 ,many1 of course1 there must be who have not got the time or the patience for such practice as this1 and to them ,i offer an alternative4 ,spot the red1 put the white on the middle spot 7the position after the balls have touched71 play from the 1 and see what the break will run to4 ,at the outset the white long loser is an admirable practice stroke1 for it must be played freely1 and its successful manipulation will engender a feeling of confidence in long losers which will be worth a great deal4 ,there are some players who find when they make this hazard that the object ball runs perilously near to the middle pocket2 others find with their normal stroke that the ball usually strikes the side cushion about a foot or eighteen inches above the middle4 ,players of the former class generally gain position off two cushions2 players of the latter class off three2 but in each case the object is to leave a cannon up the table on to the red on the spot4 ,long losers from baulk are most excellent practice1 and would be more popular were it not for the nuisance of having to go and fetch the ball from the other end of the table every time4 ,the new tramway arrangement1 patented by ,messrs4 ,orme ,co41 whereby the ball returns automatically from the top pockets to the bottom of the table1 does away with this drawback1 and is therefore a distinct advantage where there is no marker4 ,there is an exercise1 invented ,i believe by a weather-bound golfer1 in which the red is spotted on the centre spot1 and the player starts from the and tries to hole the red in all the pockets in turn in as few strokes as possible4 ,the red is re-spotted on the centre spot every time it is holed1 and the player plays on each occasion from where his ball has run to4 ,this game is really excellent practice1 for it involves accurate winning hazard striking1 combined with delicate strength and a knowledge of angles4 ,i believe that #bj is considered what golfers would call the #8bogey' score2 but ,i fancy it is placed a little too high1 and ,i think #af would be nearer the mark4 ,as the learner improves he can lower the bogey to suit himself4 ,to sum up1 the whole art of successful amateur billiard-playing is almost all contained in the accurate delivery of the cue1 division of the object ball being a comparatively simple matter4 ,illustration3 ,preparing to play behind the back3 the wrong way ,chapters ,,iii41 ,,iv41 ,v41 and the valuable memorandum contributed by ,mr4 ,pontifex1 should be carefully studied4 ,the learner will find that if he once masters cue delivery many other things will be added unto him4 ,he will discover that it is just as easy to screw to any angle1 when the balls are close together1 by playing softly as by hitting hard1 and will learn the valuable fact that screw and side are easier to apply softly1 because with a gentle stroke he can make more certain of striking where he intends1 and thus he will have found out the whole secret of screw4 ,it is the spin on ball #a which causes it to spring off square1 and the force of impact has comparatively little to do with altering the angle of deviation4 ,and yet ,i fear that no printed instruction will teach everything in the way of making strokes1 because the sense of touch enters so largely into the question of execution4 ,a good player with a cue in his hand can show more in an hour than the best book will in a month2 but the former is not always attainable1 whilst the latter may be the student's constant companion4 ,hence it will be seen how advantageous it is to play as much as possible with better players1 and also to practise carefully the strokes recommended in a sound manual4 99 99 99 99 99 ,by all who are interested in the higher aspects of the game the following memoranda by ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,r4 ,rimington-,wilson on breaks generally1 and on top-of-the-table play specially1 will be welcomed4 ,he brings to the subject great experience1 gathered from every available source1 and to masterly execution adds soundness and accuracy of judgment1 which give peculiar value to his remarks4 ,,some ,,notes ,,on #8,,the ,,top-,,of-,,the-,,table ,,game ,,by ,r4 ,h4 ,r4 ,,rimington-,,wilson ,no practice by oneself at billiards can be more fascinating than this modern development at the top of the board2 it has also this advantage1 that in the absence of a marker it does not often entail journeys to far distant pockets in search of a ball4 ,furthermore1 it is an art which makes as many calls on the head as it does on the hand and eye4 ,many little problems have to be solved1 and many a solution1 sufficiently obvious when pointed out1 fails to present itself after months of solitary work4 ,the following notes presuppose the student to be well beyond the novice stage1 and well up in the #8out in the country' game4 ,he must have thoroughly mastered moderately easy short winning hazards1 with and without side1 also slow screws off fine and full balls under the same conditions4 ,failure in the former is absolutely fatal1 and execution in the latter essential to due control over the object ball4 ,it is hardly necessary to say that a good spot stroke performer starts with a great advantage1 many of the strokes being spot strokes pure and simple4 ,conversely1 it follows that a good top-of-the-table player must of necessity be a fair spot stroke performer4 ,to anyone who is uncertain of his short winning hazards there is only one course open--to work at them till he can do them1 or to leave the top-of-the-table game severely alone4 ,breaking down at this game is usually even more expensive than failure at the #8spot1' as in the latter case all three balls are not necessarily together at the top4 ,to a master of the art there is no question but that this method of scoring presents the easiest and quickest way of making a break4 ,given the requisite knowledge1 the strokes are generally not very difficult1 and there is the enormous advantage of being close to the work--in addition to which the player adopting this style of game is much less affected by the conditions of the table4 ,nursery cannons are of course a great feature of play at the top of the table1 and must be made a separate study4 ,they are much easier than is generally supposed1 and require really more knowledge than execution1 especially with the push stroke allowed as in the ,english game4 ,the writer has several times seen fifty consecutive cannons made with no tip on the cue1 which is strong evidence in favour of not much execution being required4 ,the chief difficulty lies 7#a7 in getting position2 7#b7 in turning the corners4 ,getting past the middle pocket is rarely attempted1 and would generally defeat the best players4 ,it is almost impossible to illustrate these #8nurseries' by means of diagrams1 as often a difference of a hair's breadth in position will determine the way of playing the stroke4 ,to anyone wishing to make a study of nursery cannon play ,vignaux's #8,le ,billard' 7,paris1 ,delarue71 an admirable work on the ,french game1 well illustrated with diagrams1 is strongly recommended4 ,now1 unless the opponent has been kind1 before one can play the top-of-the-table game it is obviously necessary to get there2 consequently diagrams are given to show some of the readiest means of obtaining the desired position4 ,these do not1 of course1 pretend in any way to exhaust the subject1 but merely indicate the general idea4 ,each diagram is accompanied by some simple instructions for play4 ,it will be seen that the commonest mode of getting position is by the long cannon 7,diagram ,,ii471 played either to collect the balls in the region of the spot1 or--with a slight variation of position--to double the red towards the top pocket1 driving the opponent's ball spotwards4 ,while mentioning this cannon it will not be out of place to call attention to a very important point1 one of general application1 but especially valuable in this type of stroke4 ,it is of the first importance that after cannoning the striker's ball 7ball #a7 be left in a commanding position2 in fact1 in such a position that a score will almost certainly be left wherever the other two balls may come to rest at the top of the table4 ,in a general way this is effected by two opposite methods4 ,we will first consider a case where the cannon ball 7ball #c7 lies well away from a cushion1 and in an uncramped position1 which it would be desirable for the striker's ball to occupy4 ,in this case the cannon should be made dead full on ball #c4 ,ball #a will be stopped comparatively dead1 and will occupy the other's place1 which is what is required4 ,it follows from this that in the event of ball #c being close to a cushion or in some other undesirable place1 the opposite method should be employed1 and the full ball cannon avoided4 ,there are cases1 of course1 when it is desirable to cannon full on a ball touching or nearly touching a cushion1 with a view of utilising the kiss1 but this is not the class of stroke under discussion4 ,the main point it is hoped the previous remarks may convey is1 the great importance of leaving the striker's ball in a commanding position4 ,the player's attention is called to this as one of the chief points to be considered in this class of stroke4 ,reference will be made in the diagrams to this method of play4 ,in conclusion1 one word of warning4 ,on arrival at the top of the table do not straightway become a player with one idea--to stop there4 ,remember that a little exercise #8in the country' is often required1 and often more profitable than a risky attempt to prolong the stay #8at home4' ,the return home is by no means hopeless4 ,not only is there every chance of it if a man is in good form1 but under any circumstances no undue hurry should be shown to get position either for the spot or for play at the top of the table4 ,it is better to plod along quietly with long losers and ordinary strokes till a favourable conjunction of the balls presents itself than to risk failure by attempting to get immediate position by means of complicated strokes full of compensations4 ,no doubt if they come off successfully the triumph is great1 but the method is unsound1 and will not bear the test of time2 it will fail far oftener than the less ambitious mode1 which waits a bit on fortune1 instead of trying to force her favours4 ,it is usually the comparative novice who is in the greatest hurry--#8,chi va piano va sano1 e chi va sano va lontano4 ,probably the most favourable open position for commencing the top-of-the-table game is when the red is on the spot1 the striker's ball in position for an easy spot hazard1 and the opponent's ball in close proximity to the red1 above or below it1 and more or less in the central line of the table4 ,we may borrow a ,french expression and call this position the position mre4 ,this position in the hands of an expert is most prolific1 admitting as it does of a system of play consisting ideally of alternate winning hazards and cannons1 but varied by #8nurseries' and incidental play4 ,the great feature of the modern game is to obtain and regain this position mre4 ,the diagrams that follow are given with a view of illustrating some of the commonest methods of leading up to this position and suggesting others4 ,in supplementing previous remarks the student's attention is invited to the importance of being constantly on the look out for an opportunity of playing the opponent's ball spotwards when there is a probability of the succeeding stroke being a red winner4 ,even in the event of a red loser being left--instead of the winner as intended--the opponent's ball can hardly occupy a more favourable position1 as the balls probably can be gathered at the top of the table in the course of a stroke or two4 ,it will be noticed that in the examples given the play recommended is of the simplest and most natural description1 calling for a little forethought1 but for little or no execution4 ,they also in nearly every case represent the simplest way of leaving a break even to a player who is not a proficient at the top of the table4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,remember to be full on ball #c with the view of stopping your own ball4 ,compare also ,diagram p4 #agg4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iii4 ,play half-ball on the red1 driving it towards the right-hand top pocket4 ,full on ball #c to stop your own ball and drive it spotwards4 ,with ball #b1 the white ball1 be careful not to play too hard for fear of losing it4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iv4 ,half-ball on ball #b1 sending it spotwards1 nearly full on ball #c1 which will stop your own ball and leave it near the pyramid spot4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,v4 ,be careful to be fine enough on ball #b to keep it at the top of the table2 a half-ball would bring it down the table out of play4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vi4 7,i47 ,make the loser off the white1 driving it spotwards4 7,,ii47 ,hole the red1 and get position either by the slow drop or off the top cushion1 preferably the latter4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vii4 7,i47 ,make the loser off the white1 leaving it near the spot4 7,,ii47 ,as in previous diagram4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,viii4 7,i47 ,make the white loser gently4 7,,ii47 ,hole the red as before4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ix4 ,screw back on to the white1 bringing the red round4 ,with the white as object ball1 care must be taken in this class of stroke not to hole it in the top pocket4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4--,play to cannon full and slowly on ball #c1 leaving the red winner andwhite near the spot4 ,with balls #a and #b further apart1 the strength would be too difficult to play as here given1 and the play would be as in ,diagram ,no4 ,i4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e4--,play the white spotwards and be full on the red4 ,the diagrams and remarks just given having led us up to the top of the table1 those that follow will attempt to illustrate on broad lines some of the play when there4 ,niceties cannot be touched upon1 and it is thought more convenient to give individual strokes of common occurrence rather than the consecutive strokes of a break4 ,in some cases the stroke given might be played differently1 in order to collect the balls for nursery cannons2 but as the diagrams are intended to illustrate the more open game1 the position for nurseries will not as a rule be taken into account4 ,in other instances the stroke given admits of different treatment from that shown1 the choice being frequently determined by the player's preference for a particular class of stroke4 ,the chief aim of the diagrams is to suggest ideas4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4--,play ball #b behind the spot1 cannon full on ball #c 7the red71 leavingthe winner1 which when made with a stab leaves the position mre4 ,guard against losing the red first stroke1 in which case the break would very likely be lost4 ,a common fault in playing at the top of the table consists in endeavouring to bring the balls together1 when the better game would be to leave them farther apart4 ,in playing to bring them together a dead cover often results1 very possibly bringing a promising break to a close4 ,of course in many instances to bring them together would be the game1 but frequently it is not1 and the reader should be on his guard against the above-mentioned cause of breakdown4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4--;,hole ball #b 7the red71 and get position for a cannon either by thescrew back or stab follow4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4--,play a three-quarter ball on ball #b 7the red71 dropping gently onball #c1 in such a way as not to interfere with the red winner to follow4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i4--,remember to make use of the screw back in these positions4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj4--;,drop very gently between the balls2 when making the secondcannon1 push through and get above them4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aa4--,practise these strengths till you are sure of them4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ab4--,white spotwards and leave red winner4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ac4--,play here to cannon1 and leave the red winner1 barely disturbingthe white4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ad4--,play very fine on the white so as not to disturb it4 ,avoid the runthrough in this very useful class of stroke4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ae4--;,gently here to leave red winner4 ,forefinger bridge4 ,better thantrying to bring them together4 ,this is a stroke which requires some delicacy of execution2 it should be practised till the red can be left near the corner pocket with certainty4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #af4--,push dead full and slowly1 bringing the balls together for nurseries4,there must be more than the diameter of a ball between ball #c and the cushion4 ,the stroke is often assisted by pushing ball #a on the left side1 which ensures its free escape from the squeeze between cue-tip and cushion4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ag4--,study the position with the opponent's ball on either side of the centralline of the table4 ,in the one case when it lies on the player's side1 hole the red by the slow drop1 stopping about ,b4 ,in the other case play freely off the cushion to ,a4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ah4--,play rather fine on both balls1 and come back a little way up thetable4 ,in playing this class of stroke1 the object being to send ball #c to the spot and leave red winner1 it is often useful to employ side1 which taking effect from the cushion after the cannon is made1 enables the player to keep near the object ball or away from it1 as desired4 ,the stroke can hardly go wrong4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ai4--,red touching cushion #a4 ,play slow1 kiss cannon1 leaving red winner4,not too full on the red4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bj4--;,in this sort of position1 the game is to cannon and drop slowly andfull on the red4 ,a screw back cannon the next stroke played with good strength will probably permit of the top of the table game being continued4 ,the strength for the return of the object ball1 whether off one or more cushions1 must be constantly practised4 ,it varies considerably on different tables1 and possibly with the weight of the balls4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ba4--,there is no better practice for touch than these slow screws off a fineball2 played off too thick a ball or too hard the break is lost at once4 ,the object1 of course1 is to play the red over the top pocket for the winner and cannon slowly on the white4 ,illustration3 ,fig #bb4--;,beware in playing this cannon of leaving the red close to the cushion1as a cover often occurs4 ,keep the red several inches from the cushion1 either by finer cut or bringing it back from cushion4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bc4--;,fine on ball #b 7the red7 to leave winner4 ,cannon gently on inside ofball #c1 leaving it near the spot4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bd4--,stab the red in and stop close to it1 taking care1 of course1 not tostop on the spot4 ,this leaves the stroke shown in fig4 #ae4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #be4--,play ball #b back to the spot1 leaving red winner4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bf4--;,hole the red and play to leave your own ball for the push4 ,get ashade above the white if possible to enable you to keep it near the spot4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bg4--;,cannon fine on both balls and get above them4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bh4--,white spotwards and leave the winner4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bi4--,play the white spotwards and leave the winner4 ,illustration3 ,a ,nursery ,much advantage will result to the thoughtful reader from a careful study of the foregoing remarks on breaks1 specially if they are read beside a table on which the strokes may be played2 but the same can scarcely be said with regard to any instructions we have seen for playing a break of nursery cannons4 ,of all strokes on the billiard-table they lend themselves least to description1 and the distances between the balls being so small and the paths travelled so very short1 that illustration by diagram is at once difficult and of doubtful use4 ,even if the writer or draftsman thoroughly understands each stroke1 it is nearly impossible to convey his knowledge to the reader4 ,as ,mr4 ,rimington-,wilson has remarked1 the student cannot do better than consult ,m4 ,vignaux's manual as far as book study is concerned1 for the principle underlying the break is the same on ,french and on ,english tables4 ,there are1 however1 practical differences1 such as the pockets on an ,english table1 which interfere with the continuation of a long series1 and the size of the balls and table1 all of which make the break more difficult for us than for the ,french4 ,on the other hand1 our rules permit the push stroke1 which is not allowed by ,french or ,americans1 and this makes a long break easier for us4 ,hence it is necessary to endeavour to give some idea of this style of play on our tables1 the more so as nurseries form a large part of most long spot-barred breaks4 ,the only nurseries of cannons that have as yet played an important part in the ,english game are those made in such a way that the three balls are kept travelling in front of the player1 and seldom further than from four to eight inches from the cushion4 ,the series was invented in ,america under the name of ,rail play1 and brought to ,france by ,vignaux1 where though quite modern it is already barred in match games4 ,theoretically it consists of the repetition of one simple stroke1 whereby the balls are moved slightly forward1 the only check to uniformity being when a corner has to be turned or a pocket passed2 practically1 this normal stroke1 position mre1 as the ,french call it1 is seldom preserved for any length of break1 and the art of continuing to score consists greatly in the skill whereby it is recovered4 ,a notion of the ideal path of the balls may be gathered from fig4 #cj1 that of ball #b being a zigzag parallel to the cushion1 and that of ball #c a straight line also parallel2 #a #a #a1 #b #b #b1 #c #c #c are the positions of the balls after each stroke4 ,in fact the relative position of the three balls remains the same1 whilst they are all moved short distances along the cushion at each stroke4 ,of course to attain this result absolute perfection of manipulation and of implements is necessary1 and equally of course1 no such conditions exist2 after a few strokes the relative position is altered1 even if certain requirements of the series be preserved4 ,these mainly are1 that a line passing through the centres of #b and #c must be inclined1 not parallel to the cushion2 that ball #c 7of fig4 #cj7 shall never be nearer the cushion than a diameter 7#b in471 so that there may be room for ball #b to be played between it and the cushion1 but ball #b must never pass ball #c2 that ball #a also should never pass ball #c2 and that each should follow its rail4 ,these are the chief considerations to be kept in mind when playing the series1 the next point of importance being how to continue the break when the relative positions of the balls to each other is modified by various imperfections of play4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cj4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ca4 ,a few of the commonest variations will be mentioned1 the object of the strokes being to recover the position mre as soon as possible4 ,if ball #a be played with a little right side or screw or too full on ball #b1 or a combination of these errors1 it will strike ball #c too fine and come to rest below it1 as shown in fig4 #ca4 ,ball #c1 by having been struck too fine1 has not travelled sufficiently1 whereas ball #b may have gone too far1 so that the tendency of the error here represented is that the three balls should be left in line1 and the series be lost2 being only recoverable by a perfect mass--a stroke so rare in the ,english game that it may be neglected4 ,in the case supposed it is clear that following the usual nomenclature ball #c would become ball #b for the stroke about to be played1 but would again become ball #c in the next stroke after1 and confusion might result2 hence1 for these nursery cannons the cushion is assumed to be cushion #a1 or that at the top of the table1 and the balls retain their numbers #a1 #b1 #c1 as in the position mre1 fig4 #cj4 ,the player is standing at cushion #f1 looking towards cushion #b4 ,first let ball #a have its centre at ,a4 ,play a very fine ball on #c1 scarcely moving it and cannoning tolerably full on #b1 coming off it to the left2 a gentle stroke will leave something like the original position4 ,if ball #a has its centre at ,b1 and occupies the position of the dotted circle #a1 then in the ,english game the break is continued by a gentle push very fine on #c1 and as full as practicable on #b4 ,one of the chief difficulties of this and other similar strokes when ball #a is decidedly below the other balls is the correct alignment of the cue4 ,different persons meet the difficulty in different ways2 the majority1 who are tall enough and not too stiff1 bend over reversing the cue so that its tip points towards instead of away from themselves1 the elbow being raised2 whereas others lay the cue on the table in the right alignment1 then standing as before at cushion #a1 raise the tip1 having taken hold of the cue about #f or #h in4 further back between the thumb and forefinger1 and leaving the butt on the table1 bring the tip forward for a stroke or push as the situation may require4 ,occasionally a short1 stout man is put to considerable inconvenience and disadvantage in playing these shots1 and has after each cannon to walk round and play the next with the rest2 at first sight the hardship may not be apparent1 but if the value of keeping the eyes close to the balls in such delicate work1 and the additional labour in walking round a corner of the table1 and taking up the rest1 say twenty times in a series of forty cannons1 be considered1 the serious nature of the drawback will not be denied4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cb ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cc ,the next position 7fig4 #cb7 is just the reverse of the preceding4 ,play a fine delicate stroke on #b1 cannoning gently on #c also rather fine1 and getting a position similar to that shown in the previous figure4 ,if ball #a is nearer the cushion and nearer ball #b1 the cannon must be pushed1 care being taken to push fine on #b so as not to remove it further down the table than need be1 and to get below #c1 that is further from the cushion1 for the next stroke4 ,the stroke left being that of fig4 #ca1 suppose it to be played too fine on ball #c1 getting so full on ball #b1 that it is left behind as in fig4 #cc4 ,the stroke as shown is a screw a little further back1 or less1 than a right angle2 but if played plain1 ball #b will return from the cushion at right angles1 or perhaps to the left of the perpendicular1 and there is much probability of ball #a remaining between the other two and the break being lost4 ,whereas if ball #a be played with left side1 ball #b will come off the cushion to the right and rejoin #c4 ,if by error ball #a be played with right side1 ball #b will return from the cushion straighter or more to the left4 ,this use of side is very pretty1 and its effect seems to point to the transmission of rotation to the second ball1 reversed of course1 as it should be1 according to the theory put forward in ,chapter ,,vi4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cd ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ce ,again1 if instead of being left behind1 ball #b is rather too far forward1 by playing ball #a with right side and gentle screw ball #b will be kept back and the relative position recovered4 ,in playing this1 however1 a slight error may result in leaving the balls as shown 7fig4 #ce71 from which position the break should be continued by a kiss2 ball #a played just right of the centre of ball #b should be kissed back on ball #c fine4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cf ,these kiss strokes should be practised till they can be done with great exactness4 ,usually the player being afraid of missing the cannon causes ball #a to strike ball #c too full1 and thus drives it down the table1 very likely so as to lose the break4 ,another type of stroke which easily results from nursery play is that wherein ball #b has got too far forward and is left very close to ball #c4 ,if ball #a is favourably placed1 a series of fine cannons may be played irrespective of the cushion1 the secret being not to be too fine on the third or cannon ball1 and so to avoid the danger of leaving all three balls in a straight line4 ,in trying to continue cushion nurseries from a position such as is shown 7fig4 #cf71 the point to bear in mind is that ball #c is too far back1 relatively2 therefore1 it must be struck as full as possible without sending it cushion-wards1 cannoning gently on ball #b4 ,if #a should occupy the position #a1 a push on the left of ball #a for its support fine on ball #c1 will result in the latter escaping off ball #b in the proper direction1 whilst ball #a will cannon on ball #b1 and by means of a few careful strokes the position mre may be recovered4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cg ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ch ,in playing cushion nurseries even after sufficient confidence is attained1 and series of twenty or thirty cannons are not infrequently made1 great trouble is found in continuing the break round a corner of the table4 ,that the difficulty is real is apparent from watching professional play under the circumstances2 very often it will be seen that when the balls have been worked into a corner1 the player will seize the first opportunity of so striking his adversary's ball as to leave it near the spot1 and cannoning on the red with the view of holing it next stroke4 ,in other words1 the nursery is abandoned and a favourable position for the top-of-the-table play is selected4 ,this1 we venture to think--for to write dogmatically on such a matter is foolish--is generally sound play2 it makes use of the pocket1 which is a serious obstacle to continuing cannons4 ,nevertheless1 by careful watching and sometimes by slight modification of play1 the opportunity of turning the corner may be recognised or created4 ,two examples are shown in the following figures of positions1 in which it is worth while to try to continue cannons2 the balls should not be allowed to get too near the pocket before trying the strokes1 otherwise success is endangered by the shoulders4 ,the sketch1 which has been made without the advantage of a table on which the balls might be set up1 is therefore1 no doubt1 faulty1 but may serve to convey the desired idea4 ,the position shown is a modification of the normal one1 and the player's object is to cause ball #b to strike cushions #a and #b clear of the shoulders of the pocket1 with such strength as to leave that ball near cushion #b4 ,further1 he must so cannon on ball #c as to drive it towards the path of ball #b1 if possible slightly ahead of it1 when either the position mre1 or one not differing very widely from it1 will be left1 and the series may be continued along cushion #b towards the middle pocket4 ,play ball #a a screw stroke about three-quarters right on ball #b1 whence it will return on ball #c1 moving it slightly towards cushion #b and away from cushion #a4 ,the relative positions of the balls to each other after a well-played stroke is roughly indicated at #a #b #c2 their actual position on the board cannot be shown1 as it would confuse the original drawing4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ci ,fig4 #ci shows another type of stroke for turning the corner4 ,in this case ball #a must be played with a little right side1 the measure of which is the quantity of ball #b taken so as to make it travel as desired4 ,if fuller1 more right side is required2 if finer1 less4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #dj ,a person practising these strokes will be able to interpolate many variations between the screw and the follow as here exemplified1 and perhaps the best way to make good use of these types is to set up the balls in normal position for cushion nurseries within a few inches of the corner pocket1 and then try in one or two strokes to leave a variety of one or other of the examples4 ,in this way the eye becomes accustomed when playing a series to gauge the distance from the pocket and to seize a favourable opportunity for passing it4 ,another way of turning the corner is shown in fig4 #dj1 whereby as will be seen use is made of the jaws of the pocket to bring ball #b down the table into the desired position4 ,the stroke is so simple as not to need detailed description2 it may be set up by sight1 and a few attempts will reveal what compensations should be applied to insure to ball #b the required speed and to slow ball #a1 so that it may be left above the other balls4 ,this diagram was sent by ,mr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,peall1 who1 moreover1 has kindly read these remarks on #8cushion nurseries1' and expressed his approval of them4 ,it is right that advice on the subject of cannon play should be given with caution and hesitation1 for the science is far from understood even by our best players1 and further knowledge may put our present ideas into the background1 if not show some of them to have been founded on misapprehension4 ,hence but little more will be added on this subject1 and that must be general4 ,avoid excessive use of the push stroke2 it is commonly employed when quite unnecessary1 and is more likely to result in leaving the balls touching than when an ordinary stroke is used4 ,next1 play freely rather than over gently1 and if possible under the close supervision of a first-rate performer1 and one who can and will detect every small imperfection4 ,replace the balls after failure1 and repeat the stroke till certainty is acquired2 an hour's practice daily is about what is required to keep up the necessary touch after the various positions have been mastered1 but recollect that too much practice at close cannons is apt to cramp and destroy the freedom needed for general play4 ,these notes on nurseries may be appropriately closed by the following remarks kindly furnished by ,mr4 ,rimington-,wilson1 who1 it is permissible to observe1 can play such cannons with a speed and certainty as greatly to be envied as they are difficult of attainment1 and in a style professional rather than amateur4 #8,nursery cannon play in ,england is still in its infancy1 and the writer cannot help expressing a wish that it may never see full maturity4 ,the possibilities of this style of game were well illustrated by the visit of the ,american champion ,ives to this country1 when he played a match with ,roberts under unusual conditions4 #8,it is true that ,ives made his gigantic break in a way that would be impossible with the ordinary sized balls and pockets--viz43 by jamming the balls1 which were an intermediate size between the ,american and ,english1 in the angle of a table with very tight pockets4 ,while maintaining the position in which he made his break1 the balls were not jammed in the jaws of the pocket as they may be in the ,english game1 but rather in the angle of the corner where1 owing to the large balls and small pockets1 there was very little danger of losing a ball4 ,in fact1 the break was played very much as it would be on an ,american table with no pockets4 ,illustration3 ,playing behind the back #8,independently of this break ,ives's cannon play was very superior to anything of the kind in this country1 and the writer has seen him in practice make a break between #fjj and #gjj without ever getting the balls angled1 and this with the push stroke barred4 ,of course the mass stroke came into play1 but not very frequently4 #8,from the spectators' point of view long series of nursery cannons soon become wearisome1 perhaps even more so than the spot stroke4 ,in many instances also a large proportion of those present are unable to see the play at all1 as the body of the striker blocks their view4 ,so wearisome and monotonous did the breaks become in the ,french and ,american game that it was found necessary to legislate against them1 and in first-class play a line is now usually drawn fourteen inches from the cushions and parallel with them1 inside which cannons1 except under certain restrictions1 are barred4 ,it is not improbable that in the future some sort of restriction will have to be imposed in our game4 ,gate-money1 however1 with professionals settles these questions very satisfactorily2 amateurs may be allowed to do as they please4' ,,chapter ,,xi ,,the ,,championship ,,and ,,the ,,three-,,inch ,,pocket ,,table ,hitherto what has been stated about the game of billiards in this volume1 whether generally or in the description of strokes recommended for practice1 has been on the supposition that the table was of the ordinary make1 the pockets being either those known as the standard of the ,billiard ,association1 or of those patterns used by the best makers1 both sorts being #c in4 wide at the fall4 ,as the game is played at the end of the nineteenth century this size of pocket is sufficiently difficult for amateurs as a class2 and spectators of public play1 by whose patronage professional players are mainly supported1 have so greatly preferred the freer game and longer breaks possible with it1 that the three-inch pocket or championship table may almost be said to have become obsolete4 ,we believe1 however1 that this disappearance is merely temporary1 due to a combination of circumstances which may not continue for long1 and may be longer still in recurring4 ,further1 if it was absolutely necessary when the conditions were drawn up to have what was called the championship of the game decided on a table different from that on which it is usually played--an anomaly greatly to be regretted--then the simple tightening of pockets was a device open to as little objection as any other4 ,it is certainly preferable to barring this stroke or that on an ordinary table1 an arrangement in which there may always be the suspicion that limitation is made in favour of a certain player or of a certain class of players1 which is of itself sufficient condemnation4 ,whereas when the same result is obtained by making the pockets more difficult1 that objection cannot be urged with equal force2 the table is the same for all1 and if a man can bring any stroke to such perfection that he can continue his break to great length1 so much the better for him2 he will remain champion till another arises who can go on longer4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,difficult ,,stroke4 ,no stroke admissible in the ordinary game should be barred when the championship is played for1 because the champion ought to be the greatest master of all lawful strokes2 and if hazards are found to predominate unduly the remedy lies in tightening the pockets4 ,but before the next game for the championship is played1 cannons and not hazards bid fair to exercise too great an influence4 ,if that match were played to-morrow in this year #ahif on a three-inch pocket table1 it is safe to predict that victory would be gained by the man who was best at cushion nursery cannons2 of this there is no question1 #8no possible shadow of doubt4' ,what man in his senses would court constant failure at hazards when success with cannons was within his grasp8 ,here1 therefore1 we are again face to face with a question similar to that which arose on the ordinary table when the spot stroke was brought to perfection2 with this difference1 that whereas the strokes in a spot break are each genuine1 easily seen and watched by the referee and spectators1 and therefore fair1 in a break of cushion nursery cannons the reverse is more than probable4 ,made by trick or sleight of hand rather than by an open stroke1 with balls so close that even when the break is stopped and the referee summoned he cannot readily decide whether they touch or not1 and when promptly continued remonstrance or complaint is too late to be of use1 with the push stroke permitted1 such a break is open to objections much graver than any ever urged against spot play4 ,the scoring is faster far than is possible with the spot stroke1 and play is often obscured for many spectators by the performer himself4 ,in this case as in that of hazards no lawful stroke should be barred2 it would seem preferable to draw lines round the table parallel to and at a fixed distance from the cushions1 and to make rules somewhat similar to those in force for the ,partie ,amricaine dite du ,cadre4 ,in this game1 when balls #b and #c are in the same compartment1 that is in one of the rectangular spaces between the lines and the cushions1 and therefore are not separated by a line1 only one cannon is allowed without making at least one of the balls pass the boundary4 ,there is1 in fact1 no great difficulty in making rules to defeat tricks which are favoured by obscurity2 no cannon otherwise lawful need be barred1 and as the breaks must be slightly slower time is afforded for inspection1 and if necessary for appeal to the referee4 ,moreover1 the cannon game would be improved1 for greater skill is required to continue the series when one ball at least must be some distance from the cushion1 and therefore this suggestion has the merit of inciting players to greater exercise of skill in every lawful stroke1 whereas the policy of barring certain strokes tends to their neglect and to a corresponding loss of execution4 ,the objections to having one pattern of table for ordinary play and another for championship matches are obvious1 for the games being different the champion may not be the best player on the easier table1 even when the spot stroke is barred2 and to style a man champion of one game because he has beaten all comers at another is scarcely logical2 but the remedy is not so apparent4 ,two solutions present themselves1 only to be dismissed on consideration4 ,first1 that amateurs should adopt the three-inch pocket table1 in which case there would be one game and the champion would ordinarily be the best player of that game2 next1 that the championship should be decided on an ordinary table and the three-inch pocket be abandoned4 ,in both cases the difficulties seem insuperable2 the game on the #c-;inch pocket or ordinary table is the better game for the vast majority of persons1 if not absolutely the better game of the two1 because of its greater variety1 in that hazards play their part more equally with cannons1 and because scoring is faster and a freer and better style of play is possible4 ,indeed1 if the three-inch pocket table were introduced to clubs and public rooms1 it would probably be found desirable to reduce the length of the game from one hundred to fifty points1 whilst maintaining or only slightly reducing existing charges1 because inferior players who form the majority would score so slowly4 ,again1 if the championship matches were played on an ordinary table1 success would depend mainly on mastery of the spot stroke1 which is held to be undesirable4 ,there is1 of course1 another alternative--to have a table with smaller pockets than the ordinary but larger than those of the championship table1 and perhaps also to increase the size of the balls4 ,it is not safe to be too sure of anything1 but at present1 so far as is known1 such an arrangement has not been tried--save perhaps when ,roberts played ,ives1 and the result was not encouraging2 it may1 therefore1 be neglected on this occasion4 ,in short1 the difference between professional and amateur play must remain so great that in spite of disadvantages the arrangement which seems open to fewest objections is to have two tables1 an ordinary one for amateurs and for exhibition games1 and another with three-inch pockets for the championship4 ,the latter1 with the lines already recommended for regulating cannon play1 or with the push stroke considered to be foul1 would form an excellent field whereon the battles of professionals might be decided4 ,but even supposing the question of the table to be settled1 there is another formidable difficulty in the way of reviving satisfactory matches--namely1 how to insure that the game is genuine and that each competitor is trying to win4 ,the great games of old days were for the most part honest1 the stakes were real1 the rivalry of competitors was evident1 and these facts added greatly to their attraction4 ,men paid a guinea gladly enough to see a game of that sort in comfort who would hesitate to pay five or ten shillings to see a mere exhibition game1 although the play in the latter is certain to be more brilliant because it is unfettered by caution4 ,two causes are apt to have a malign influence on the genuineness of the game2 one1 that gate-money is often of more importance than the stake1 and the other we may call the weakness of human nature4 ,both are somewhat thorny matters to deal with1 the latter specially so2 but those who know most will most readily admit the difficulty4 ,in time there is reason to hope for improvement2 the change of status and character of professional players during the last forty years amply justifies this2 but1 as in other ways of life1 some men are more worthy of confidence than others1 and that course in arranging for a competition is preferable which shall tend to strengthen the idea that honesty is the best policy4 ,to help this the influence of gate-money should be reduced to a minimum1 possibly by making the game short enough to be completed in one day if not at one meeting4 ,the stakes should be substantial1 and it is worth considering whether other advantages could be added to make the position of champion more attractive4 ,but its reward must lie chiefly in the honour and distinction it confers rather than in money1 and therefore no opportunity should be lost of adding to the dignity and consideration of the post2 whilst even as regards remuneration it must have value1 for its possessor will command the highest rates of payment which obtain in his profession4 ,these remarks concerning the championship are agreed to by ,mr4 ,rimington-,wilson and by others who have studied the subject2 they may not improbably before long have to be considered by those entrusted with drawing up conditions for the next match1 which in the ordinary course of things is unlikely to be greatly delayed4 ,for if youth does not advance with the speed which might be expected1 age will inevitably tell and lessen the distance between first and second1 till a combat on even terms is waged1 or the elder retires and allows younger rivals to contest for the position4 ,persons interested in the subject of this chapter will welcome the following memorandum kindly furnished by ,mr4 ,russell ,d4 ,walker1 the well-known sportsman1 who1 amongst other accomplishments1 is a player of much merit on a championship table1 although in places it repeats what has been already told in other parts of this book4 ,,the ,,billiard ,,championship ,it is a matter of regret to many lovers of billiards that they never now see a match for the professional championship4 ,the obvious reason1 of course1 is that there is at the present time one player so far superior to all the rest that it would be useless to challenge him without the slightest chance of success4 ,at the same time1 there would be a great deal of interest aroused if a second prize was instituted1 as it is in several amateur competitions in different branches of sport2 and with such brilliant players as ,diggle1 ,dawson1 ,mitchell1 ,peall1 and ,richards1 excitement would run very high as to their respective chances4 ,up to the year #ahdi ,jonathan ,kentfield was universally allowed to be the greatest exponent of the game1 and it was not till the following year that the ,north-countryman from ,manchester1 ,john ,roberts1 father of the present champion1 gradually made his way to the front4 ,he never met ,kentfield in a match1 the latter declining the contest1 but they did in that year play a few friendly games together at ,kentfield's rooms at ,brighton4 ,from that date1 #ahej1 till #ahfi ,john ,roberts was admittedly the champion1 and during this period he was able to1 and did1 give habitually #cjj in #a1jjj to the next best players1 who were ,bowles1 ,richards 7elder brother of the present ,d4 ,richards71 and ,c4 ,hughes4 ,during #ahfi a young aspirant1 ,wm4 ,cook1 a pupil of the champion1 was being much talked of1 and it was said that his admirers thought he had a great chance of defeating ,john ,roberts if a match could be arranged1 especially as he had developed wonderful skill at what is now universally known as the spot stroke 7of which the champion himself was the introducer1 and up to the present the chief exponent71 and would be able to make so many consecutive hazards that ,roberts' supposed superiority all round would be more than counterbalanced4 ,in fact1 so strongly did this idea prevail that at a meeting of the leading professional players1 convened to draw up rules for the proposed championship match1 it was agreed that the pockets should not exceed three inches1 and that the spot should be placed half an inch nearer the top cushion1 thus making it twelve and a half inches distant instead of thirteen4 ,the history of the match1 played on ,february #aa1 #ahgj1 at ,st4 ,james's ,hall1 has often been related1 and1 as all the billiard world knows1 the younger player succeeded in1 winning the proud position of champion4 ,from that date up to the year #ahhe there have only been three players who have won the title4 ,the number of matches played in these fifteen years amounts to sixteen 7a list of which with dates and results is given on p4 #cgc71 and from the last match#ah up to the present time1 a period of ten years1 ,john ,roberts1 junior1 son of the ,john ,roberts whom ,cook defeated1 has been in undisputed possession of the title of champion4 ,i say undisputed1 because no one has challenged him to play under the rules governing the championship matches1 which were drawn up for the express purpose of deciding the title1 under which all the sixteen matches have been played1 and which have never been abrogated or altered4 ,it has been urged by many that the table is too difficult1 inasmuch as experts at the spot stroke are precluded from making any large number of their favourite hazards2 but it is evident that the intention of the framers of the rules was to render the pockets more difficult1 and not only make the spot stroke1 but every hazard1 whether winning or losing1 require the greatest care2 and no further proof of their discretion is required when we see that all ordinary matches between the leading players are always now1 and have been for some time1 played with the spot stroke barred1 the fact being that the public soon got wearied of the monotony of the stroke1 and would not pay to see it4 ,now to bar a legitimate stroke is an absurdity1 except in the case of the balls getting #8froze' 7as our ,american cousins say7 in the jaws of the pocket1 as happened at the ,aquarium on ,april #bd1 #ahia1 when ,t4 ,taylor made #gbi consecutive cannons 7and more recently at ,knightsbridge1 on ,june #b1 #ahic1 when ,frank ,ives made #a1bfg somewhat similar#ai strokes72 but this position is so rare and so difficult to attain1 that the case could be met by merely declaring that1 should such a contingency arise1 the balls should be broken in the same way as they are when touching4 ,to return to the question of the spot stroke1 it is not barred on the championship table any more than a difficult losing hazard1 such as a short jenny2 it is merely rendered more difficult1 and the greatest accuracy is required for its successful manipulation2 but there can be little doubt that ,peall1 with his extraordinary power of perseverance and unfailing accuracy1 would1 with practice1 in a very short time make fifty consecutive hazards1 and probably more4 ,it must not be thought for one moment that the three-inch pocket table is advocated for general use in exhibition matches2 for1 though caviare to those who have really made a study of the game1 the scoring is not rapid enough to satisfy the palate of the majority of the public1 whose great idea is to witness something big in the way of figures1 and who would prefer to see a break of several hundreds amassed by the repetition of one particular stroke to an all-round break of various strokes from different positions1 however masterly the execution1 which might not even reach three figures4 ,still1 in spite of this hankering after sensational scoring1 if we compare the number of spectators at the fifteen matches for the championship played from #ahgj to #ahhe inclusive with the attendances at the ordinary spot-barred exhibitions of to-day1 and at the same time take into consideration the enormous extent to which the game of billiards has developed during the last decade 7,i speak only from personal observation71 the balance would probably be in favour of the former period4 ,it must not1 however1 be forgotten1 on the other hand1 that there is a great difference in interest to the spectators between a bona-fide match for a stake and an ordinary exhibition game1 where there is no other incentive than the glory of winning4 ,who does not remember with delight the wonderful strengths and neat execution of ,w4 ,cook1 and the losing hazard striking of ,joseph ,bennett1 and the keen rivalry which prevailed between these players and the present champion in their contests8 ,roberts declares that he attributes the height of excellence he has reached to be mainly owing to those years of play on the championship table2 and though not himself an advocate for it as far as ordinary exhibition matches are concerned1 yet1 if called upon to defend his title1 he considers that the table which has always been used according to the championship rules should still be adhered to1 an opinion in which he is supported by other well-known players of the past and present4 ,we have some reason to hope that before very long we may perhaps see a challenge issued to the champion1 so great are the strides that the younger generation are making at the game2 and though to those who watch ,john ,roberts play it seems almost impossible that they will ever see his equal1 it must not be forgotten that in one remarkable week when giving ,diggle more than one-third of the game1 viz41 #i1jjj out of #bd1jjj1 the latter absolutely scored more points in the first six days' play than the champion4 ,there can be no doubt that1 within reasonable limits1 in all games the greater the difficulties presented the greater is the satisfaction in overcoming them1 and the higher is the standard of excellence attained2 and it is much to be hoped that we may again see such interesting and scientific matches between our leading players as we used to have from #ahgj to #ahhe4 ,one word more3 is it not high time that the push stroke should be abolished once and for all8 ,it is not allowed by any other billiard-playing nation1 and is equally unfair with the so-called quill or feather stroke1 which was tabooed years and years ago4 ,r4 ,d4 ,w4 ,regarding play on a championship table1 little need be said2 the practice prescribed for an ordinary one for the most part holds good1 and diagrams of strokes1 such as accompany ,chapters ,,iv41 ,v41 ,,vii1 and the figures of nursery cannons in ,chapter ,x41 are applicable with but little alteration4 ,as regards cannons generally1 it is of course evident that the stroke is the same on both tables1 and as to hazards the only real difference is that with easier pockets there is a larger margin for error4 ,hence a few words of caution as to the execution of strokes and the policy of play are alone required4 ,for making easy losing hazards1 certainty is most readily assured by striking ball #a a gentle strength rather under the centre2 this has the effect of slightly diminishing the natural development of rotation and of decreasing the rebound due to elasticity after impact4 ,a ball thus struck seems to travel on straight rather than on curved lines1 and the stroke is specially useful for short jennies4 ,similarly for long losing hazards drag with strength rather under ,no4 #b will be found very useful3 but hazards should be subordinated to cannon play2 they should be chiefly used as a means of getting cannon breaks4 ,when1 however1 they have to be played and are not certainties1 it is better to strike with freedom than to attempt to secure success by extreme gentleness and caution2 for accuracy is more probable when the stroke is played with customary strength than when great softness necessitates placing the ball at a strange angle4 ,in case of failure also the freer stroke is less likely to leave an easy opening for the adversary1 whilst at the same time it may be usefully kept in mind that if somewhat more caution in attempting a hazard is necessary1 less apprehension need be felt as to leaving balls near pockets4 ,it is a matter of common knowledge that on an ordinary table the better the stroke for a hazard1 that is1 the nearer it is to success 7so long as that is not obtained71 the greater is the penalty for failure4 ,realising this1 many persons play with more strength than is necessary1 in the hope of bringing the ball away from the pocket in case of a miss1 which often results in consequence of the precaution4 ,when pockets are difficult this consideration may to a great extent be neglected1 and attention may be concentrated on making the hazard4 ,another point which should be noticed is that amateurs are more nearly equalised on a championship than on an ordinary table4 ,a man who on the latter could give his adversary thirty points in a hundred1 would probably find that on the former he could not give more than twenty points4 ,the usual fault is that persons accustomed to the #c inch pockets are afraid of the smaller ones1 and try a great deal too much for absolute accuracy1 a procedure which is simply fatal to success4 ,hence strength approaching to that generally used by each person will be found best4 ,should the stroke be missed the balls will come reasonably away1 whereas if it should be made1 the player has presumably some idea of the position to be left1 and a fair chance of continuing the break4 ,by following that policy and by determinedly playing for cannon breaks1 specially nurseries1 success may reasonably be expected4 ,do not break your heart over difficult hazards1 leave that to the adversary2 but hold tenaciously to every chance of cannons4 ,play1 in fact1 as ,ives did with ,roberts4 ,the latter could very possibly give the former half the game in one of the usual spot-barred exhibitions1 but when the pockets were reduced in size and larger balls were brought into play1 the ,american had the best of the deal and won accordingly4 ,from the preceding remarks it will be gathered that whilst for practice the manual prescribed for an ordinary table may be followed1 in a game the player must pursue a different policy4 ,hazards which require strength greater than ,no4 #b should be avoided1 and the ordinary idea of bringing the object ball back to the middle of the table after a middle-pocket hazard1 half-ball or finer1 should be superseded by playing with reduced strength1 and1 when the object ball is the red1 being contented with leaving it in play1 that is1 between the lines ,,pm1 ,,qn1 laid down on many of the diagrams4 ,when ball #b happens to be the opponent's ball endeavour should be made to leave it in the neighbourhood of the spot4 ,with these qualifications the advanced player 7and we think no other should use three-inch pockets7 will find the directions for making breaks in ,chapter ,x4 useful1 specially those which refer to play at the top of the table and at cushion nurseries2 practice will soon result in a very considerable modification of the ordinary game1 but the changes will vary with the personal qualities of the player1 who will soon adopt those which suit him best4 ,as scoring on a tight-pocket table is decidedly slower than on an ordinary one1 it follows that safety and cautious play have more effect in the former game4 ,hence potting the opponent's ball and leaving a double baulk1 and similar tactics1 are more likely to be rewarded with ultimate success than when that style of game is followed on a table with #c-;inch pockets4 ,whether that is or is not an advantage is a question for the reader to decide for himself2 one good result with which it may be credited is to encourage the practice of strokes for the purpose of scoring from1 or at any rate of disturbing1 a double baulk4 ,it is1 we think1 unnecessary to say more at present respecting play on a championship table2 in time1 perhaps1 improvement in amateur form may be so great and so universal as to make the more difficult supersede the easier game2 but that day is distant1 and speculation as to its requirements is under existing circumstances unprofitable4 ,billiard ,championship ,matches ,points ,date ,players ,won by #a1bjj ,feb4 #aa1 #ahgj ,cook b4 ,roberts1 senr4 #agj #a1jjj ,april #ad1 #ahgj ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,cook #dgh #a1jjj ,may #cj1 #ahgj ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,bowles #bdf #a1jjj ,nov4 #bh1 #ahgj ,jos4 ,bennett b4 ,roberts1 jun4 #ie #a1jjj ,jan4 #cj1 #ahga ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,bennett #cfc #a1jjj ,may #be1 #ahga ,cook b4 ,roberts1 jun4 #ae #a1jjj ,nov4 #ba1 #ahga ,cook b4 ,jos4 ,bennett #eh #a1jjj ,mar4 #d1 #ahgb ,cook b4 ,roberts1 jun4 #bja #a1jjj ,feb4 #d1 #ahgd ,cook b4 ,roberts1 jun4 #baf #a1jjj ,may #bd1 #ahge ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,cook #afc #a1jjj ,dec4 #bj1 #ahge ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,cook #ace #a1jjj ,may #bh1 #ahgg ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,cook #bbc #a1jjj ,nov4 #h1 #ahhj ,jos4 ,bennett b4 ,cook #ea #a1jjj ,jan4 #ab #ac1 #ahha ,jos4 ,bennett b4 ,taylor #ij #c1jjj ,mar4 #cj and #ca1 and ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,cook #ib ,april #a1 #ahhe #c1jjj ,june #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 #ahhe ,roberts1 jun41 b4 ,jos4 ,bennett #a1fdj ,,chapter ,,xii ,,the ,,rules ,,of ,,the ,,game ,,of ,,billiards ,in a game so scientific and at the same time so popular as billiards1 played1 as it is occasionally1 for important stakes1 the rules evidently should be clear1 precise1 and sufficient4 ,that those in force in #ahie fulfil these conditions will not be affirmed by any person of experience2 indeed1 more versions than one exist and are current1 whilst the opinions of experts even do not coincide as to the provisions which should be included4 ,hence1 it is evident that the problem cannot be satisfactorily solved until the various matters have been fully considered by a carefully selected body of men1 in which the professional element is sufficiently but not predominantly represented1 and which should contain persons capable1 from habit and training1 of recording the decisions arrived at lucidly and in good ,english4 ,the work to be done is in many respects similar to that of drafting an ,act1 and similar qualifications are required for doing it well4 ,in this book1 however1 in dealing with rules1 the main question is1 ,what version at present existent has the best title to the obedience of players8 ,this1 we think1 can only be answered in one way if we deal with things as they are1 not necessarily as they should be1 and that is by accepting as valid the rules prepared by the ,billiard ,association of ,great ,britain and ,ireland4 ,they were compiled by the chief professional players of the day1 who do not appear to have had the advantages of educated amateur criticism or of the services of an expert to draw them up in a satisfactory manner4 ,under them1 however1 the principal games of recent years1 both exhibition and those for genuine money1 have been played1 and therefore they have perhaps the best title to be considered as the laws of the game4 ,sold1 too1 by the ,association at half a crown a copy1 they form1 it is believed1 its main source of income4 ,but both title and income are held on a precarious tenure1 for there is little doubt1 the present code being so imperfect1 that if a committee of suitable persons were formed an improved set of rules might easily be framed which would supersede existing ones1 and might be sold at a price more nearly approaching to their cost of production4 ,in an article written for the first number of the #8,billiard ,review1' at the champion's request the present writer thus summarised the needs or wants of the ,association rules3-- ,considered generally1 the code requires rearrangement on a system4 ,it should begin by defining the game and implements1 by prescribing the positions of the spots1 the baulk-line1 the 1 and so on1 keeping such preliminary matters at the commencement1 and not scattering them broadcast4444 ,then the code should proceed step by step1 one leading to another2 explanation or definition should precede1 and not succeed1 reference to terms4444 ,again1 some of the rules seem superfluous or capable of being embodied in other rules1 thus reducing the number and tending to their simplification4 ,in commenting on this1 ,john ,roberts remarked that it was high time that the rules were recast1 and he has kindly offered to give any assistance in his power4 ,as a general guide to the preparation of a code it was stated in the article already quoted that the rules should be as few1 as simple1 and as clear as possible2 of a nature general rather than particular2 and that for one offence one penalty1 ample1 but never vindictive1 should suffice4 ,inquiry was suggested how far accidental may be distinguished from intentional offence4 ,further1 the principle that the struggle for victory ought to be strictly confined to the players1 no one under any pretence soever being permitted to assist or advise either1 must be recognised2 and provision should be made for offences1 recollecting that very often the offenders are spectators1 and that in dealing with them it may be difficult1 if not impossible1 to enforce a penalty4 ,again1 444 knowing1 as all do1 how the custom of different rooms varies1 and how habitually in certain places great laxity prevails1 how far is it wise to make laws with the full knowledge that they will be broken with impunity and by common consent8 ,all will agree that unless such rules are plainly required in the interests of the game they should be cancelled2 but when they are beneficial and necessary they must be supported or provided1 and it would seem best that the option of enforcing them should be left to the non-striker4 ,each rule should have a brief marginal reference to its subject1 and when explanation is difficult or doubtful it should be illustrated by examples4 ,as these considerations may help the framers of the next set of rules1 it seems right to include them in this chapter1 in which1 however1 it is not proposed to discuss minor matters in detail1 for that can be better done when the amendment of the code is undertaken2 but there are certain questions connected with the rules so important to the game that their examination here is appropriate4 ,these are3 #a4 ,the desirability or otherwise of attempting to discriminate between the act of aiming and the act of striking4 #b4 ,the necessity for a special penalty for playing a miss otherwise than with the point of the cue4 #c4 ,playing with the wrong ball4 #d4 ,foul strokes4 #e4 ,procedure when player's ball touches another ball4 #f4 ,offences committed by persons other than the players4 #g4 ,obstruction of the striker by the non-striker4 #h4 ,how far the marker may assist either player2 and1 finally1 #i4 ,the push stroke4 ,in offering remarks and suggestions on these matters there is no desire to arrogate any superiority of judgment or any right to decide4 ,it is fully understood that opinions will differ1 and that those brought forward here may not commend themselves to the majority of experts2 but they are the result of study and of consultation with persons well qualified to be heard on such matters1 and1 therefore1 they are put forward as of sufficient importance to warrant their receiving due weight when action is taken in respect to the rules4 ,dealing with the questions in their numerical order1 let us examine3 #a4 ,the results of trying to discriminate between the act of aiming and the act of striking4 ,now1 these two together constitute a stroke1 the first being the preliminary1 the second the final part2 and it is not always easy to say where the one ends and the other begins4 ,here1 therefore1 there is an element of uncertainty which if possible should be eliminated1 the more so because argument as to a fact of which no one but the striker can be really cognisant is avoided4 ,the matter can be satisfactorily settled by simply ruling that if a player touches his ball his doing so shall be considered a stroke4 ,in addition to removing a somewhat thorny subject of discussion1 which in itself is sufficient recommendation1 such a provision is very much sounder than any attempt to divide a stroke into its component parts and to treat each differently4 ,why should carelessness during the first part of a stroke be pardoned whilst during the last it is punished8 ,it is not unusual for a striker who inadvertently touches his ball to remark that he was not in the act of striking1 and to proceed to give a safe miss4 ,this often happens when a difficult stroke is attempted and the safe miss is unquestionably his best game and the worst for his adversary1 who1 realising the fact and perceiving the opening for profitable generosity1 begs the striker not to mind the little accident1 but to replace his ball and play the stroke again4 ,with a young player this disinterestedness is usually rewarded1 but an older one will decline to take advantage of such good-nature and will adhere to the safety miss4 ,now1 if the touch was held under the rules to be1 as it is actually1 a stroke1 there would be no inducement for this little by-play1 and the offender would not have the option of embarrassing his opponent and escaping from the effects of his blunder by playing for safety4 ,a stroke is a stroke whether played hard or soft1 whether intentional or accidental1 and the rules should uphold this fact4 ,if they did 7and this is a further recommendation71 several rules or provisions in the code of the ,association might be expunged1 and it would thereby gain in clearness and simplicity4 #b4 ,playing a miss otherwise than with the point of the cue4 ,the general rule is that all strokes must be played with the point of the cue1 and that they are foul if otherwise made4 ,this perhaps meets all cases sufficiently save that of giving a miss for safety4 ,some players1 from carelessness or in order to assume a dgag style which they consider to be attractive and indicating that they do not need to stand on much ceremony with their opponent1 give the miss with the side of the cue1 and if they have made the ball travel too fast they have no hesitation in stopping it4 ,as matters stand1 all that can be done in such a case is to insist on the person playing the stroke properly2 but this is insufficient1 and it is not absolutely clear whether he can be forced to do so4 ,distinct provision for this should be made and a sufficient penalty provided1 so that this practice1 which is discourteous to the adversary1 and which1 if the ball is stopped1 involves two offences1 may be prevented4 ,it is a bad practice1 too1 for the man who indulges in it1 for he may do it on some occasions when unpleasantness would result1 and1 moreover1 indulgence in the habit is likely to lead to loss of power to give a miss in the proper way4 #c4 ,playing with the wrong ball4 ,under the ,association rules1 if the striker plays with the wrong ball the opponent has the choice of three penalties and the option of claiming them4 ,he cannot1 however1 enforce any unless the error be discovered and claimed before the next stroke4 ,this rule seems objectionable in more ways than one4 ,unless there are very cogent reasons for ruling otherwise1 one offence should have but one penalty1 and the adversary1 who is an interested party1 should not be permitted to decide what measure and form of punishment are appropriate4 ,surely an adequate penalty could be devised the infliction of which would have no suspicion of vindictiveness4 ,the limitation1 too1 is not very fortunate1 and usually leads to discussion1 for the offender often avers that he played with the ball which the non-striker did not use2 this of course is really no argument1 but it is often successful1 for men generally prefer to avoid dispute4 #d4 ,foul strokes4 ,the ,association ,rule #cj is incomplete and badly worded4 ,presumably1 all strokes which are not fair are foul1 and if a list is given it should be as complete as possible4 ,were this attended to1 and were the recommendations under #a accepted1 the result would be to decrease the number of rules and to simplify the code4 #e4 ,when player's ball touches another ball4 ,in old days1 if under these circumstances a score was made1 the stroke was held to be foul and the opponent broke the balls4 ,this was apparently thought to bear too severely on delicate play1 specially as the touch was often the result of imperfection in the balls or table2 and the present rule was introduced1 which provides that the red be placed on the spot1 the non-striker's ball on the centre spot1 whilst the striker may play from baulk4 ,this change enormously improves the value of close positions for cannon play1 and one of its results is the fearless cultivation of nurseries2 but whether that is a benefit to the game of billiards is another matter4 ,the question how to deal with the case of balls which touch is really surrounded with difficulty4 ,it has always appeared hard that if at the end of a stroke fairly made the striker's ball should touch another ball1 his next stroke should be foul4 ,he has not offended1 and why should he be punished for playing with exact strength8 ,the only apparent reason for ruling the next stroke foul is that it is a certainty2 the striker1 if he can play into any pocket or on the third ball1 must score1 and he cannot give a miss4 ,what is the objection to this8 ,is not the object of all work at billiards and the measure of success thereat to be able to leave a certainty to follow each stroke8 ,in the case of close cannons the stroke is practically no more certain if the balls touch than if they are the conventional small distance apart4 ,other unknown considerations may affect the question and make the present or former ruling fair and advantageous for the game1 but in their absence no sufficient case is made out against abolishing the rules respecting balls touching and permitting the striker to play on4 ,possibly the objections to this in nursery cannon play are so great as to make the arrangement undesirable1 but it is open to question how far it would materially affect the length of the series4 ,at any rate1 whilst expressing no strong opinion1 it is clear that the proposal merits consideration4 ,a collateral advantage would be doing away with the need for a reference to the umpire or marker on a point often most difficult to decide1 and one concerning which mistake is frequent4 #f4 ,offences committed by persons other than the players4 ,these are not easily dealt with1 chiefly because of the difficulty of enforcing a penalty2 and many of them1 moreover1 are rather the result of bad manners1 want of observation of the etiquette of the room1 and ignorance1 than of intention to offend4 ,perhaps the commonest and one of the most offensive errors a spectator can be guilty of is offering advice to a player4 ,this is of course promptly resented if there is money on the game4 ,that1 however1 is not enough2 the mischief may be done1 and no amount of penitence can then compensate4 ,but the practice is equally reprehensible if there is no money at stake2 the competitors should have a fair field and no favour4 ,another offence is obstructing a player1 and this expression covers accidentally coming against him1 or being in his way when striking a ball1 or doing any other act which interferes with his stroke--moving in his line of sight1 scratching a match1 or extinguishing it by waving it up and down in front of him1 entering or leaving the room on the stroke1 speaking to a player or conversing in a loud tone sufficient to distract his attention4 ,want of the certainty that these matters will receive consideration1 and of all power to enforce them except at the risk of being considered unreasonable1 is one of the reasons why really good amateurs abstain so largely from playing in clubs4 ,it is worthy of consideration whether a spectator who sees the game wrongly marked should be allowed to state the fact4 ,we think that he should not have this permission1 on the principle that the struggle should be strictly confined to the players1 and that they1 and they only1 should be allowed to question the score4 ,the spectator is almost as likely to be wrong as right1 and an interruption is caused which had better have been avoided4 ,lastly1 it has been usual to provide that in case the marker or referee could not decide a point1 the majority of spectators might be appealed to4 ,as a rule1 the majority of spectators know so little about such matters1 and1 not being so well placed as the marker or referee to judge of questions of fact1 it would seem in every way preferable in case of doubt to produce a coin and leave the matter to the arbitrament of chance4 #g4 ,obstruction of the striker by the non-striker4 ,the intention of the rules whereby deliberate obstruction or wilful interference with the run of the balls shall be punished by the loss of the game is excellent1 as also is the provision that the non-player shall leave the table and avoid the player's line of sight2 but the rules are not very definite4 ,in the first place1 what is deliberate obstruction8 ,clouds of tobacco smoke blown across the table interfere with sight1 and pieces of tobacco and ashes obstruct the run of the balls2 a remark which distracts the player's attention is an obstruction as much and as deliberate as if the opponent laid his cue on the table1 but it is less tangible and more difficult to deal with4 ,what is desired is complete liberty and freedom for each player when in possession of the table2 it matters comparatively little whether the offence is accidental or intentional1 for the penalty should be sufficient to meet the graver case4 ,if a seat is available for the non-striker1 it is surely not much to ask that he should occupy it and remove himself to a fair distance from the table4 #h4 ,how far the marker may assist either player4 ,regarding this an opinion has already been plainly expressed that the struggle should be strictly confined to the players1 neither of them being allowed to receive extraneous advice4 ,it is no argument1 or but a very poor one1 to contend that the same advice is open to both players2 and no such sophistry can make it right that the judgment and eyesight of the marker should be at the disposal of an adversary who is either too lazy or too blind to see for himself how far the cue-tip is from the ball4 ,when two men are playing billiards1 he who helps the one injures the other1 and the more careless and lazy the performer1 the more help will he receive1 a result clearly injurious to the best interests of the game and unfair to the attentive man4 ,the latter will seldom err as to which ball he should play with1 whilst the former after almost every break will commence by inquiring which is his ball or play with the wrong one4 ,again1 strokes with the half or long-butt are fruitful causes of failure4 ,is it right that a player should be permitted to ask the marker whether the cue-tip is within proper distance of the ball8 ,certainly not4 ,if one of the players' sight is better than the other's1 he should profit thereby1 just as he may lawfully profit by any other advantage he is fortunate enough to possess4 ,believing1 as we do1 that it is most important to let the struggle lie absolutely between the two combatants and to preserve the strictest neutrality1 and that advice or assistance of the nature indicated should1 if asked for1 be refused1 it follows that the custom some markers have of offering the rest or the half-butt is at least equally objectionable4 ,it is often done in perfect innocence1 but it may have a most undesirable effect on the game1 and the impulse to take the initiative should be restrained4 #i4 ,the push stroke4 ,the vexed question whether this stroke is to be permitted or to be prohibited will1 we think1 have to be arbitrarily decided--decided1 that is1 not on its real merits1 but on the consideration of expediency4 ,it is always rather a pity when this is so1 and with the view of laying before those interested matters concerning the stroke which might escape notice1 we shall endeavour to collect them and to assign to each its due importance4 ,to begin with1 those who assert roundly that all push strokes are foul because there are several impacts between cue-tip and ball are practically wrong4 ,in very close pushes1 such as those employed in nursery cannons1 or in any stroke when balls #a and #b are nearly touching1 if played by a person who has mastered the art1 the vast majority are fair strokes--that is1 they are made with the point of the cue1 and ball #a is not twice struck4 ,in other words1 it is possible to push a ball for some distance with the point of the cue without losing touch4 ,it is dangerous to drive any argument to extremes1 and for practical purposes it is well to bear in mind that de minimis non curat lex4 ,against the opinion just expressed that it is possible to push a ball for a short distance fairly1 those who contend that such is not the case base their view on the fact that as soon as the ball begins to travel it also begins to rotate1 and that when rotation is established continued impact is impossible4 ,they contend that though it may appear to be continuous it really is not so1 and that the stroke consists of a number of little blows1 which might be represented by a dotted line1 instead of absolutely steady impact1 which would be represented by a line4 ,it seems unprofitable to attempt to go into such minuti4 ,if the touches are sufficiently close together the result is continued impact2 in other words1 if the dots are close enough together they cease to be dots and form the line4 ,a man who allows these minute matters to obscure his judgment might equally well argue that a ball rotating quickly in the direction of its path was not in constant contact with the cloth4 ,no doubt it is not1 and but a small irregularity1 an atom of dust1 chalk1 or tobacco1 will if passed over cause the ball to jump perceptibly2 contact with the cloth is visibly interrupted and again assumed1 and the ball for an instant is off the table1 yet no one would dream of inquiring whether the stroke was in consequence vitiated1 or of raising the question as to whether the ball was knocked off the table4 ,so much for those who base their opposition to the push stroke on the assumption that it is always foul and1 following timid or incapable referees1 rule it so invariably on appeal4 ,another so-called proof that the stroke is generally foul is arrived at by either chalking a cue heavily and pushing the red ball1 when1 it is argued1 if contact is continuous1 the ball will show a line of chalk on its surface1 but if impact has been interrupted the line will be broken2 or by pushing with a cue whose tip has been removed1 when the fact of repeated impacts is conveyed to the player by the sense of feeling--in other words1 he feels the friction between the ball and cue4 ,neither of these tests is conclusive2 in the first it is manifest that sooner or later the expenditure of chalk on the tip must result in none being applied to the ball1 or a slight variation in pressure or some other accident might account for the chalk not adhering to it2 in the second1 all that need be said is1 when it is desired to play a fair push stroke do not select a cue without a tip4 ,were the tip made of cotton or wool or a similar fabric1 it is evident that there would be no difficulty in keeping some part or other of it in contact with the ball even over a long course4 ,but the fact is these far-fetched objections should carry no weight1 and1 as far as we can judge1 a practical and impartial person who desires to consider the matter is justified in starting with the assumption that the push is not necessarily foul4 ,if1 however1 on theoretical grounds it were so ruled1 it follows at once that many other strokes hitherto unsuspected or uncomplained of would for the same reason have to be prohibited4 ,of these the half-push 7see p4 #bcj7 is an example1 and indeed it is not too much to say that in every stroke in which balls #a and #b are close1 and which has to be played at all hard1 whether a follow or a close screw1 in both of which the cue-tip follows up ball #a1 the probability is great that there have been at least two distinct impacts4 ,before going further it is reasonable to inquire why a ball should not be struck twice4 ,there does not seem to be any special rule in the ,association code prohibiting the practice1 the only one under which it can be brought being ,rule #cj1 wherein impeding or accelerating the progress of a ball is declared to make the stroke foul2 and this is an excellent example of how badly those rules are drafted2 for in every stroke played with follow the progress of the ball is accelerated1 whilst in every drag stroke it is impeded1 and yet both are fair strokes4 ,however1 as there is no other rule on the subject1 this must be accepted1 it being conceded1 for the sake of argument1 that subsequent impacts of the cue make the ball travel faster4 ,now1 it seems on consideration that the reason for prohibiting a second impact is that a player is entitled to one stroke only at a time2 he must not1 once he has set ball #a in motion1 take a second stroke to correct deficiencies4 ,these deficiencies are likely to be of two kinds--either ball #a is struck too gently1 in which case there is temptation to help it with a second blow2 or it is sent in a wrong direction1 when there is inducement to correct the error by an application of the cue4 ,to condemn the push stroke as contravening this rule seems somewhat far-fetched4 ,but1 granting all this1 there are most serious objections to the stroke1 of which perhaps the strongest is the great difficulty of discriminating between a fair and a foul push4 ,in many instances it requires a man who has mastered the stroke to judge1 and in others markers and referees are apt most unwarrantably to make up their minds that1 if the push is allowed1 any stroke so made1 however palpably foul1 must be passed2 whilst others take precisely the opposite view1 and on appeal rule every push to be foul4 ,the difficulty of judging is their only excuse1 but to rule any stroke as foul unless they distinctly saw and can name the act which made it so is to prove themselves unfitted for the post of referee4 ,a vast proportion of amateurs cannot make the stroke1 which requires much determination and steadiness1 as well as a good deal of practice2 they are most suspicious of those who can do it1 and resent a ruling that their clumsy endeavour is foul1 whilst another smoothly made by an expert is fair4 ,being ignorant of the difference1 they feel injured1 and express their feelings more or less eloquently to the marker1 who to avoid such scenes rules all push strokes to be foul4 ,another important objection to the push is that it induces a slovenly style of cannon play1 and that1 so far as we know1 it is not permitted by any other billiard-playing nation4 ,this is a drawback when our players compete with foreigners1 not merely because the difficulties of arranging the game are enhanced1 but because our representatives are wanting in the skill which is required to surmount obstacles usually overcome by the push4 ,the case for and against the push stroke was thus condensed in the #8,times' of ,december #ag1 #ahid3-- ,opinions will vary1 for there are many arguments on both sides4 ,those opposed to it maintain1 in the first place1 that it is always foul1 because cue-tip and ball come in contact more than once2 that it is a slovenly mode of evading difficulties which should be conquered by fair means2 and that1 therefore1 its use is detrimental to the game1 players not being encouraged to acquire the skill possessed by foreign exponents4 ,on the other hand1 those in favour of it will deny the separate contacts or affirm contact to be so nearly continuous that the difference between a push and an ordinary stroke is merely one of duration2 they will truly say that it is a stroke requiring much skill1 and greatly extending the possibilities of the ,english game1 in which mass can never play the part it does in the ,french game2 and1 lastly1 that to abolish it would lengthen play1 which is undesirable4 ,we do not know that much more remains to be said2 as far as can be judged1 the balance of opinion1 professional and amateur1 is in #ahie perhaps in favour of its retention1 and ,roberts's remark that he does not think the time has arrived when it should be prohibited is doubtless sound from the point of view of gate-money1 which naturally influences professional opinion1 and is1 moreover1 a test of popularity which deserves some consideration2 but it is by no means conclusive as to what is best in the interests of the game4 ,and signs are not wanting that the days of the push stroke are numbered4 ,illustration3 ,,are ,,they ,,touching8 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,pyramids1 ,,pool1 ,,and ,,country-,,house ,,games ,,by ,w4 ,j4 ,,ford ,when and under what circumstances winning hazard games were invented1 billiard history does not record4 ,every player1 however1 must have met men with little aptitude for the more scientific game of billiards1 who1 being blessed with good sight and sound nerve1 play well at pyramids and pool4 ,for their benefit these games were doubtless produced1 demanding as they do considerable skill and knowledge1 and lending themselves especially to being played for money4 ,it is an established fact that persons will play billiards for nothing who would never dream of playing pyramids1 c4 for love2 and also that many who would think twice before risking a shilling or half a crown on a hundred game at billiards would lightly and cheerfully take part in a game of pyramids or pool for stakes at which a far greater sum can readily be lost or won4 ,one thing the beginner must remember--that he will have to pay for his experience4 ,he may be a fair hazard striker1 with a moderate power of cue and sound ideas about strength and position1 but until he has played a good many games of pool and pyramids1 with the money up1 and has overcome the nervousness incidental to playing in public for a stake1 he will never master the game4 ,all must go through the fiery ordeal of the public room1 where every shot is fired in earnest and there are no blank cartridges4 ,the price to be paid must depend on the beginner's nerve and his aptitude for such games1 but he will find that practice and observation work wonders1 and that when he has watched fine players and played with them1 his losses will begin to dwindle1 and gradually transform themselves into winnings4 ,a few general hints may not be out of place before discussing the different games in detail4 ,it is really important to use the same cue as far as possible2 it is as essential as one's own gun1 bat1 or racquet1 and as jointed cues can now be procured1 which are easily carried in the hand or packed in a portmanteau1 it is prudent to get one4 ,some players fancy a heavy cue1 with a broad top1 for winning hazards2 but this is a matter of taste1 and it is generally wise always to use the same weapon4 ,it should be remembered1 in playing pool or pyramids after billiards1 that the balls are usually smaller1 lighter1 and less true4 ,another essential point is a strict adherence to rules4 ,it is an unfortunate thing for billiards that this principle is not observed with rigid strictness1 that fouls are often not claimed1 that players are allowed to get on the table1 and so forth2 but the curious thing is that1 lax as many men are on these points over a game of billiards played for nothing1 they are very strict when they are playing for money2 so as long as billiards is played1 it is perhaps well that there should be a small stake on the game1 if only to induce every one to make ,sarah ,battle's whist the model of what his billiards should be4 ,her celebrated wish was #8the rigour of the game4 ,she took and gave no concessions4 ,she hated favours4 ,she never made a revoke1 nor ever passed it over in her adversary without exacting the utmost forfeiture2' and where she emphatically asserted that cards were cards1 ,i repeat that billiards is billiards4 ,again1 the etiquette of the room should be most carefully observed1 though it is frequently neglected4 ,it is the duty of the man who has played his stroke to retire #8to a reasonable distance and keep out of the line of sight'--the rules require this2 but there are many people1 unfortunately1 who think this a good time to light a pipe1 talk in a loud tone of voice to a bystander1 give stentorian orders to the waiter1 and so forth1 forgetting that a game is in progress which is making every demand on the striker's nerve and self-possession4 ,such offenders are numerous1 they are public nuisances in the room1 and it is small consolation to the persons disturbed to be assured that their delinquencies were unintentional4 ,any game that is worth playing at all is worth playing seriously and strenuously1 and the cultivation of habits of silence1 decorum1 and self-restraint is a duty we owe to our friend the enemy and have a right to expect from him in return4 ,,pyramids ,this game is played with one white and fifteen red balls1 the latter being set up in the form of a triangle or pyramid1 with the apex-ball nearest to the baulk-line and on the pyramid spot4 ,as a rule1 only two players take part in a game1 and the order of playing is decided by lot4 ,the first stroke is played from the 1 as are all subsequent strokes if the white ball has gone into a pocket or has been forced off the table4 ,the object of the game is to hole the red balls with the white1 each ball so holed counting as one2 but1 should the striker make a losing hazard 7notwithstanding that he holes a red ball with the same stroke71 or force a red ball or his own off the table1 or miss altogether1 he loses a ball--i4e4 one is deducted from his score and a ball put up on the table4 ,any ball or balls he may have taken by such a stroke are put up as well4 ,if the striker's score is love1 and he incurs this penalty1 he is said to owe one 7or more1 as the case may be71 and no ball can be put up till he has made a winning hazard2 if he owes more than one1 a ball is restored for each hazard he makes1 until he has paid off his debts4 ,after a miss the next player plays from where the white ball stops2 but if the latter is pocketed or forced off the table he plays from the at any ball he chooses1 whether in baulk or not4 ,when only two balls--the white and one red--are left on the table1 the game becomes single pool2 after white has played on red1 red plays on white1 and so on till one of the two is holed4 ,these are the salient points of the game2 other details may be gleaned from the printed rules which should be in every billiard-room4 ,points are scored 7see ,rules #d and #e7bj by giving balls or owing balls1 or both4 ,when a player gives one or more balls1 they are scored to his opponent before the game begins1 and are removed from the table4 ,if he owes one or more1 the first time a winning hazard is made the ball is put up on the table1 and nothing is added to the striker's score till all the balls he owes have been put up4 ,when the odds are combined1 each ball given is removed1 and no hazard counts till all debts are paid2 e4g4 if he gives one and owes two1 one ball is removed 7see ,rule #d71 his opponent scores one1 and the giver of odds cannot score till he has holed two balls1 each of which has to be put back on the table 7see ,rule #ah74 ,the rules for foul strokes are the same as at billiards1 but if a player wilfully touch a moving ball1 he loses the game2#ba to do so accidentally makes that stroke foul 7see also ,rule #bc74 ,i once saw a pretty commentary on ,rule #ah1 which directs that a ball which has to be put up be placed on the pyramid spot4 ,the player1 who owed four1 made a hazard and got exact position behind the pyramid spot in a line with the corner pocket1 and1 screwing back each time1 holed each ball as it was put up4 ,balls forced off the table are put up again1 but the striker's break is at an end unless he also holes a ball 7see ,rules #ah and #ai74 ,nothing can be said on the question of handicapping players4 ,of course their relative skill at billiards affords no criterion of their relative powers at pyramids4 ,a few games will best decide the question2 but it may be remarked that to give a ball is a far higher handicap than to owe a ball1 as the adversary starts with a point to the good1 and there are only fourteen coloured balls on the table2 whereas the player who owes a ball only forfeits the first hazard he makes4 ,before the game commences the first step is to set up the balls properly4 ,in theory each ball should touch its immediate neighbours1 but in practice this is of course impossible4 ,they should1 however1 be collected in the triangle1 and then rolled smartly up and down parallel to the sides of the table1 the apex-ball never going beyond the pyramid spot4 ,after this has been done two or three times the motion should be sharply stopped when the apex-ball is on the spot1 and the pyramid will then be fairly correct4 ,there are three ways of playing the first stroke1 two of them unsound4 ,the first wrong way is to smash the pyramid by a vicious hit from baulk1 for which ,captain ,crawley1 in #8,the ,billiard ,book1' recommends a mysterious #8under-handed stroke2' but in whatever way the stroke is played it is unsound1 as there are only two pockets behind the pyramid into which to drive a ball4 ,the second wrong method is to play slowly up the table with a little side1 missing the pyramid on the upward journey1 and just dropping on to it from the top cushion4 ,old-fashioned players are fond of this opening1 but it is not sound1 as the adversary can easily get safe1 or1 if he likes1 he can smash with four pockets open to him4 ,whether he be wise to do so is another question2 with a weak adversary1 to whom he is giving odds1 it may be advisable4 ,i have seen no less than five balls disappear after such a stroke2 but if a winning hazard is not made1 the break of course goes to the other side3 it is a matter of speculation1 the chances being naturally in favour of the stronger player4 ,at no time should a smash be tried except when four pockets are open--i4e4 from the top of the table2 a stab or screw back should be used1 so as to avoid as far as possible the mob of flying balls1 which may kiss the white into a pocket4 ,the third and orthodox opening is to play at the end ball of the row next the base of the pyramid with strength sufficient to leave the white ball as near to the bottom cushion as possible4 ,if the pyramid is properly set up1 the opponent has no easy stroke left1 though occasionally a ball is malignant enough to detach itself and come down the table4 ,this is generally the result of either careless setting up or of striking too hard1 but if this opening stroke is properly played1 the second player will have nothing better to play for than a more or less difficult stroke for safety1 and so the game will proceed till the pyramid is gradually shaken and finally broken up2 but in playing for safety it is sometimes advisable to disturb the pyramid1 if possible1 it being difficult for one's opponent to steer a safe course when there are rocks ahead in the shape of balls4 ,it is often safe to leave the white ball near the pyramid1 provided that it has not been greatly disturbed2 for1 if the players are equal1 neither should risk a smash1 for it is1 after all1 even betting which player profits4 ,the best safety of all is to leave the adversary far away from a ball and as near to a cushion as possible2 but if he can retaliate in kind1 not much good will have been done4 ,watch the score1 and play to the score4 ,the leader should play a cautious rather than a dashing game1 as a losing hazard not only diminishes his score by a point1 but also gives his adversary the advantage of playing from baulk with an extra ball on the table4 #8,when in doubt play for safety1' is a golden rule1 but a doubtful hazard may often be tried when one can get safety as well4 ,beginners should be cautioned to watch carefully for foul strokes1 especially when the rest or spider is being used4 ,a knowledge of the spot stroke and its variations is invaluable1 involving1 as this stroke does1 every form of screw1 stab1 and following stroke2 while the stop stroke is also most useful--i4e4 a sort of stab that leaves the white ball on the place just vacated by the red4 ,when a player is familiar with ordinary winning hazards1 and can make them with some facility1 he should devote himself to the making of breaks--i4e4 a series of hazards4 ,diagrams ,i4 and ,,ii4 may serve as examples1 showing how position should be got so that one hazard may lead on to another4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,i4 ,nor should the famous dictum about the spot stroke be forgotten--viz4 that the first and most important point is to make sure of putting in the red4 ,supposing1 then1 that the balls are left as in ,diagram ,i41 the problem is to take them all in a break1 which may be done as follows1 the figures representing the successive positions of the white ball3--,from position #a there is an easy hazard1 and position #b may be easily gained4 ,the same remarks apply to the next stroke1 but from #c a #8run through' with right-hand side is required so as to get to #d4 ,here there is the option of dropping ball ,x quietly into the middle pocket1 leaving an easy shot on ,y1 or of stabbing ,y and getting position #e4 ,if the latter stroke is successfully played1 the rule of #8never play for a middle pocket at single pool' should decide the striker to drive ,x gently down to the left-hand bottom pocket1 leaving his ball safe under the side cushion4 ,the break shown in ,diagram ,,ii4 is by no means so easy4 ,it may be played as follows3--,from position #a a gentle stab1 screwing back a little1 should be played2 from #b is required a semi-follow with left-hand side4 ,for the third stroke strong right-hand side is used1 the top cushion being utilised or not according to fancy2 and the fourth also requires some right-hand side1 but the proper play is to try to get such position as will leave a shot for a corner and not a middle pocket4 ,it may also be noted that by playing on ball ,y first there will be but a poor chance of getting ball ,x in the course of the break1 as ball ,z will clearly be the next one to play at4 ,these two breaks are only suggested for useful practice1 and to show the beginner some of the devices necessary for success4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ii4 ,i will now discuss certain strokes of frequent occurrence1 for which special hints are necessary1 plants and doubles being among the most important4 ,they have been to some extent dealt with already1#bb but are more common at winning-hazard games than at billiards1 and consequently not only do they demand careful attention1 but also verification by practice1 the relative positions of the balls being frequently altered1 and the varieties in the results noted and studied4 ,another very important class of strokes occurs when the object ball is under the cushion1 a common situation in all games of pool4 ,diagram ,,iii4 shows two examples1 though stroke ,b is really only a modification of stroke ,a2 still1 it deserves separate consideration1 as the hazard is very difficult1 and the position of the striker's ball after the stroke has been played is most important4 ,example ,a may be considered typical2 the player's ball is on the centre of the and the object ball half way up cushion #b4 ,play slowly1 about ,no4 #a strength1 so as to hit ball and cushion simultaneously4 ,ball #b will drop into the pocket1 and ball #a will travel towards the spot4 ,if position is desired to the right of the spot1 a little left-hand side should be used1 and it even seems to make the hazard easier2 a sharper stroke with right-hand side will bring ball #a towards the middle of the table4 ,this stroke should be practised with ball #b at such positions as ,p1 ,q1 ,r1 and ,s1 and the resting place of ball #a should be carefully observed4 ,it is clearly not a good stroke for single pool1 as the balls are left too close together4 ,stroke ,b is not at all easy1 but it is worth playing for1 as it cannot leave much4 ,ball #b must be cut very finely--in fact1 play just not to miss it4 ,if it is missed on the upward journey1 left-hand side1 which is almost essential to the stroke1 will cause ball #b to be hit from the cushion1 ,x and ,y show the direction of ball #a according as no side or left-hand side is used4 ,there are no strokes more common and none which require more care than those in which the object ball is close to a cushion1 nearly at right angles to the path of ball #a and a long distance from it4 ,the paths of both seem1 from the mere proximity of the cushion1 to be regulated by an entirely new code of dynamic laws1 the fact being that the whole conditions of the case are not correctly realised4 ,it is here that the inestimable qualities of side1 as an agent productive of pace1 are called in to assist2 for by playing with direct side and cutting ball #b very fine1 its course will be restricted1 and the side will cause ball #a to travel freely down the table2 but here1 as in all things1 an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory1 and more can be learned by an hour's practice than a week's reading4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iii4 ,to the serious student the #8,r4-,w4 ,billiard ,diagram ,notebook'#bc is recommended1 in order that the results of practice and observation may be recorded1 for1 as ,captain ,cuttle might have said1 #8,these things1 when found1 should be made a note of4' ,diagram ,,iv4 shows a useful double in stroke ,a1 ball #b being some distance below the middle pocket1 and two or three inches from the cushion4 ,ball #a should be placed approximately as shown in the diagram2 but practice and experience can alone show the exact place1 depending as it does on the position of ball #b4 ,to make the double1 play full on ball #b4 ,ball #a can be made to reach the top of the table1 if desired1 by the use of strong left-hand side and follow4 ,for single pool a stab is of course the right stroke4 ,if the top pocket is blocked1 or if for any other reason 7e4g4 for the sake of position7 this stroke is undesirable1 there is a good chance of a double as shown in stroke ,b1 ball #b being struck half-ball1 and ball #a following approximately the lines terminating in ,x4 ,for the sake of practice the position of ball #b should be shifted towards the pocket1 and also further down the table4 ,the further it lies from baulk1 the finer must be the cut1 and the harder the stroke4 ,the position of ball #a should be carefully noted each time1 and also the point at which the object ball having been gradually moved down the table1 a kiss occurs and prevents the double into the middle pocket4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,iv4 ,the stroke shown in ,diagram ,v4 is of common occurrence in single pool1 and may appropriately be here explained1 as every game of pyramids eventually becomes one of single pool4 ,the type of stroke is so important that it should be practised from various positions--first without side1 and then with side both right and left1 the ultimate position of the striker's ball being the main feature of the stroke4 ,the direct hazard is of course on1 but only special circumstances would justify any but a first-rate hazard striker in trying for it4 ,in the diagram ,p ,z shows the course of ball #a when no side is used1 ,q ,y when played with strong left-hand side1 and ,r ,x when strong right-hand side is employed4 ,strength is most important1 and observation alone will show when a kiss occurs as the balls cross each other's track2 but the chances of this are much diminished when reverse side 7in this case left side7 is used4 ,if ball #b is near the cushion1 a sharp stroke is necessary1 but the double shown in stroke ,a1 ,diagram ,,vi41 is the better game4 ,all the doubles shown in this diagram are useful1 especially for single pool4 ,stroke ,a is played with a stab1 stroke ,b with follow1 so as to leave ball #a under the top cushion4 ,stroke ,c also requires a stab1 strength being judged so as to leave ball #b close to the pocket1 if it is not holed4 ,in both ,b and ,c ball #b might possibly be cut in1 but the double is1 for pool at least1 the safer stroke4 ,the question of plants has been already alluded to in ,chapter ,,vii41 which should be carefully studied1 as such shots are infinitely more common with the fifteen-pyramid balls than at billiards4 ,in the plant1 pure and simple1 the balls are touching or practically touching2 but if what may be called the second object ball is fairly near to the pocket1 a plant is often worth trying1 though some caution is necessary1 as a leave is very likely to result if the stroke fails4 ,the principle may be described as playing a ball on to a certain point in a third ball1 this point being on the line leading to the centre of the pocket4 ,thus1 by means of ball #b1 ball #c may be holed1 though1 with a view to a possible leave for the adversary1 the stroke is too risky to be recommended for general use4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,v4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,it should be noticed that a pocket is considerably enlarged so to speak1 when there is a ball in the position shown by fig4 #b1 as from almost anywhere to the right of the diagonal drawn through that pocket a ball may be holed off ball #c1 either directly or off cushion #b1 or it may be put in without touching ball #c1 which will then be left for the next stroke4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,fig4 #c shows a neat stroke4 ,balls #b and #c are touching4 ,the line passing through their centres is at right angles to the line drawn from ball #b to the centre of the pocket4 ,then from any point below ,p ,q1 and even from some distance above it1 a winning hazard on ball #b is with ordinary care a certainty4 ,in fig4 #d a useful but rare stroke is shown4 ,the two balls are touching or nearly touching1 but are not aligned on the pocket4 ,by playing a push shot1 quite quietly1 the point of the cue1 never quitting ball #a1 gradually directs ball #b towards the pocket4 ,the cue should be directed as much above ,p as the pocket is below it4 ,a stroke with left-hand side will have the same effect1 but to enter into reasons would be to open up the whole question of push strokes4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vi4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,in ,diagram ,,vii4 stroke ,a suggests a method of making a winning hazard which1 though in itself easy1 may be dangerous when the player is in a cramped position4 ,ball #b is close to the pocket1 and ball #a is in a straight line with it1 but so hampered by the cushion that a stab shot is out of the question4 ,the hazard may easily be made by playing off cushion #f1 as shown1 and ball #a may be left in the direction of the spot4 ,this type of stroke1 by the way1 is capable of much development and should be studied4 ,the strokes marked ,b#a1 ,b#b1 and ,b#c suggest three methods of play in case ball #a should be angled1 ball #b being in the jaws of the middle pocket4 ,fortunately such an occurrence is rare2 but ,i once saw it happen at pool1 and the player--a very good one--played the stroke marked ,b#b and brought it off4 ,experiment gives the best results with ,b#a and the worst with ,b#c2 but which of the three should be essayed depends on the exact position of ball #b and the chances of making a loser4 ,the point ,q is about six inches below the baulk-line1 but a few trials will show the exact place4 ,b#b is of the nature of a mass1 and even if ball #a strikes the cushion above the middle pocket1 there is still a chance of success4 ,should ball #a be angled for ball #b1 the latter being in a corner pocket1 the mass stroke is the only chance2 in fact1 there is a very old trick stroke1 made when balls #a and #c are in the jaws of the corner pockets and ball #b in the jaws of the middle1 all on the same side2 by a similar species of mass ball #a curves round and outside ball #b and holes ball #c4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,vii4 ,a propos of stroke ,a1 there is a useful method of getting position at the top of the table1 if ball #a can be struck freely4 ,if plenty of follow is used1 and ball #b is struck nearly full1 the striker's ball will rebound towards the middle of the table and then spring forward towards the top cushion again4 ,the stroke requires much freedom1 and the explanation of it is to be found in ,chapter ,,vi41 ,on ,rotation4 ,stroke ,c may be found useful at some time or another4 ,the object ball is resting against the upper jaw of the middle pocket1 in such a way that it is impossible to cut it in from baulk2 but with a kiss the stroke is absurdly easy4 ,by playing from the end of the with ,no4 #a strength1 and hitting the red about three-quarters right1 the kiss will send it into the pocket and leave ball #a in the middle of the table4 ,the question of occasionally giving a miss may deserve a word1 but1 as a matter of fact1 the opportunities of playing such a stroke with profit are very rare4 ,to begin with1 the penalty is a very heavy one1 and can only be afforded by a player who has a most commanding lead and whose adversary cannot dare to follow suit4 ,with a score of1 say1 nine to one1 when the leading player has the game in hand1 he may1 if he please1 sacrifice a ball in the hopes of getting a break afterwards2 but when the scores are nearly equal1 it is clear that if it is worth ,a4's while to give a miss1 ,b4 can hardly do better than follow his example4 ,the highest possible break at pyramids 7unless the striker owes one or more balls7 is1 of course1 fifteen2 this number has frequently been taken by fine players1 but the chances of finding a full complement of balls on the table and of being in a position to take advantage of the opening are very small1 always presupposing that the ability to clear the table exists4 ,in the quickest game ,i ever played1 my adversary managed to take a ball after the opening stroke1 and1 gradually breaking up the pyramid1 secured ten1 and the last five fell to me in the next turn1 so that we had but three innings between us1 one of them being the break4 ,a capital performance was once done at ,cambridge by an undergraduate whose adversary broke and apparently left everything safe2 however1 eight balls disappeared1 nearly all very difficult strokes1 in which the player had to consider safety as well as the hazard4 ,in his next turn he cleared the table by a series of similar shots1 all1 or nearly all1 so difficult that once more safety was his main object4 ,this was a very great feat2 but the reader need hardly be reminded that at pyramids1 as at billiards1 the art to be cultivated is the art of leaving a series of easy strokes4 ,i once saw a man who had just made a break of #cj or #dj at billiards turn round and say1 #8,what a good break6 ,there wasn't a single easy stroke in it6' ,the real billiard-player would have described it as a series of well-made strokes1 but as a break1 never4 ,,shell-,,out ,this game is practically the same as pyramids1 but more than two take part in it4 ,a stake1 so much a ball1 is agreed upon4 ,the balls are set up as at pyramids1 but under no circumstances is a ball ever put up after a miss1 or when a ball has been forced off the table1 or when the white has run in4 ,if any of these things has happened1 a point is added to every one's score except the offender's1 who thus pays the stake to the other players4 ,the score is most conveniently kept on the slate1 each ball counting one1 except the last1 which is generally reckoned as two2 all penalties incurred off it are also double1 but with the exaction of the penalty the game is at an end4 ,there is no single pool1 white always playing upon red4 ,if a player plays out of turn1 he has to pay all round2 he can gain nothing if he takes a ball1 but the ball is not put up4 ,if he makes a foul when only one red ball is left and takes that ball1 he cannot score1 but the game is at an end4 ,the rules for foul strokes are the same as at pyramids4 ,at the end of the game each player pays or receives the differences4 ,thus1 if the scores stand ,a4 #i1 ,b4 #c1 ,c4 #d1 ,a4 receives #f from ,b4 and #e from ,c41 while ,c4 receives #a from ,b4 ,everything that has been said about pyramids applies equally to shell-out2 but as it is a game of all against all1 safety is not so much an object as hazard striking1 it being clearly useless for ,a4 to leave ,b4 safe so that ,c4 may profit by it4 ,it may also be remembered that if1 say1 four are playing1 the individual has practically a bet of three to one about each stroke4 ,the game1 in fact1 is more for amusement than for scientific play1 though naturally the scientific player will in the long run get more pleasure and profit out of it4 ,,pool ,pool1 the good old-fashioned following pool1 is getting out of date4 ,the more racy games of black pool and snooker have jostled it from its place in men's affections1 so once more ,cronos has been deposed1 and ,zeus reigns in his stead4 ,as1 however1 no article on winning hazard games would be complete without a detailed reference to it1 if only because of its antiquity1 ,i will treat it as still instinct with life and energy2 and1 indeed1 as the parent of the more modern games1 it deserves our respect4 ,the principles of the game are quite simple4 ,each player receives a ball by lot--any number up to twelve can play--and starts with three lives4 ,the order of play is decided by the sequence of the colours on the marking-board1 which correspond with the balls4 ,white is placed on the billiard spot and red plays the first stroke from the 2 yellow plays on red1 green on yellow and so on1 the same order being kept throughout the game1 unless an intermediate ball is dead 7i4e4 has lost all its lives71 when the ball that precedes it becomes the object ball2 e4g4 if red is dead1 yellow plays on white1 or if both red and yellow are dead1 green plays on white4 ,if a player clears the table--i4e4 takes all the balls on it--his ball is spotted4 ,the most important part of the game is to hole the object ball4 ,when this is done1 its owner loses a life1 and the striker continues his break by playing at the nearest ball1 and thus the game proceeds till only one player or two are left4 ,in the first event the survivor takes the whole pool1 which is called a maiden pool if he has his three lives intact2 in the second the two players play on till one kills the other1 or till each has an equal number of lives1 in which case the pool is divided4 ,if1 however1 there are three balls on the table1 say red with two lives1 yellow with one life1 and green with two lives1 then if green holes yellow1 he has a shot at red1 though the number of their lives is equal4 ,this is obviously fair1 as he is in the middle of his break4 ,green1 then1 has this stroke called stroke or division2 if he holes red1 the pool is played out to an end--i4e4 till both are one-lifers or till green kills red2 but if green's stroke fails1 the pool is divided at once4 ,each player pays the amount of his pool to the marker1 this being generally three times the value of a life1 though1 if lives are only sixpence1 the pool should be two shillings4 ,the table-money1 generally threepence a ball1 and the same for each star1 is taken out of the pool before it is given to the winner4 ,a player who is unfortunate or unskilful enough to lose his three lives early can come into the game again by paying the amount of the pool a second time over4 ,this is called starring1 as a star is put against his colour on the marking-board1 but he only receives the lowest number of lives shown on the board4 ,as the striker is compelled to play at a particular ball1 he is allowed to have any ball or balls taken up 7to be replaced after the balls have ceased rolling7 which are nearer than the object ball and prevent him hitting either side of it1 or which in any way interfere with his stroke 7see ,rules #bj and #ba74bd ,no star is allowed when only two players are left in1 but when more than eight are playing a second star is permitted4 ,sometimes the game is played with an unlimited number of stars1 each costing the amount of the pool over and above the price of the last star--e4g4 at three-shilling pool the first star costs three1 the second six1 and the third nine shillings1 and so on 7see ,rules #h and #i74 ,the striker loses a life 7,rule #ac7 if he holes his own ball1 whether he takes the object ball or not2 forces it off the table2 misses2 runs a coup2 plays out of turn2 hits a wrong ball first2 or plays with the wrong ball1 except when he is in hand1 in which case there is no penalty4 ,all penalties are paid to the owner of the proper object ball1 however incurred4 ,if a player wishes to have a ball up1 he should not lift it himself1 as such an act would be technically a foul stroke4 ,should a player be angled1 and wish to play off the cushion1 he may have any ball or balls taken up which interfere with his aim2 but the old rules allowed him to move his ball just far enough to get his stroke1 though he could not take a life by it4 ,rule #bh says3 #8,should a player be misinformed by the marker1 he may play the stroke over again1 but cannot take a life4' ,this seems hard1 and is perhaps an instance of summum ius1 summa injuria2 but the moral for the player is that he must keep his attention fixed on the game and the marking-board4 ,to attempt to replace the balls1 and to allow the stroke to be played over again might give rise to much unpleasantness4 ,by ,rule #cj1 #8,should the striker miss the ball played at1 no one is allowed to stop the ball1 the striker having no option4' ,the striker's ball after missing the object ball may still hit others1 and materially affect the subsequent progress of the game2 hence a hard-and-fast law on the subject is necessary4 ,as it is to the survivor or survivors that the pool eventually comes1 it is of paramount importance to cling to life4 ,many things combine to decide the striker whether to try for safety or for a hazard1 or for both together--his own temperament and skill1 the state of the score1 and the position and skill of the next player and his other opponents4 ,all hands are against every man1 so that general rules are impossible1 but #8,when in doubt play safety' is a capital rule4 ,another useful maxim is1 #8,play for safety with safety-players1 play for hazards with hazard strikers1' as the latter1 if they play out boldly1 are sure to sell the safety-player sooner or later--i4e4 will leave his ball in a position of great danger4 ,but if the next player is close to the cushion1 one is justified in playing for a hazard when1 under other conditions1 safety would be the right game4 ,again1 a bolder style is right in a big pool of1 say1 eight or ten players1 as the chances of being sold are greater4 ,more boldness1 too1 in playing out for hazards may be shown by a player who is left in with1 say1 three lives1 while the others have only one2 but even then it is better to be cautious4 ,it is generally good policy to star two2 many things may happen before it is star's turn to play again1 and he has the great advantage of playing from the 4 ,a glance should also be taken at the position of the other balls1 as the next player may have an easy stroke to play1 and every life taken is in star's favour with a view to the pool4 ,a deliberate miss or coup1 so as to be enabled to star well1 is not chivalrous1 perhaps not fair1 but there is nothing unsportsmanlike in playing a more open game with a view to starring4 ,with an unlimited star the question is reduced to one of capital and temperament2 but in any case starring is an expensive luxury1 and the player who is not judicious may find in himself a parallel to ,f4 ,c4 ,burnand's heroine of suicidal tendencies1 of whom he wittily writes the epitaph1 #8,in memory of ,itti ,duffa1 the ill-starred maid1 who lost her one life in this pool4' ,one must play for one's own hand1 regardless of the other players1 and undeterred by chaff or sneer from trying for a plant or cannon2 but it is generally dangerous to play for a cannon unless very easy1 as there is always a chance of the player's ball following the other into a pocket2 but it is no more bad form to try for such a stroke than to pot the white at billiards2 whether it is expedient or not1 is another question1 which only the exigencies of the moment can decide4 ,the marker is the proper person to measure distances when necessary1 but the beginner should learn the right way to do so4 ,one player puts his finger firmly on the striker's ball1 while another gently slides the butt of his cue up to it1 holding the other end between forefinger and thumb1 thumb uppermost4 ,the point of the cue is then lowered till the cue rests lightly on the top of the other ball1 the forefinger being slid up till it just touches the ball4 ,a similar process is gone through with the third ball1 the striker's being held steady the while1 and the question of which is the nearer is solved at once4 ,again1 it is the marker's duty to tell the striker on which ball he has to play1 and which ball plays next1 the formula being1 e4g4 #8,green on yellow1 player brown1' or1 if brown is in hand1 #8,green on yellow1 player brown in hand1' and if the striker has to play on his player1 the marker must inform him of the fact2 as1 however1 the striker is the scapegoat even if he acts on wrong information1 he should keep his attention fixed on the game4 ,the opening of a pool is more or less stereotyped1 all the players endeavouring to lay themselves under the top cushion out of harm's way1 the player being always in hand till white's turn comes round2 thus the last player--brown1 let us say1 in a five-pool--has to steer himself round the other balls that are clustered at the head of the table1 and find his way down to baulk1 as white is nearly sure to be high up2 in a big pool the last player may have some difficulty1 and it is well to remember that1 as he can have any ball or balls up that lie between him and the object ball1 he can1 by selecting a good spot from baulk1 have one or two such obstacles removed4 ,the orthodox opening shot for red1 by the way1 is to play full on to white from a corner of the 1 just hard enough to find the cushion himself4 ,plenty of drag should be used and no side4 ,side and screw are of no value except for position1 or for playing a slow stroke which is wanted to travel quickly off the cushion4 ,the late ,william ,cook once made a pool record4 #8,playing in a twelve following pool at his own rooms' 7,i quote the words of a fine amateur player who took part in the game71 #8in #ahha1 he actually cleared the table1 playing always of course on the nearest ball4 ,he had taken #bj to #a five or six times from spectators1 and the excitement was intense when he performed this really phenomenal feat4' ,as pool is limited to #ab1 ,cook1 like ,alexander1 had no more worlds to conquer2 but his hazard striking and position must have been marvellous4 ,doubles are of the utmost importance1 and the strokes shown in the preceding diagrams should be noted4 ,one may fairly play a middle-pocket double with extra strength if by so doing there is a chance of the double-double1 though it is not strictly sound1 and shows a certain diffidence as to one's accuracy4 ,plants are rare4 ,a propos of doubles1 the following occurrence is probably without precedent1 but the story is absolutely vouched for4 ,three amateurs were playing three-pool4 ,red opened by doubling white into the right-hand bottom pocket4 ,yellow avenged white by doing exactly the same to red1 and white made matters even by treating yellow to a precisely identical shot4 ,strange to say1 red with his second shot holed white just as before--four consecutive doubles into the same pocket--and1 though yellow spoiled the average by only doubling red into the right-hand middle pocket1 white made things all square and yellow disappeared into the original pocket4 ,thus six consecutive doubles were made1 five of them into one pocket6 ,what are the odds against such a performance8 ,as even in these enlightened days the confidence trick flourishes1 it may be worth while to warn beginners against innocent strangers4 ,if these win by sheer skill1 there is nothing to be said against them1 and the best thing is to put down one's cue2 if they are sharps as well1 they will probably hunt in couples1 on the chance of one playing next to the other1 when the first player1 curiously enough1 never quite gets safety and always leaves a ball over the pocket4 ,i remember just such a pair1 a good player and a duffer1 turning up at some rooms ,i used to frequent1 and1 though none of us were innocents1 they played so cleverly into each other's hands1 the apparent duffer making several slight mistakes at critical moments1 that the good player had a pretty good time4 ,talking the matter over1 we saw that we had been had1 and1 as we were rather a snug little coterie1 arranged with the marker what was to be done if they reappeared4 ,the pair had posed as absolute strangers and had come in separately1 so we told the marker that if the duffer came in first he was to have a ball and we would try to warm him up1 but on the good player's appearance he was to be refused a ball1 while we1 a fairly sturdy lot1 would see the marker through any trouble4 ,all came off splendidly4 ,the duffer appeared first and lost two or three pools1 and when the crack walked in he was at once confronted by the marker with #8,i am very sorry1 sir1 but ,i can't give you a ball to-day4' ,we expected a row1 but he took it like a lamb and decamped1 and the duffer1 after losing another pool or two1 decamped also4 ,one of our party saw them the same evening1 hobnobbing together at the ,criterion1 so there can be no doubt that it was a put-up job4 ,the following occurred to a friend of mine1 a good billiard-player1 a particularly good pyramid-player1 and well able to look after himself4 ,after a couple of games of billiards1 on both of which he won a small bet1 his opponent1 a stranger and apparently a ,jew1 suggested #8just one game of pyramids4' #8,what shall we play for8' said my friend4 #8,three and one1' said the ,semitic one1 which means1 as usually interpreted1 a shilling a ball and three shillings on the game4 ,my friend won by thirteen balls1 but his opponent1 after putting up his cue1 offered him just four shillings and threepence1 being at the rate of three pence a ball and one shilling a game6 ,there was nothing to be done1 but ,i wonder what the ,jew would have claimed had he won by thirteen balls4 ,,three-,,pool ,when four players only are left1 and one of them is finally killed1 the marker should be careful to call #8,three-pool4' ,why this is so may not be apparent to the novice1 and perhaps it will be cheaper for him to learn from a book than to pay for the information over the table4 ,when four or more players are left in1 the striker plays for a hazard1 and1 whether successful or not1 he has no further anxieties beyond the safety of his own ball2 but in three-pool a new element is introduced3 he must consider where the object ball will finally stop if his hazard fails1 and the middle of the table is the very worst position for it4 ,a moment's thought will show the reason4 ,a41 ,b41 and ,c4 are three players3 ,b4 plays on ,a41 lays himself safe from ,c41 and leaves ,a4 in the middle of the table4 ,c4 having to play on ,b41 is now1 in most cases1 in a great dilemma2 he has no chance of taking ,b41 and with ,a4 in the middle of the table may find it very difficult to get safety after he has played4 ,if he has a long shot from under the cushion1 he will probably leave ,a4 a fairly easy stroke1 in which case ,b4 may suffer also1 so that ,b4's own carelessness1 or his indifference as to where ,a4 was left1 may deservedly recoil on his own head4 ,the amount of consolation meted out to him for having been sold will be the cold comfort of #8,you ought to have played three-pool2' in other words1 #8,you ought1 while leaving your ball safe1 to have also left ,a4's ball in such a position as to make safety fairly possible for ,c4' ,again1 it is only self-defence to leave the object ball near a pocket1 in case of a failure to put it in2 especially is this advisable when it is very hard for the striker to get safety1 for it is clearly to every player's advantage to have1 if possible1 a comrade in misfortune4 ,the general principle of three-pool may be more easily understood from ,diagram ,,viii41 which shows two cases in which the obvious stroke for ordinary pool would be quite wrong in three-pool4 ,in each case red has to play on white1 yellow being his player4 ,in ,no4 #a red has a hazard in the middle pocket1 but it is not particularly easy1 and must be played slowly1 so that if it fails white will very likely be thrown by the lower jaw of the pocket to about ,a1 while red drops slowly down to ,b4 ,yellow has the poorest chance of escaping white next time1 and1 being extremely indifferent to what becomes of red1 will probably sell him1 as he deserves4 ,if red plays the game he will dribble white down towards the left-hand bottom pocket1 and be himself safe at ,c1 when yellow will not be forced to run any risks4 ,in stroke #b it is tempting to play for the double into the middle pocket with strong right-hand side and screw1 so as to get near the spot off three cushions2 but as this would probably leave white in the middle of the table1 and yellow would be in hopeless trouble1 the right stroke is an attempted double into the bottom pocket1 when left-hand side and screw will leave the striker safe1 and yellow will have no difficulty in getting safe also1 while1 further1 the striker will have the best chance in the subsequent finessing4 ,,single ,,pool ,many of the more ordinary strokes required at this game have already been discussed2 but1 as single pool is a most scientific and interesting game per se1 it deserves a few lines to itself4 ,as the striker is always playing on his player1 the problem of safety is quite different4 ,two general maxims should be writ large in the striker's mind3 7#a7 ,leave the balls as far apart as possible2 7#b7 ,never play for a middle pocket unless it is a certainty4 ,the first of these requires no comment3 a moment's thought will show the importance of the second1 which applies equally to doubles and to direct shots1 as a stroke for the middle is sure1 if it fails1 to leave the adversary's ball in the middle of the table1 when he will either have a good chance of a hazard or no difficulty in getting safe4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,viii4 ,reverting to ,diagram ,,viii41 stroke #a1 at ordinary pool red may1 caeteris paribus1 try to hole white in the middle pocket4 ,the danger of this stroke for three-pool has already been shown2 at single pool it is even more risky1 as from ,a white would have an almost certain hazard with red at ,b4 ,the same remarks apply to stroke #b4 ,for the opening stroke1 again1 it would be suicidal for red to drag slowly up to white3 an endeavour should be made to double the white into one of the bottom pockets by a stab1 for which object the white should be driven against the top cushion1 about four inches to the right or left of the centre of it behind the spot1 leaving the striker's ball as near the cushion as possible2 but some players like to use a little direct side while playing for the same double1 leaving their own ball under a side cushion4 ,two strokes are shown in ,diagram ,,ix4 illustrating the difference of play demanded by single pool4 ,in stroke #a1 at ordinary pool the striker would try to hole white in the top corner pocket2 at single pool he should play a smart stab1 being careful not to follow on1 driving the object ball all round the table towards the bottom cushion4 ,stroke #b1 known as the ,z shot1 separates the balls well and should be played with some right side1 white being cut very fine1 so as to leave it high up the table4 ,it would be an equally sound stroke to play for a double in the right-hand bottom pocket2 but the reader is again warned that these and all other sample strokes should be tried over coolly in private1 and not be essayed for the first time in the heat of actual conflict4 ,,black ,,pool ,considering the popularity of this game1 it is really surprising that no regular and recognised code of laws exists4 ,some rules have been published1 it is true1 but there are so many deviations from them1 almost every room having its own bye-laws1 that the present state of things is quite chaotic4 ,thus it is impossible to do more here than give directions for the game as it is generally played2 any one who is playing in a strange room should inquire what the customs of the room are4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,,ix4 ,the special feature of the game is the introduction of the black ball1 which may be described as public property1 for every player who takes it is paid by all the others the amount of the stake agreed upon1 and all penalties incurred when playing at it are also paid all round4 ,it is spotted on the centre spot2 if that is occupied1 on the pyramid spot2 if that is occupied1 on the billiard spot2 and if all are occupied1 it is held up till one is vacated4 ,each player has an infinite number of lives1 and cannot be killed1 however often he is put down4 ,each life lost is paid for by a stake agreed upon4 ,there is no subscribed pool4 ,each game lasts half an hour2 when time is up1 directly after white has played the marker announces the last round1 white having always the last stroke4 ,any number can play for whom balls can be found1 but five players make the most interesting game4 ,at the end of a round a new player can enter4 ,his ball is spotted on the billiard spot1 and he has to stand fire till his turn to play comes4 ,similarly1 any one can retire by giving notice of his intention directly after he has played1 but his ball remains on the table till his turn comes again4 ,in fact1 the spotting of the new-comer's ball and the removal of a player's ball may be considered their first and last stroke respectively4 ,foul strokes are regulated by the rules of ordinary pool1 but after a miss the striker's ball is left where it stops and is not removed from the table4 ,a life is lost by playing with or at the wrong ball1 or out of turn2 if any one plays at the black out of turn1 he has to pay all round4 ,the black ball is never taken up1 and no coloured ball can be taken up 7except during the first round7 if it interferes with the striker4 ,baulk1 as in all winning hazard games1 affords no protection4 ,if the black ball is holed1 it must be spotted at once2 if the striker play before it is spotted1 the stroke is foul4 ,the first round is played exactly as at ordinary pool1 the balls being given out in the same way--white set on the billiard spot1 and black on the centre spot4 ,after white has played--that is1 after the conclusion of the first round--red can play on any other player's ball4 ,by some rules he has to play on the nearest ball1 by others the pool order is observed4 ,if he takes a life1 he receives a single stake from the owner of the ball and must then play on the black4 ,by some rules he may take as many coloured lives as he likes before playing on the black4 ,this cuts both ways1 as the striker may have a better chance of getting position on black by taking several coloured balls first1 but1 on the contrary1 he is spoiling his chance of a large break4 ,if the coloured ball is holed and the black also 7e4g4 by a cannon or plant71 the black does not count1 but is spotted at once and is the next ball to be played on4 ,sometimes the black is allowed to count under these circumstances1 and can be played on again1 after it has been spotted1 the theory being that1 though black cannot be played on twice running1 it may1 under certain circumstances1 be taken twice running4 ,if black is holed1 the striker must play on a coloured ball1 the rules of the room deciding which one1 but in most rooms he is allowed his choice4 ,if he takes this life too1 he must again play on black1 taking coloured balls and blacks alternately till he breaks down1 when the next player proceeds4 ,if the striker plays on black1 and holes both black and a coloured ball1 both are counted2 but if a coloured ball goes down and black does not1 the coloured ball does not count1 and the break is at an end4 ,if the striker holes the black and no other ball is left on the table1 his ball is spotted4 ,in a game of this kind1 where all are playing against all1 to play for safety is mere waste of time2 but when the next player has an easy stroke waiting for him1 with perhaps a good chance of black to follow1 the striker should sacrifice his own game 7unless he has a reasonable chance of scoring7 to spoil the next player's2 e4g4 if red has a difficult stroke1 and yellow1 who follows him1 has a good chance of taking 7say7 brown1 then red should knock brown away1 as1 if yellow makes his first hazard and then gets black1 red will have to pay with the others4 ,but as a general rule the striker must play for himself alone1 and play not merely for the first hazard but for the black afterwards4 ,at no time is caution so necessary as when the next striker is in hand and there is a ball behind the baulk-line which is likely to be holed4 ,if the black is safe1 no danger is to be feared2 but if it is anywhere in the middle of the table1 some self-sacrifice may be necessary1 so that it behoves every player as his turn comes round to think what kind of a stroke the next man is likely to have4 ,again1 it is clearly useless to cower under a cushion2 no one is likely to play at a ball so placed1 and its owner will have left his ball in a cramped position4 ,hence an open game should be played1 with the black always in view1 and the reflection that he whose ball is holed will have the advantage of playing from baulk4 ,to push the matter further1 a coup is often judicious1 if such a course does not seem likely to sell the table2 a coup is often better play than a haphazard shot1 which may cost one or more blacks in the end4 ,as a new-comer's ball is spotted before white plays1 it is no good entering if white has a promising break2 the last arrival may indeed help him to get one1 and in this case it is prudent to defer one's entry for another round4 ,the player who leaves before the pool is over has to stand fire for a round and is responsible for any blacks that may be taken in the course of it4 ,no hazards are so valuable at black pool as those into the middle pockets1 because of the position of the black4 ,practice consequently at this class of strokes is sure to be profitable4 ,,black ,,and ,,pink ,,pool ,for science1 changing vicissitudes1 and general amusement1 black pool is greatly improved by the addition of the pink ball4 ,it is always spotted on the pyramid spot2 if that is occupied1 on the billiard spot2 and failing that one1 it goes to the centre spot1 if unoccupied4 ,if all are occupied1 it is held up till one of the spots is free4 ,the rules of black pool apply both to the black and pink balls4 ,in some rooms1 however1 pink can be played on originally 7after the first round71 but under all rules blacks and pinks can be taken alternately1 without the intervention of a hazard off a coloured ball4 ,a double stake is generally payable on black and a single stake on pink1 this being levied on all the players4 ,the game is opened as at black pool2 neither black nor pink can ever be taken up if they interfere with the striker1 nor any coloured ball1 except in the first round4 ,when a coloured ball has been taken1 the striker must play on either pink or black4 ,in some rooms this is optional1 and he may play on a coloured ball if he chooses4 ,if the striker holes a pink or a black1 he cannot play on that ball till he has taken another life1 but not necessarily a coloured ball1 as he can go from black to pink and from pink to black as often as he makes a hazard4 ,if he plays the first stroke of a break on a coloured ball and holes either black or pink by cannon or plant1 the rule of black pool which provides for such a case is generally observed4 ,in some rooms1 if pink goes down under these conditions1 it is allowed to count even if the coloured ball is not holed4 ,if both are holed1 both count4 ,it is usually conceded that black cannot be played upon twice running1 nor pink1 but every room should have a hard-and-fast law to settle whether either or both can be taken twice running2 otherwise the following is a crux4 ,no balls are left on the table except pink1 black1 and the striker's ball4 ,pink is over the pocket2 the striker plays on black and #8plants' pink4 ,if pink may not be taken again1 the break is at an end1 and the coloured ball must be spotted2 otherwise he may play on pink and black alternately as long as he can make a hazard4 ,the best break ,i ever heard of at this game was one coloured ball1 followed by ten pinks and ten blacks1 a pretty series of twenty-one hazards4 ,a good way of collecting the stakes is to mark off with chalk on the top of the cushion a compartment for each player2 he can then lay down his lives1 on the wooden surface opposite his compartment1 and the striker can readily collect the money when his break is over4 ,this saves a great deal of trouble in collection4 ,no special hints are needed for this game1 as it is only a modification of black pool1 but care is necessary to avoid leaving an easy hazard for the next player if black or pink is over a pocket4 ,especially is this necessary if the rule is that pink may be played on originally4 ,another useful bye-law is that the striker may be required1 before he plays1 to declare on which ball he is playing2 if he declares to play on black1 misses it1 and hits pink1 then1 though legally entitled to hit pink1 he must pay the full penalty for missing black4 ,such a law as this may save many disputes4 ,,snooker ,snooker--or1 to give it its full title1 ,snooker's ,pool--is a hybrid game1 half pool and half pyramids4 ,any reasonable number of players1 say five or six1 may take part2 but it is best to play a single-handed game1 or for two to play against two4 ,as is the case with black pool1 there are no accepted rules1 the published code being of little use1 so many are the deviations from it4 ,the general method of play is here laid down1 so that those who are unfamiliar with the game may make its acquaintance4 ,the pyramid balls are set up in the usual way1 and the striker always uses the white ball4 ,the black ball is set on the billiard spot1 the pink on the centre spot4 ,blue is placed just below the apex-ball of the pyramid1 brown on the centre spot of the 1 with yellow and green on the right and left corner spots4 ,if pink and black are not introduced1 blue is put on the billiard spot1 brown on the centre spot1 green at the apex of the triangle1 and yellow on the centre spot of the 4 ,the positions of pink and black are sometimes reversed4 ,a red ball counts one1 yellow two1 green three1 brown four1 blue five1 pink six1 and black seven4 ,the score1 if two persons are playing or sides are formed1 may be marked on the board as at billiards4 ,a red ball must be taken before a coloured ball can be played at2 if the striker1 playing on a red1 holes it1 and takes a coloured ball also1 the latter does not count and is spotted4 ,if1 playing on red1 he fails to hole it1 but holes a coloured ball1 the value of the latter is scored to the other side4 ,in each of these cases the striker is allowed in some rooms to score the coloured ball2 the rule given is the generally accepted one4 ,after taking a red1 the striker must play on one of the coloured balls4 ,if he holes one of them1 any other balls that go down by the same stroke count to him4 ,all coloured balls which are holed must be spotted immediately2 if the striker plays before all are spotted1 the stroke is foul4 ,no red ball is ever put up4 ,the rules for foul strokes are the same as those of ordinary pool1 and penalties are incurred in the same way1 but the amount of the penalty is the value of the ball played at--i4e4 to miss a red counts one1 to miss the yellow two1 and so forth4 ,if the striker1 playing at red1 hits a coloured ball1 the penalty is the value of the ball struck4 ,the rule is not always as severe as this4 ,in many rooms1 to miss red involves a penalty of one1 to miss yellow of two1 and so on1 regardless of the value of any ball that may be struck afterwards4 ,if the striker gives a miss1 the ball is left where it finally stops4 ,if the striker is by law obliged to play on a red ball or on a coloured ball1 but from the position of his own ball is unable to do so directly1 he is said to be snookered2 he must then make a bona-fide shot at the proper ball off the cushion1 the penalty if he misses being the minimum penalty3 e4g4 if he is bound to hit a red ball1 the penalty is only one2 if a coloured ball1 two--the value of yellow4 ,in some rooms1 the striker is bound1 when snookered1 to play a bona-fide shot as described1 and if he hits a coloured ball when playing on red is mulcted in the value of that ball4 ,in others1 if he has to play on a coloured ball and is snookered for them all1 he has to name the ball he intends to play on2 if he misses all the coloured balls1 or hits one of a smaller value1 he is debited with the value of the one he plays at2 if he hits a more valuable one1 he is fined the value of it2 but as it is hard to define what a bona-fide shot is1 these regulations lead to many disputes4 ,a good rule is to allow the striker to give a miss1 the penalty being the lowest that can be exacted1 but he must not thereby snooker the next player4 ,if he does snooker him1 the stroke must be played over again1 till the next player has a clear shot at the right ball4 ,when all the red balls have been holed1 the others must be taken in proper pool order--first yellow1 then green1 and so on4 ,when holed they are not put up4 ,the striker1 when snookered for his proper object ball1 must play a bona-fide shot for it1 being fined its value if he misses it4 ,here again there are variations4 ,in some rooms he may give a miss1 leaving the next player in a position from which he can play on the proper ball1 and being fined the value of the object ball2 or he may 7sometimes must7 play at that ball1 and if he hits another he is fined the value of it1 which at this period of the game is always greater than that of the object ball4 ,when only white and black are on the table1 white always plays on black4 ,if white misses black1 or goes in off it1 or forces it off the table1 or goes off the table himself1 the game is at an end4 ,in some rooms the game proceeds till black is actually holed4 ,of course the main object of the good player is to get behind a ball of great price when he has taken a red1 green and yellow being of no great value1 though their capture may lead on to higher game4 ,as a rule1 it is wasted time to hole a red when there is no chance of a break to follow1 as by this means one of the preliminaries to a break is destroyed2 but at the same time the opponent's chance is diminished1 so that this general principle may be laid down--that the player who is leading1 or receiving points1 should get rid of the red balls1 so as to reduce his opponent's chance of making a big score2 but he who is giving points1 or is behind in the game1 should abstain from taking a red ball unless he has a fair chance of getting a coloured one afterwards4 ,he should play rigid safety1 leaving the opponent long shots1 from under a cushion if possible4 ,safety is indeed one of the beauties of the game1 misses and coups being often good play2 but when all the red balls have been holed1 the utmost accuracy of strength and direction is called into play1 so as to snooker the adversary1 whose efforts to hit the proper ball may enable the other to retrieve an apparently lost game4 ,it must never be forgotten that1 as a break may run up to thirty or forty1 or even more1 each point representing money1 a single incautious stroke may cost the loss of the game1 and that care and thought are consequently of enormous importance4 ,the drawback to the game is the large part played in it by luck4 ,there are so many balls on the table that really excellent strokes are incessantly being spoilt by a combination of kisses against which it is impossible to provide4 ,to this both sides are equally liable1 but in a game of skill the element of luck ought not to be too prominent1 and it is owing to the preponderance of luck in snooker that the game is1 as a game of skill1 inferior to black pool4 ,,the ,,marker ,as there are stakes depending on all these games1 apart from other general reasons1 good marking is all but an absolute necessity2 but good marking is not compatible with the many services that some players1 and even some spectators1 think they have a right to demand from the marker4 ,he is called upon to ring the bell1 to give orders to the waiter1 hand the matches and so forth1 at a time when his whole attention should be concentrated on the game and the wants of the striker4 ,marking requires great care of itself1 but when there are rests to be handed1 balls to be spotted1 foul strokes to be watched1 and so forth1 it is positive discourtesy on the part of spectators to distract his attention4 ,the marker is the servant of the players--and of the players alone--as long as a game of any kind is proceeding1 and he ought to be regarded and treated as such4 ,under the best conditions1 however1 players should keep their eye on the marking-board1 so that any error may be corrected immediately3 delay only leads to dispute4 ,at pyramids the score on the board plus the number of balls on the table must always make #ae1 so that a mistake can be detected at once4 ,the marker himself may be reminded that distinct calling is as essential as accurate marking4 ,at pool each life lost must be audibly announced1 and the chance of starring offered to the player when it occurs4 ,he should never neglect to remind the striker that he is on his player1 or that his player is in hand1 or1 at the proper time1 that it is three-pool or single pool1 as on all these occasions a different style of play is required4 ,but1 once more1 players should also be alive to their own interests1 and watch these points for themselves4 ,the rests1 long cues1 spider1 c41 should be handed to the striker when asked for1 and not laid on the table1 as1 on the principle of qui facit per alium facit per se1 the striker is constructively liable for any foul made by the marker when he puts these implements on the table4 ,they should be always ready to his hand1 but he should never offer them to a player2 it is often a distinct hint as to what the right game is when the marker is seen to get the rest ready or move towards the half-butt4 ,it is his duty to be attentive but not officious4 ,,country-,,house ,,games ,i now pass on to a class of games in which ladies can take part1 and which provide plenty of amusement for those who do not care for a more serious game4 ,not but that cork pool and skittle pool may not be made highly scientific1 but when ladies take a cue1 such games are generally regarded as a pleasant recreation pour passer le temps1 or as an excuse for a mild bet4 ,,selling ,,pool ,this is an eminently simple game1 in which any number can take part4 ,there are no lives1 no pool1 and no end1 till the players are tired4 ,any one who chooses to leave can do so by giving notice1 and taking his ball off the table when his turn comes round next4 ,a small stake is agreed upon1 and it is lawful to play on any ball1 but no ball can be taken up4 ,there is of course no safety and no star1 but the usual rules of pool govern the game in other respects4 ,to make the game go1 however1 it is well to have plenty of threepenny bits1 sixpences1 or shillings ready1 according to the stake1 as giving change is always a trouble1 and cash down is necessarily the rule4 ,,cork ,,pool ,this is another amusing game1 which admits of any amount of skill and of any reasonable number of players4 ,two balls are used1 white always playing upon red4 ,the cork is put on the centre spot 7sometimes on the pyramid spot71 and on the cork the pool is placed4 ,the object is to cannon from red on to the cork4 ,sometimes it is obligatory that the cannon be made off a cushion4 ,each player in turn--the order is decided by giving out the pool balls--plays from where white stops1 the first playing from baulk1 as is also the case if the white goes in4 ,each player has only one stroke4 ,if he cannons on to the cork and knocks it over--it is not enough merely to shake it--he takes the pool1 which is then renewed4 ,if he misses the red1 holes the red or his own ball 7even after hitting the cork1 so that white must never be stopped71 or cannons without first hitting a cushion 7if this is the rule of the room71 or plays out of turn1 he has to put the amount of his original stake on the cork1 in addition to what is already there4 ,sometimes he is only fined for an illegitimate cannon1 but in this class of game the more forfeits that can be invented the better4 ,not a bad variety of the game is to make the red hit the cork1 a sort of winning hazard1 any other way of knocking it over carrying a penalty2 or this may be further restricted by insisting that the red must hit at least one cushion before it overthrows the cork4 ,i used to play another excellent and really amusing variation of this1 which we dignified by the name of #8bumble-puppy4' ,a ring about three inches in diameter was drawn round the cork with chalk4 ,the pool was put as usual on the cork1 and each player who failed to hit the cork over--we used to play the winning hazard game--was fined a penny1 which was added to the pool1 and when the cork was hit the striker secured only as many coins as fell outside the ring1 those that were more than half outside counting as over4 ,the fun of this was that sometimes there would be five or six shillings in copper and silver on the cork1 and only a few meagre coppers would fall to the successful striker1 all that was left in the ring being put back on the cork and a fresh stake added by each player4 ,i can strongly recommend this form of the game1 as it is full of incident and amusement4 ,,nearest ,,ball ,,pool ,this may best come under the category of country-house games1 though it may be played with lives and a star and be treated as seriously as ordinary pool1 the rules of which apply throughout4 ,the striker is bound to play on the nearest ball1 whatever the colour1 under the penalty of losing a life2 but there is no particular science in the game beyond that required in ordinary pool1 except as far as spoiling an easy stroke for the next player is concerned4 ,,skittle ,,pool ,this is another game admirably suited for after-dinner amusement in a country house1 and one in which ladies can take part4 ,the arrangement of the skittles on the table is rather elaborate1 and can best be understood from ,diagram ,x4 ,ten white and two black skittles1 each four inches long1 are used4 ,a and ,e are on an imaginary line drawn through the pyramid spot parallel to the ends of the table4 ,d and ,h are nine inches above the baulk-line4 ,the distance between ,a and ,d and between ,e and ,h is divided into three equal parts2 ,b1 ,c1 ,f1 and ,g are at the points of division4 ,all these eight points are four inches1 one skittle's length1 from the cushion4 ,another white skittle is on the billiard spot1 and the tenth at ,i1 four inches from the right-hand baulk-spot4 ,when black skittles are used 7they are sometimes left out71 one is placed at ,x1 four inches from the left-hand baulk-spot1 and the other at ,y1 half-way between ,g and the cushion4 ,the red ball is spotted half-way between the billiard spot1 ,k1 and the cushion1 white and spot-white on the right and left baulk-spots respectively4 ,each white skittle has a particular value1 denoted by the figures in the margin2 a penalty is attached1 as will be shown1 to knocking down either of the black skittles4 ,the position of the skittles1 when once found1 should be marked with discs of white paper1 on which the value of the skittle may be shown4 ,the object of the game is to make cannons with one of the white balls off the red or the other whites on to the skittles2 when such a cannon is made1 the value of the skittle or skittles knocked over is scored to the player4 ,the rules are as follow3-- ,i4 ,the game is played #ca up1 each player having one stroke alternately1 the order of rotation being decided by giving out coloured balls or numbers4 ,,ii4 ,any number can play in a pool1 and in all cases the following order is to be observed1 viz43 ,no4 #a plays out of baulk with either the spot or white ball from its respective spot1 and he and the following players must always hit a ball 7even if it touches another7 with his own before striking a pin1 or he cannot score4 ,no4 #b plays with the remaining ball from its spot in baulk1 and at either of the other balls1 except when the one in baulk has been touched or moved1 in which case he and the following players can play at any ball they please during the game4 ,,iii4 ,any pin or pins knocked down by a player must be replaced before the next one takes his turn4 ,,iv4 ,any ball occupying the spot of a fallen pin must be placed on its proper spot1 and the pin also replaced4 ,v4 ,should any ball stop on either of the spots of the other balls1 each must be placed on its proper spot4 ,,vi4 ,any player who knocks down a black pin 7after making his stroke7 with a ball1 cue1 sleeve1 or in any other way1 is dead 7i4e4 is out71 but can star any number of times by signifying the same before the next player has struck1 but he comes in without any points he has previously made4 ,the purchase of a star to be the same amount as the pool4 ,,vii4 ,should a player stop a ball or alter its direction1 he shall be considered dead1 but may star any number of times4 ,,viii4 ,any pin is to be considered down if it has entirely left the spot it occupied1 or when leaning against a ball1 cushion1 or another pin4 ,illustration3 ,diagram ,x4 ,,ix4 ,any one playing out of turn cannot score1 and the one who should have played continues1 without replacing the balls2 but the former has a right to play in his proper turn1 if he is not dead by knocking down a black pin4 ,x4 ,foul strokes are made as follows1 viz43 by pushing a ball instead of striking it2 by knocking down a white pin without striking a ball first1 or before the balls have ceased running2 by playing out of turn1 or when all the pins are not in their places1 or when the three balls are not on the table4 ,running in or jumping off the table is not foul4 ,,xi4 ,if 7by mistake7 the black and white pins are wrongly placed1 the white scores and the black counts as dead if knocked down2 but the pins must then be replaced in their proper places4 ,,xii4 ,should the three balls be covered by the pins1 so as to prevent their being played at1 the red ball can be spotted2 and then1 if they are again covered1 the spot ball can be spotted4 ,,xiii4 ,any one1 not being present at the commencement of the pool1 has the right to join in it1 provided that no player has had more than one stroke1 and that no one has starred4 ,,xiv4 ,baulk affords no protection4 ,the usual way of playing this game is to agree that the pool goes to the player who first makes exactly thirty-one1 neither more nor less3 if he exceeds that number he is dead1 unless he likes to star1 the number of stars being unlimited4 ,another method is to let the player who gets beyond thirty-one score backwards3 e4g4 if his score stands at thirty-four1 he can win the pool by scoring three4 ,under either system the other players endeavour so to leave the balls as to make it difficult or impossible for him to knock down the skittle which will give him the desired number4 ,the game may1 however1 be played with a sealed handicap1 each player receiving a numbered counter at the beginning of a game1 which he keeps secret but adds to his score4 ,thus a player whose counter was numbered six would produce it when his score reached twenty-five1 and would claim the pool2 part of the game then is to guess the handicaps of the other players1 by observing which skittles each is trying to knock over when within range of thirty-one4 ,thus1 if a player whose score on the board was twenty-four were seen to be incessantly playing for one of the skittles at either ,b or ,e1 counting four1 his handicap number would probably be three1 and so on4 ,this innovation seems to have come from the ,italian way of playing skittle pool1 which is very popular in ,italy and ,greece1 and indeed in all the ,levant4 ,directions for this game may be found in ,dufton's #8,practical ,billiards4' ,the game may also be played without the black skittles1 but there is less fun and excitement1 as their presence adds considerably to its vicissitudes4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,miscellaneous ,,notes ,before finishing this book it is desirable to mention a few matters connected with billiards which have not been dealt with in former chapters1 though some of them may have been more than once introduced4 ,to begin with1 the question is often debated whether in the interest of the game a stake is desirable4 ,undoubtedly1 some advantages are gained when money1 however little1 is played for2 the rules are more strictly obeyed1 and the game is treated as serious4 ,on the other hand1 there are drawbacks3 certain players1 often those most anxious to bet1 cannot afford to lose1 and the miserable result is that the pleasure of the game is sacrificed to money4 ,when played on proper lines1 no stimulant beyond the honour of winning and the pleasure of making meritorious breaks is needed for players who are devoted to billiards and have attained certain excellence4 ,in most clubs far fewer games are played of late years for even the small stake of a shilling or half a crown than was the case in the early seventies1 but a little excitement is supplied by an occasional handicap4 ,from want of experience1 however1 the framers often make serious mistakes1 which deter persons from entering1 and these are perhaps less in estimating the start which should be allowed than in general principles4 ,hence1 with the view of helping framers1 a few remarks are offered4 ,illustration3 ,a winning game4 ,a handicap1 to be satisfactory1 should be on the ,american principle3 each player should in turn play with every person who has entered1 and he who has most games to his credit is the winner4 ,it follows that too many entries should not be allowed1 nor1 if possible1 should there be too great a difference in the class of players4 ,it is better to have more than one handicap than to try to bring together men between whom there is great difference of play4 ,as a general rule1 it is probably safe to say that no two men should play in the same handicap when one can give the other much more than a third of the game4 ,in a short game--and those of most amateur handicaps are from #ajj to #bej points--more than one-third of the game is so long a start that chance plays too important a part4 ,when there are many competitors1 it might be desirable to have one or more handicaps subordinate to the final one1 played1 if preferred1 on the ,english system1 in which the loss of one game disqualifies for further competition2 but the final1 amongst1 say1 the best six players1 should if possible be arranged on the ,american plan4 ,as a guide to handicapping1 the following rule may be useful4 ,the question is1 if ,a4 can give ,b4 twenty in a hundred1 and ,b4 can give ,c4 a like number of points1 how many can ,a4 give ,c48 ,add the points1 and from the result deduct their product divided by the length of the game4 ,thus1 in the supposed case3 #bj #bj 7#bj #bj7_/ajj #dj #d #cf2 or ,a4 can give ,c4 #cf points4 ,another sort of handicap is sometimes substituted for the ordinary and uninteresting four game when it is wished that more than two players should take part4 ,the method followed is to agree about the points and then string or toss for position--i4e4 to determine who shall commence and the sequence of play4 ,whoever first scores the agreed number of points wins the game and takes the stakes4 ,it has this advantage over the four game that excessive safety play is useless or worse1 and that each competitor does his best to score4 ,the luck is to follow a player who leaves easy openings1 but1 as no one plays specially for safety1 a good player is as likely to leave an easy stroke as a bad one4 ,a few words may be permitted on billiards as a game for ladies4 ,with their superior delicacy of touch and at least equality in all other respects1 save perhaps in brute force1 there would seem to be no reason why they should not greatly excel at the game4 ,as a fact some1 a very few1 do play almost as well as good club players2 they can make from twenty to forty points in a break1 and1 this being so1 work is all that is required to raise their standard4 ,the game is a healthy one1 calling into play not merely the muscles but the mind2 and1 as to its capabilities for showing a handsome figure to advantage1 ,mr4 ,davis's illustrations are sufficiently eloquent4 ,some readers may perhaps regret the absence of a chapter on the ,french and ,american game4 ,to them we would urge that a game so beautiful1 so scientific1 and capable of such development1 cannot be satisfactorily treated in short space2 and1 therefore1 it has been thought better simply to refer inquirers to ,m4 ,vignaux's book and to #8,modern ,billiards1' the ,american text-book1 published by the ,brunswick-,balke-,collender ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,comparison between the ,english and ,french games is scarcely profitable2 they differ widely1 and each has its advantages4 ,conspicuous amongst these in favour of the foreign game is the small size of the table which may be set up in ordinary rooms4 ,it is cheaper and more easily lighted than that used in the ,english game1 and1 although hazards are eliminated and much interest is thereby lost1 the cannon game can be brought on the smaller table to a perfection of which we scarcely even dream4 ,a matter which closely concerns the well-being of the game must now be considered1 and that is the behaviour of players and spectators2 in other words1 the etiquette of the room4 ,throughout this book1 in one part or another1 the importance of maintaining order and the impossibility of preserving a high class of play when interruption is permitted have been clearly set forth4 ,the orderly proceedings in professional play1 during which neither player smokes nor interrupts the other1 and spectators are generally courteous1 silent1 and impartial1 contrast1 we regret to say1 with the ordinary behaviour of amateurs in a club billiard-room4 ,here1 in general1 players have to submit to all manner of interruption1 the result mainly of ignorance and inadvertence4 ,consequently1 the great majority play day after day1 year after year1 and scarcely improve1 whilst the few who get the length of thinking out a break and working it out on the table are driven to play where they are less liable to disturbance4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,ladies' ,,battle4 ,in a billiard-room the players for the time being should be considered supreme2 table1 light1 fire1 marker1 are theirs for the time2 and a little ordinary consideration will show any gentleman that he should avoid interference with them during a game4 ,yet1 how common it is for persons to bounce up to the door1 open it without waiting for the stroke1 march gaily along towards a seat irrespective of whether a stroke is in progress or not1 and then1 as likely as not1 commence an animated conversation in a loud tone of voice with another spectator1 or in default even with the non-player4 ,if conversation fails1 they have no scruple in lighting a lamp or in poking the fire and making a glare and heat which is unbearable to the players4 ,the opponent1 too1 is often an offender in the matter of talking4 ,no sooner has he missed a stroke than he commences conversation1 failing to see that1 if his adversary is more polite1 he enjoys absolute quiet during his break1 whilst the other has to play under disturbing influences1 a proceeding which is not merely discourteous1 but unfair4 ,then1 again1 a running commentary is often kept up during play1 the remarks for the most part being absolutely foolish4 ,a spectator who listens to them cannot fail to notice their grotesqueness1 and1 if they could be fully reproduced1 the offenders themselves would scarcely credit that they could have acted such a part4 ,sometimes a player volunteers on every occasion explanation of his failure to score1 at other times he passionately addresses the balls1 adjuring them to stop or come on2 he seems to think he gains a reputation for generosity when he praises his adversary's efforts by shouting #8good stroke' when satisfied that the hazard or cannon has just been missed1 and it is entertaining to watch his change of tone and countenance should some unforeseen score be made4 ,his nervous contortions when a ball is approaching a pocket or likely to make a cannon are often remarkable2 head1 hands1 legs and feet1 all coming into play1 and all impressed to indicate his sensations1 which1 to judge from the display1 must often be unpleasant4 ,smoking1 too1 requires regulation4 ,matches should not be lighted on the stroke1 nor should they be extinguished by being waved about2 cues1 umbrellas1 or sticks1 should be kept perfectly still2 in fact1 every care should be taken to avoid distracting the player's attention4 ,there are many drawbacks to the game from players smoking2 with every care1 ashes and tobacco fall on the cloth1 the woodwork of the cushions is blistered and disfigured because the ends of lighted cigars are carelessly laid on it1 and the striker is often hampered by clouds of smoke poured over the table by his adversary in the line of sight4 ,these may be reduced to a minimum by the exercise of a little consideration1 and suitable metal trays should be provided on mantelpiece or side tables on which lighted cigars may be placed whilst the player is at the table4 ,another not uncommon but most offensive breach of etiquette is for a spectator to offer either player advice2 it often happens that they see what a player has overlooked1 but they should resist the temptation to advertise their smartness1 and recollect that the struggle ought to be left entirely to the opponents1 who are entitled to a fair field and no favour4 ,these are the main faults which are of common occurrence3 a little care and self-restraint will deter men from offending1 and gain for them an enviable character for consideration of others and good feeling2 whereas indulgence in them will sooner or later cause transgressors to be considered as the pests of the room and to be more or less avoided4 ,it is true that endeavour has been made in existing rules to control the behaviour both of players and of spectators1 and it is possible that some further steps in this way may be taken2 but much must be left to the good feeling of gentlemen1 which will not fail when they realise the value of a room in which good order is kept2 and the remarks here made are offered in the hope that they may contribute to the desired result4 ,with reference to the disputed question which was discussed in ,chapter ,,vi4 and has incidentally appeared elsewhere1 whether side can be communicated by one ball to another1 there is a stroke which will repay study4 ,place the red and another ball on the baulk-line about a foot apart within the 4 ,from the right-hand side of the table play a free stab on the red with strong right side1 hitting it almost full but sufficiently on the left to just send it out of baulk4 ,if properly played1 both balls will be left in baulk4 ,the white going into baulk shows that the red was struck on its left1 and therefore must have gone out of baulk1 whereas its return to baulk would appear to be due to communicated side4 ,it is instructive to play this stroke first with one side and then with the other1 and to observe the difference of result4 ,the practice of strokes as recommended throughout this manual may occasionally be varied by trying breaks from some well-defined position of the balls4 ,place a ball over each middle pocket for easy losing hazards and play the break from hand4 ,after each break record the score1 and after five or ten trials take the average4 ,anyone who can usually score #ajj points in six innings is more than able to hold his own against good club form4 ,the task is not so easy as it appears1 as a few trials will show4 ,the gradual rise of this average is a good measure of improvement4 ,but too much time should not be spent in this way1 for the practice of strokes is far more profitable1 specially if the maxim #8,over the easiest strokes bestow the greatest pains' be always remembered4 ,work at easy strokes till they can be so played as to leave another easy one to follow2 no practice is more remunerative4 ,intimately connected with the interests of billiards are the duties of referees and markers4 ,in important matches three persons are employed besides the players--the referee1 the marker1 and a boy to hand the balls and rests2 in ordinary games all the duties fail on the marker4 ,it is by no means an easy matter to be a good referee2 men are often selected more because they happen to be connected with a sporting newspaper than from any personal aptitude for the position4 ,the qualities required form a combination difficult to be obtained4 ,the referee should possess a strictly judicial turn of mind1 perfect sight1 developed accuracy of observation1 great calmness1 rapidity of judgment1 perfect and fearless honesty2 in addition to knowledge of the game1 intimate acquaintance with the rules1 and correct appreciation of the duties he may have to perform4 ,failure in any one of these qualifications may result in erroneous decisions2 but perhaps the last-mentioned is the one which is most liable to be misunderstood4 ,as a rule1 the referee should not interfere unless appealed to2 it should be fully realised by him that he can make no law or rule1 and has for the time being no concern with the justice or injustice of the code2 his duty is simply to say whether a rule has or has not been broken1 and to declare the penalty4 ,his personal opinion as to whether a stroke should be fair or foul is of no moment2 all he has to deal with are matters of fact and the application of acknowledged rules4 ,thus1 until the push1 for example1 is contrary to the rules1 a referee is not justified in declaring every such stroke appealed against to be foul2 on the contrary1 a competent man1 whatever his opinion may be as to the merit of the stroke1 should declare all strokes to be fair unless he actually saw a rule infringed4 ,if he saw the cue twice applied 7which is common enough71 he is justified in ruling the stroke to be foul2 if he did not 7as he cannot in a well-executed push7 see two applications1 he is bound to uphold the stroke as fair4 ,it is no argument to say that he knows the stroke to be always foul2 no one desires him to air his opinion on such a matter1 and a person who made such an excuse for his ruling would thereby conclusively prove his unfitness for the post4 ,the marker is a man for whom we have much sympathy2 his duties are many and trying1 sometimes almost beyond human endurance4 ,as a class1 markers are civil1 well-behaved1 and otherwise probably neither better nor worse than their fellow-men4 ,when asked for advice or instruction1 they give it cheerfully to the best of their ability1 and in respect to play they may be said to lie between amateurs and professionals4 ,they have occasionally a good deal to put up with1 and their services are often unjustifiably requisitioned2 attention is invited to ,mr4 ,ford's remarks 7p4 #dbh71 which1 though made with reference to pool1 are in most respects applicable to billiards4 ,and when late at night or in close rooms markers are occasionally drowsy1 or make a mistake1 let players endeavour to realise the monotony of their lives4 ,from their arrival in the room before noon till their departure at1 perhaps1 three in the morning1 think of their average experience6 ,the table has to be got ready1 the room dusted and preparation made for visitors4 ,these appear at first fitfully--the young1 who are not good enough for the serious business of the day1 and the old1 who are losing their game1 meeting together1 followed later by the regular habitus1 who play billiards or pool as may be4 ,conversation is carried on as if the marker were both deaf and dumb1 a mere machine for returning the ball and handing the rest4 ,there is an admirable essay on this aspect of the marker in #8,the ,billiard ,book1' by ,captain ,crawley1 written by the author of #8,lost ,sir ,massingberd1' in which it is justly pointed out that the marker moralises and is #8daily the dumb witness of innumerable frauds4' ,he is made to say1 #8,i know the real skill of every player to a hair1 and how much he conceals of it4' ,i know the characters of nine-tenths of the men who enter the room1 and very indifferent they are--#8the man who plays for a stroke only when it is a certainty preferring his own safety to his enemy's danger2 the hard hitter1 from whom no player is secure2 the man who is always calling his own strokes flukes2 the man who is always calling other people's by that derogatory name2 and the poor fellow who is for ever under the cushion4 ,my world1 which is not a small one1 is mapped out for me1 with all its different species of men1 upon this table2 for ,i stand apart1 and mark many things beside the score4' ,then think of the marker being obliged to constantly watch the performances of those who take from half to three-quarters of an hour to play a game of a hundred1 the same bad form exhibited game after game1 by men who for one reason or another never improve2 and judge leniently of slight lapses of attention4 ,it is expedient once more to emphasise the point that whilst a game is in progress the marker's services should be considered as wholly devoted to the score and the players2 no spectator should speak to him or attract his attention1 and markers ought to be instructed1 in case of breaches of this rule1 to point out respectfully that they are prohibited from entering into conversation during a game4 ,the writer has often seen spectators1 and occasionally opponents1 most unwarrantably engage a marker in conversation when they failed to get anyone else to talk to1 thereby distracting his attention from the game to which it should be entirely devoted4 ,and now1 as a last word1 it is proper to explain that1 though endeavour has been made in the preceding pages to put amateurs in the way of improving their game and of understanding its general principles1 yet it is not for a moment advocated that young men should devote to billiards the time which might be more profitably employed in serious work4 ,except for professional players and a very few specially circumstanced enthusiasts1 it is1 after all1 but a game and relaxation4 ,indulgence in it should1 therefore1 be kept within strict limits2 but1 so regulated1 it will be found generally beneficial to mind and body4 ,these restrictions1 it is evident1 must almost to a certainty prevent amateur form from ever seriously approaching that of professional players1 and one is warranted on meeting a youngster whose knowledge of the game and handling of the balls have reached professional form in concluding that his skill is evidence of a misspent youth4 ,still1 there is a vast difference1 which may reasonably be lessened1 between such perfection and the average amateur performance2 and it is hoped that this volume may contribute to so desirable a result4 ,,index ,aberdovey slates1 #gc ,albert ,club1 #dh ,albo-carbon light1 #ff1 #fg ,american handicaps1 #dj1 #dc2 tournament1 #da1 #dcf ,angle1 half-ball or natural1 #aja-ajc1 #abc-abd2 of deviation1 #ach2 of incidence and reflexion1 #aci-adj ,aquarium4 ,see ,royal ,aquarium ,association1 ,billiard4 ,see ,billiard ,association ,attitude1 #ajg ,balls1 billiard1 #hf-ib2 treatment of1 #hg-hh2 weight1 #hgn2 gauge1 #hi2 tests of1 #ij2 bonzoline1 #ia-ib2 cast steel1 #ib2 dummy1 #aja2 definition of1 #aje2 motion1 c41 and division of1 #acj-ada2 impact of1 #afd-afh2 rotation of1 #ahi-bad2 surface of1 #aic2 friction of1 on cloth1 #aic2 transmitted side1 #aid2 #ddc2 different qualities of ivory and bonzoline1 #bff-bfg2 light1 #cbb ,bartley1 ,mr41 #f1 #i ,basket1 pool1 #aja1 #bec-bed ,baulk1 meaning of the term1 #aje2 doubles in1 #aej2 playing for safety in1 #bhd2 double1 #bij #8,baynard ,castle1' #dc ,bedford1 ,mr41 #i ,bell's ,life1 #ai2 quoted1 #bj2 #ba ,bennett1 ,alfred1 in handicaps1 #cf1 #ch1 #dj1 #da1 #dg2 death1 #chn ,bennett1 ,fred1 #cf1 #ch ,bennett1 ,john1 #cf1 #ch ,bennett1 ,joseph #d2 his manual1 #d2 in a four-handed match with ,john ,roberts1 sen41 #bf2 #bi2 beats ,roberts1 jun41 and beaten by him1 #cd2 #ce1 #cf1 #dj1 #da1 #dc1 #dd2 beaten by ,roberts1 jun41 #ej2 beats ,cook for championship1 #df2 defeats ,taylor for championship1 #dg2 ,shorter forfeits for championship1 #dg2 introduction of angle for private practice1 #abd2 #bff1 #cgj ,bentinck ,club1 #bd1 #bg ,billiard ,association of ,great ,britain and ,ireland standard tables1 #gj1 #ga1 #cfb2 rules of1 #cgd2 revision required1 #cge2 examination of -- rules1 #cgf-chf2 examination of -- rules of pyramids1 #cij #8,billiard ,book1' ,captain ,crawley's1 on pyramids1 #cia2 essay on the marker1 #dde #8,billiard ,review1' quoted1 on the ,association ,rules1 #cge ,billiard-rooms1 #ee-eg2 in ,oriental ,club1 #eg2 #eh1 #ei2 ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,fowler's room1 #ei2 ,mr4 ,a4 ,gibbs'1 #ee-ef2 ventilation of1 #fa-ff2 lighting of1 #ff-fh2 ,major ,broadfoot's note on1 #fg1 #fh ,billiard-tables1 #e1 #aj1 #aa1 #ae1 #fi2 pockets1 #fi2 ,billiard ,association legislation1 #gj2 ,standard ,association tables1 #ga2 cost1 #gb2 ordinary1 #gc2 championship1 #gc1 #hc1 #cfb-cgc2 frames1 #gc2 slates1 #gc-gg2 plan of table in diagram1 #gd1 #ge2 cushions1 #gg-gi2 cloths1 #gi-hj2 setting up the table1 #gi-hc2 brushing and ironing1 #hc-hd2 undersized1 #hd2 spot stroke1 #he2 ,french tables1 #he2 hiring1 #he2 automatic returner1 #hf2 few in ,london clubs fit for play1 #bjg2 easy and difficult--in training1 #cjf ,billiard terms in use1 #aje-ajg ,black and pink pool1 description of game1 #dbc2 variation in rules1 #dbc2 collecting stakes1 #dbd2 a useful bye-law1 #dbd ,black pool1 #djh1 #dah2 no regular laws1 #dah2 the game as generally played1 #dbj2 special features1 #dbj2 variation in rules1 #dba2 points to be held in view1 #dbb ,blind pockets1 playing hazards into1 #adf1 #aej ,bonzoline balls1 #ia2 wear1 #ib2 playing hazards with1 #agj2 difference between ivory and1 #bff2 playing double baulk strokes with1 #bic ,boucle1 formation of the bridge1 #aji1 #abi ,bowles1 ,alfred1 #bc2 his matches with ,roberts1 jun41 #bc1 #cc1 #cfg ,boyd1 ,mr4 ,a4 ,h41 #c2 aid from1 #c2 on implements1 #ee-ajc2 on #8,every-,day ,billiards1' #cae-cbe ,break1 definition of1 #aje2 higher signification of1 #cjj2 average--in classifying players1 #cjb2 personal questions3 luck and nerve1 #cjc-cjf2 advice to players who cannot undertake close study1 #cjg-cac2 advice to a higher class of players1 #cac2 ,mr4 ,boyd's advice to moderate players1 #cae-cbe2 -- at the top of the table1 by ,mr4 ,rimington-,wilson1 #cbe-cdh2 nursery cannons1 #cdh-cfa ,breaking the balls1 explanation of the phrase1 #aje ,bricole1 utility of1 #agb2 the push1 #bbf1 #bdj ,bridge1 the term1 #aje2 a good1 #ajh1 #aji2 a short1 #abg2 boucle1 #abi ,brighton1 ,kentfield's ,subscription ,rooms at1 #aj ,broughton1 ,tom1 beaten by ,roberts1 sen41 #af ,brunswick-,balke-,collender ,co4 the1 cited1 #bab1 #ddj ,brushing tables1 #hc ,buchanan1 ,j4 ,p41 #bff ,buckland1 ,frank1 test for balls1 #ij #8,bumble-puppy1' #dcj ,burners1 gas1 for billiard-rooms1 #fg ,burroughes and ,watts1 aid from1 #d1 #ee2 first series of handicaps1 #cf2 #dj1 #gg1 #ih ,butts1 #ig ,cannons1 plain1 #agb-ahf2 tendency to supersede losing hazards1 #agb2 general rules for strength in playing1 #agd2 easier than the hazard1 #age2 in baulk1 #baj-bab2 use of compensation in making1 #bfa-bfb2 nursery1 easy of execution1 #cbf2 #cdh-cfa ,carr1 ,john1 #e2 sells twisting chalk1 #g2 #h2 backed against all comers1 #i2 challenged by ,kentfield1 #aj ,carter1 ,eugene1 ,american player1 #ec ,cathire ,more1 ,king of ,ireland1 his brass billiard balls1 #d ,chalk1 #hc1 #hg1 #ih1 #chd2 ,st4 ,martin1 #ii ,championship1 the1 c41 #cfb-cgc2 ,mr4 ,russell ,d4 ,walker's memorandum on1 #cfg-cgj ,championship matches1 remarks concerning1 #cfb-cff2 list of1 #cgc ,championship table1 the1 #gc1 #hc2 pockets1 #cfb2 play on1 #cgj-cgc2 objections to different tables for ordinary play and for championship matches1 #cfd2 genuineness of game1 #cfe2 equalisation of amateurs on a1 #cgb2 record of championship matches1 #cgc ,chimneys of lamps for lighting billiard-rooms1 #ff ,close screws1 method of playing1 #bej ,cloths for billiard-tables1 #gi2 nap of1 #aic2 effects on rotation and path of ball1 #bjg ,club billiard-rooms1 #ef2 over-ironing of cloth in1 #bjg ,coles1 ,harry1 #dh1 #di ,collins1 ,george1 #cf1 #ch1 #ci1 #dh ,combination tables1 #he ,compensation in play1 #bfj ,composition balls1 #ia ,cook1 ,william1 #bj1 #bc1 #bd2 ,roberts1 sen4's opinion of1 #be2 first match with and defeat by ,roberts1 jun41 #bg2 beats him later1 #bh2 rapid rise1 #bh2 beats ,roberts1 sen41 for championship1 #bi-ca2 remarkable breaks1 #cc1 #cd2 loses championship to ,roberts1 jun41 #cc1 #da2 zenith of his career1 #cd2 #ce1 #cf2 wins handicap1 #cf2 #ci1 #dj2 beaten by ,roberts1 jun41 #da1 #db1 #dc1 #df2 beaten by ,joseph ,bennett in championship match1 #df2 beats and beaten by ,roberts1 jun41 #dg1 #ej2 unrivalled style1 #abj2 on the spot stroke1 #bfe1 #bff1 #bfh2 strength and execution1 #cgj2 pool record1 #dab #8,cork ,marker1' the1 his match with ,carr1 #i ,cork pool1 description of1 #dbi2 variation in play1 #dcj2 bumble-puppy1 #dcj ,corrugated iron billiard-rooms1 #ei ,cotton's #8,compleat ,gamester1' #e ,country-house games1 #dbi-dcb ,coup1 to run a1 explanation of phrase1 #aje ,coups durs1 #aje1 #bcj ,cover1 meaning of the term1 #aje ,crawley1 ,captain1 on pyramids1 #cia2 quotation about marker from his billiard book1 #dde ,cues1 c41 #ic-ajc2 ,french butt1 #ic2 ,english butt1 #ic2 tips1 #ie1 #if2 jointed1 #if1 #chh2 splicing1 #ig2 mechanical accuracy in delivering1 #aae-abi2 hold of1 #abe2 use of -- in the follow1 #aif2 in the screw back1 #bjb2 in applying side1 #bjc2 in the push stroke1 #bbd2 #8power' of1 #cae2 necessity for accurate delivery of1 #cbd ,cunningham1 ,colonel ,allan1 ,r4,e41 aid from1 #c ,cushion-crawling1 #bhc ,cushion nursery cannons1 #cdh-cfa2 breaks of -- often spurious1 #cfc ,cushions1 #gg2 covering with cloth1 #ha2 difficulty of square-cut1 #ade2 side acquired by friction with1 #bjf2 nurseries1 #cdh-cfa ,davis1 ,george1 #be ,dawson1 ,charles1 #di1 #ea1 #abj2 simplicity of his game1 #abh2 #cfg ,defensive play1 where advisable1 #bhc ,diagrams1 explanation of1 #ach-aci ,diggle1 ,edward1 #ea1 #abj1 #cfg ,double baulk1 #aje ,doubles1 value of1 #aej2 in baulk1 #aej2 simple1 #aeb2 #cih1 #djj1 #dac1 #daf ,drag strokes1 #aaf1 #aif2 used to overcome irregularities in ball or bed1 #aig ,dufton1 ,john1 #bj ,dufton1 ,william1 #8tutor to the ,prince of ,wales1' #bj2 match with ,roberts1 sen41 #bb2 his long jennies1 #be2 an overrated player1 #be ,dufton's #8,practical ,billiards1' on skittle pool1 #dce ,dummy balls1 #aja ,egan1 ,pierce1 #i ,egyptian ,hall1 #ea ,electric light in billiard-rooms1 #fa1 #ff1 #fg ,elementary instruction1 #ajd2 mode of entering room1 #ajd2 technical terms1 #ajd-ajf2 attitudes1 #ajg2 formation of bridge1 #ajh1 #aji2 the bridge boucle1 #aji1 #abi2 cue delivery1 #aji2 practice with one ball1 #aaj-aae2 strength1 #aab2 use of the rest1 #aac-aae2 use of the half-butt and long-butt1 #aae2 ,mr4 ,pontifex's memorandum1 #aae-abi2 a remarkable amateur feat1 #aaf1 #abf ,english butt1 #ic ,erection of billiard-table1 #hj ,etiquette of the billiard-room1 #c1 #ajd1 #chh1 #ddj-ddb ,evans1 ,harry1 #be1 #bf2 champion of ,australia1 #ci ,feather stroke1 #cgj ,fleming1 ,john1 defeats ,roberts1 sen41 #af ,follow1 the1 importance of1 #aid2 increasing artificially1 #aie2 chief use1 #aif ,forcing hazards1 #agj ,ford1 ,mr41 on markers1 #dbh2 #dde ,foul1 definition of a1 #aje ,four-handed game1 a bad school1 #cah2 a substitute for1 #dci ,fowler1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,h41 his outside billiard-room1 #ei1 #ajc ,french butt1 #ic ,french players on the game1 #a ,gaiety ,restaurant1 matches at1 #da1 #dc #8,game of ,billiards1' ,kentfield's1 #aj ,gas in billiard-rooms1 #fa ,gate-money1 #cfe1 #cff ,gibbs1 ,mr4 ,a41 his billiard-room at ,tyntesfield1 #fa ,gillows' tables1 #ae ,green1 ,w4 ,e41 #be1 #ec ,guildhall ,tavern1 matches at1 #cg ,half-butts1 #ig ,half-push1 the1 #bbh ,handicaps1 #cf1 #ci2 ,american system of1 #dj1 #da1 #dc2 #dcf2 the same guiding rules for framing1 #dci ,hazards1 winning1 #adb-aec2 #cbj1 #djd2 plain strokes1 #adb2 middle pocket1 #aei1 #dbb4 ,see ,losing ,herst1 ,john1 #ba1 #bb1 #be ,hiring billiard-tables1 #he ,hitchin1 ,w4 ,c41 #be ,hughes1 ,alfred1 #be1 #bf1 #cf1 #ci ,hughes1 ,charles1 #bc1 #bd1 #be1 #bf1 #bg1 #cfg ,impact1 divergence between point of aim and point of1 #acc-ace2 points of1 #adc2 rebound following1 #afd1 #afg ,implements of the game1 #ee et seq4 ,in hand1 definition of the term1 #aje ,incandescent gas light1 #ff ,india-rubber cushions1 #gg ,ironing billiard-table cloths1 #gi1 #hc ,ives1 ,frank1 his matches with ,roberts1 jun41 #ec1 #cfe1 #cgb2 cannon play1 #cei2 makes #a1bfg consecutive cannons1 #cfi ,ivory balls1 #hf2 expense of1 #ia2 differ from bonzoline1 #bff2 #bic ,jennies1 #afj2 method of playing1 #bci ,jump stroke1 #bej ,kentfield1 ,edwin 7otherwise ,jonathan71 champion1 #aj2 his improvements1 #aj2 his book1 #aa2 his game #aa2 #ab1 #ac1 #ad1 #ae2 interviewed by ,roberts1 sen41 #ag1 #ah2 refuses to play ,roberts1 #ai2 #cfg ,kilkenny1 ,lewis1 #be1 #cf1 #ch1 #dj ,kiss1 the term explained1 #aje2 mode of playing the -- stroke1 #bcj2 #djf ,knightsbridge1 matches at1 #ec ,ladies1 billiards as a game for1 #ddj ,lamps1 oil1 for lighting billiard-rooms1 #ff ,leap stroke1 method of making1 #bej ,lighting billiard-rooms1 #ff1 #hc ,lloyd1 winner of #ahie ,association ,tournament1 #ed ,long-butts1 #ig ,losing hazards1 short and long1 #aec-agb2 half-ball strokes1 #aed2 #aef2 middle-pocket1 #aeh2 jennies1 #afj2 long1 #afb2 care required in playing1 #afh2 forcing1 #agj2 inferiority to winning hazards1 #agb2 by use of follow1 #bah-bba2 #cga ,luck in playing1 #cjc ,m,neil1 ,hugh1 #ea ,mannock1 ,j4 ,p41 #eb ,mardon1 ,mr41 writer on billiards1 #h1 #ab1 #ag1 #ah1 #ai1 #bj ,marker1 duties of the1 #dab1 #dad1 #dae1 #dbh1 #dde2 services should be devoted to game and players alone1 #ddf ,marking-boards1 #ii2 nickel-plated1 #ajj ,mass stroke1 method of playing1 #bee1 #cec ,matches1 championship1 #cgc ,measurements in billiards1 approximate1 #adf2 how made1 #adg ,memmott1 ,charles1 champion of ,australia1 #bf1 #ci2 record of screw back spots1 #dh2 #eb1 #bgd ,miss1 must be played with the point of cue1 #bhd ,miss-cue1 meaning of the term1 #ajf ,mitchell1 ,william1 #dc-df2 as spot player1 #dd-dh2 beaten by ,roberts1 jun41 even1 #ej2 #eb1 #bbh1 #cfg ,mode of entering a billiard-room1 #ajd1 #dda ,morris1 ,tom1 #be1 #bf1 #ci ,moss1 ,w41 #ce ,mulberry1 ,george1 #be ,nap of cloth1 effect of playing with or against1 #aic1 #bjg1 #bjh1 #bgj ,nearest ball pool1 #dca #8,nell ,gwynne1' ,strand1 match at1 #bd ,nerve in playing1 #c1 #cje-cjf ,north1 ,john1 his style1 #dg1 #dh1 #aai ,nursery cannons1 #cdh-cfa2 value of -- on three-inch pocket table1 #cfc ,oil lamps for lighting billiard-rooms1 #ff ,one-ball practice4 ,see ,elementary instruction ,oriental ,club1 plan of room1 #eg1 #fb ,orme ,sons1 their automatic arrangement for returning balls1 #hf2 #cbc ,over-caution in playing1 evils of1 #cah ,partie ,amricaine dite du cadre1 #cfd ,peall1 ,w4 ,j41 aid from1 #d2 #dd2 remarkable breaks1 #de2 #df1 #dh2 defeats ,roberts1 jun41 #di1 #ej2 present position1 #ea2 #eb2 weight of his cue1 #id2 consecutive screw back spot strokes1 #bgd2 #bhb2 turning a corner at cushion nurseries1 #cei2 #cfg ,peall cushion rest1 #ih n4 ,pendleton1 ,tom1 #af ,penrhyn slates1 #gc ,pipeclay for marking baulk-lines1 #hc ,piqu strokes1 mode of playing1 #bef ,plain strokes1 #adb-ahh ,plan of billiard-table1 #gd1 #ge ,plants1 definition of1 #ajf2 method of playing1 #bdd2 laws which govern them unknown1 #bdf2 in pyramids1 #djj ,players1 system of classifying1 #cjb2 difference in1 #cjc2 luck1 #cjc ,pneumatic cushions1 #gi ,pockets of billiard-tables1 #aa1 #fi2 blind1 #adf1 #aej2 ,billiard ,association standard1 #cfb1 #cfh ,pontifex1 ,mr4 ,dudley ,d41 aid from1 #c2 memorandum by1 #aae1 #cbe ,pook1 ,john1 ,kentfield's manager1 #ah ,pool basket1 #aja1 #bec-bed ,pool1 importance of playing for position in1 #ade2 useful as winning hazard practice1 #cbj2 description of the game1 #djh2 rules and penalties1 #daj2 safety and hazards1 #daa2 starring1 #daa2 playing for cannons1 #daa2 measuring distances1 #dab2 marker's duty1 #dab2 the opening stroke1 #dab2 ,cook's record1 #dab2 doubles1 #aej1 #djj1 #dac2 story concerning consecutive doubles1 #dac2 anecdote about sharpers1 #dac1 #dad2 for other varieties of the game1 see ,black pool1 ,black and pink1 ,cork1 ,nearest ball1 ,selling1 ,single1 ,skittle1 ,snooker1 ,three-pool ,porker1 ,mr41 his match with ,mr4 ,mardon1 #ab ,position mre1 #cbi2 #cea #8,practical ,billiards1' ,dufton's1 on skittle pool1 #dce ,pratt1 his style1 #i2 match with a stranger1 #aj ,precautions in play1 #bei ,prince of ,wales1 the1 ,see ,wales1 ,prince of ,prince of ,wales's ,hotel1 ,moss ,street1 ,manchester1 matches at1 #bh ,professionals1 rate of scoring1 #cjg ,push stroke1 the1 #eb2 method of playing1 #bbd2 #cgj2 its permissibility1 #chb2 character defined1 #chc2 so-called proofs of foulness1 #chc1 #chd2 objections to striking twice1 #che1 #chf2 the case for and against1 #chf ,pyramids1 #cc2 importance of playing for position in1 #ade2 general hints concerning1 #chh2 salient points of the game1 #chi2 rules regarding1 #cij2 handicapping players1 #cij2 setting up the balls1 #cia2 ways of playing the first stroke1 #cia2 safety1 #cib2 making a series of hazards1 #cib2 plants and doubles1 #cid2 when the object ball is close to a cushion1 #cif2 useful strokes1 #cif-djf2 good break by an ,undergraduate1 #djg ,queen's ,club1 #aaf ,quill stroke1 #cgj ,rebound following impact1 #afd1 #afg ,referees1 duties of1 #ddd ,rencontres1 #aje1 #bcj ,rests1 #ih1 #aae ,richards1 matches with ,roberts1 sen41 #cfg ,richards1 ,d41 #be1 #bg1 #da1 #abj ,right-angled screw1 the1 #aih ,rimington-,wilson1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,r41 aid from1 #d2 on the top-of-the-table game1 #cbe2 on cannon nurseries1 #cei2 on the professional championship1 #cff ,roberts1 ,john1 jun41 #aa1 #bc1 #be1 #bf1 #bg1 #bh2 beats ,cook for the championship1 #cc2 beats ,a4 ,bowles1 #cc2 beaten by ,joseph ,bennett1 #cd2 defeats ,bennett1 #cc1 #cd2 #dj2 again beats ,cook for championship1 #da2 #dc1 #df2 in ,india1 #dg2 defeats and is beaten by ,cook1 #dg2 #dh2 beaten by ,peall1 #di2 beats ,cook and ,joseph ,bennett for championship1 #ej2 beats ,mitchell1 #ej2 beaten by ,peall1 spots only1 #ej2 challenged by ,peall1 #ea2 his wonderful play1 #ea2 matches with ,ives1 #ec1 #cei1 #cfe2 his long spot-barred breaks1 #ed2 weight of his cue1 #id2 admirable cue delivery1 #aaf2 ease and grace of style1 #aai2 skill1 #aba1 #abe1 #abg1 #abh1 #bab1 #bfh2 good at the spot stroke1 #bgd2 #cgj2 offer to assist in recasting rules of the game1 #cge2 on the push stroke1 #chf ,roberts1 ,john1 sen41 #ab1 #ac2 contrasted with ,kentfield1 #ad1 #ae2 rapid rise1 #af2 taught the spot stroke by ,mr4 ,lee ,birch1 #af2 interviews ,kentfield1 #ag1 #ah2 champion1 #ai2 #ba2 lessee of ,saville ,house1 ,leicester ,square1 #bb2 his famous break of #cdf in a match with ,william ,dufton1 #bb2 matches with ,alfred ,bowles and ,charles ,hughes1 #bc1 #bd2 #bf1 #bh2 defeated by ,cook1 #ca2 endurance match with an amateur1 #cb2 #cfg ,rotation of ball1 #ahi-bad2 cause of1 #aib2 round horizontal axis1 forward1 #aid2 backward1 #aif2 round vertical axis1 #bjb ,royal ,aquarium1 ,westminster1 #dc1 #dd1 #de1 #di1 #ej1 #cfh #8,r4-,w4 ,billiard ,diagram ,notebook1' #cih ,rudolph1 match with ,cook1 #dj ,rules of billiards1 #cgd2 defective character1 #cgd2 proposed revision1 #cge2 penalties for infringing1 #cge2 suggestions respecting1 #cgf-chf2 discriminating between the act of aiming and the act of striking1 #cgg2 playing a miss otherwise than with the point of the cue1 #cgh2 playing with the wrong ball1 #cgh2 foul strokes1 #cgi2 when player's ball touches another ball1 #cgi2 offences committed by persons other than the players1 #chj2 spectators offering advice1 #cgf1 #chj2 obstructing players1 #chj2 obstruction of the striker by the non-striker1 #cha2 how far the marker may assist either player1 #cha2 the push stroke1 #chb2 the half-push1 #chd2 striking a ball twice1 #chd2 chief objections to the push stroke1 #che1 #chf ,safety1 when to be sought for1 #bhc2 pocketing an adversary's ball1 #bhe2 double baulk1 #bij ,st4 ,james's ,hall1 #cj1 #dg1 #cfh ,st4 ,martin chalk1 #ii ,sala1 ,j4 ,g41 record of consecutive screw back spots1 #dh2 #bgd ,samson1 ,mr41 architect1 #fj1 #fb2 designs by1 #fd-fe ,scoring1 different rate of1 between amateurs and professionals1 #cjg ,screw1 the1 #aif1 #aig1 #bdg2 right-angled1 #aih2 regulation of strength necessary in playing1 #aih2 importance of regulating1 #bjj2 close1 #bej ,selling pool1 principle of the game1 #dbi ,seymour1 ,william1 #aaf #8,sharping' in billiard-rooms1 #dac1 #dad ,shell-out1 the game of1 #djg1 #djh ,shorter1 ,fred1 wins love game from ,bennett1 #da-db2 beats ,cook1 #db2 beats ,taylor1 #db2 forfeits to ,bennett1 #dg ,side1 transmission of1 #aid1 #bjb2 acquired by friction with cushion1 #bjf2 imparting1 #cae2 can it be communicated by one ball to another81 #ddc4 ,see ,rotation ,skittle pool1 description of1 #dca2 rules1 #dcb2 usual way of playing1 #dcd ,skylight sashes for ventilating billiard-rooms1 #fb ,slates for billiard-tables1 #gc-gg ,smoking in billiard-room1 #ddb ,snooker1 #djh2 variations in rules1 #dbd2 general method of play1 #dbd2 penalties1 #dbe1 #dbf2 main object of player1 #dbg2 the element of luck1 #dbg ,spiller1 ,william1 #eb ,spot stroke1 the1 #aa1 #af2 agitation against1 #ci2 result of barring1 #agb2 constant practice required for success1 #bfd2 danger of using1 #bfe2 its genuineness1 #bff2 ivory and bonzoline balls in playing1 #bff2 use of chalk1 #bfg2 method of playing1 #bfh2 its limits1 #bfi2 the screw back1 #bgc2 the stab1 #bgf2 must be taught by a master1 #bgi2 methods adopted to continue break or obtain safety1 #bgi2 invaluable as practice for winning hazard play1 #bhb2 #cbj ,spot-barred breaks1 #de ,spot stroke tables1 #he ,spots1 inadvisability of altering1 #aec ,stab1 the1 use of in playing cannons1 #ahb2 and spot stroke1 #bgf ,stakes1 advantages and disadvantages of playing for1 #dcf ,stammers1 #cf1 #ci ,standard ,association tables1 #ga ,stanley1 ,s4 ,w41 #be1 #cc1 #cf1 #cg1 #ch1 #ci1 #dj1 #da ,starke1 defeated by ,roberts1 sen41 #ai2 further matches with him1 #ba ,stevenson1 ,h4 ,w41 #bg1 #eb ,strength1 definition of1 #ajf ,string1 to1 meaning of1 #ajf ,strokes1 following1 #aid2 screw1 #aif1 #bdg2 practising1 #bjh2 mass1 #bad1 #bee2 miscellaneous1 #bae2 fine1 #bbb2 push and half-push1 #bbd2 bricole1 #bbf1 #bdb2 kiss1 #bcj2 jennies1 #bci2 plants1 #bdd2 close screws1 #bej2 leap or jump1 #bej2 piqu1 #bee2 compensations1 #bfj2 spot1 #bfd ,style1 #aab ,tables4 ,see ,billiard-tables ,taylor1 ,tom1 #cf1 #cg1 #ci1 #dj1 #da1 #db1 #dd1 #dg1 #dh1 #cfh ,templates1 #ga ,terms1 billiard1 technical1 explained1 #ajd-ajf ,three-ball practice1 #adb et seq4 ,three-inch pocket table4 ,see ,championship table ,three-pool1 #dac2 strange occurrence at1 #dac2 principles of the game1 #dae1 #daf ,thurston1 ,john1 #aj2 his improvement of tables1 #aa ,thurston ,co41 #ee ,timbrell1 ,william1 #dj1 #dc #8,times1' the1 quoted on the push stroke1 #chf ,tips of cues1 #ie2 process of tipping1 #ie2 cleaning1 #ie2 renovating1 #if ,tobin tubes for ventilating billiard-rooms1 #fa ,top-of-the-table game1 the1 #cbe-cdh #8,twisting chalk1' ,carr's1 #g ,two-ball practice1 #acj-ada ,union ,club1 ,manchester1 #ad1 #af ,ventilation in billiard-rooms1 #ei1 #fb ,vignaux1 ,m41 aid from his book1 #c2 cited1 #ahi1 #bjf1 #bei1 #cbg1 #cea1 #ddj ,vulcanite cushions1 #gg ,wales1 ,prince of1 #bj2 at championship match1 #bi2 at match ,roberts v4 ,cook1 ,newmarket1 #dg ,walker1 ,mr4 ,russell ,d41 aid from1 #c2 on the championship1 #cff1 #cfg ,warming billiard-rooms1 #fj1 #fc ,white1 ,fred1 #di ,wilson1 ,r41 #dd ,winning hazards1 #adb-aec2 confidence required1 #cbj ,wright ,co41 #ee1 #ga ,,printed ,,by ,,spottiswoode ,,and ,,co41 ,,new-,,street ,,square ,,london ----- ,footnote #a3 ,if a man wants to play fast he would surely select the worst--not the best--player as antagonist4--,,ed4 ,footnote #b3 ,it is difficult to believe in the possibility of scoring over #gjj points in an hour with the imperfect implements then in use2 half that number is probably nearer the truth4--,,ed4 ,footnote #c3 ,alfred ,bennett died after these lines were in type4 ,footnote #d3 ,roberts twice in #ahid1 during exhibition games1 exceeded #a1jjj in spot-barred breaks1 making #a1jcc and #a1cib4 ,footnote #e3 ,the raised woodwork above the leads4 ,footnote #f3 ,i do not1 of course1 mean that the spot stroke is a one-position stroke--far from it2 but from an ordinary spectator's point of view it is summed up in the words #8potting the red ad infinitum4' ,footnote #g3 ,formerly only four slates were used1 with the result that a joint ran straight across the table from the centre of one middle pocket to the other4 ,if1 then1 warping or subsidence of the floor ensued1 an ugly ridge arose opposite the pocket1 making it unmissable from one side1 and almost impossible from the other4 ,footnote #h3 ,battens are screwed to the slates in order to take the tacks which fasten down the cloth4 ,footnote #i3 ,each ball weighs about #d ounces4 ,footnote #aj3 ,the jointed cue with a spare top joint renders the above devices unnecessary1 and they are all open to some objection4 ,footnote #aa3 ,an excellent cushion rest1 capable of being used as an ordinary rest1 is that known as the ,peall ,cushion ,rest1 which possesses the advantages of simplicity and ease of handling4 ,footnote #ab3 ,see illustration1 p4 #abi4 ,footnote #ac3 ,often called the half-ball angle1 both definitions being very inaccurate2 but they are in common use1 and generally understood4 ,footnote #ad3 ,or restitution1 the effect of compression4 ,footnote #ae3 ,the ,americans term what we call side #8,english' or #8twist4' ,footnote #af3 ,delarue1 ,paris4 ,footnote #ag3 ,memmott has made1 we believe1 the extraordinary number of #dbc consecutive screw back spot strokes4 ,footnote #ah3 ,for a description of this game1 see pp4 #bi-ca4 ,footnote #ai3 ,taylor's cannons were made on balls jammed in the jaws of the pocket2 ,ives' cannons were made on balls well outside of the jaws4 ,footnote #bj3 ,the numbers quoted are those of the ,billiard ,association's ,rules4 ,footnote #ba3 ,the rules do not say for how many balls the offender has to pay3 presumably all that are left on the table are scored to his adversary4 ,footnote #bb3 ,see pp4 #adh and #bdd4 ,footnote #bc3 ,published by ,webster1 #fj ,piccadilly4 ,footnote #bd3 ,the numbers quoted are those of the ,association ,rules4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,transcriber',s ,,notes #a4 ,p4 #cjb1 changed 8 force de forger on devient forgeron0 to 8 force de forger en devient forgeron04 #b4 ,silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling4 #c4 ,retained archaic1 non-standard1 and uncertain spellings as printed4 #d4 ,re-indexed footnotes using numbers and collected together at the end of the last chapter4 #e4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4 #f4 ,enclosed bold font in equals4 #g4 ,denoted superscripts by a caret before a single superscript character or a series of superscripted characters enclosed in curly braces1 e4g4 ,mr4 or ,mister4