Show BILLIARDS AT HOME Aii Inexpensive Outfit for a Private Pri-vate Room THE GAME GROWING IN FAVOR Noted Men Who Play It Pattls Luxurious Billiard RoomCombination Billiard and Dinner Table NEW YORK Nov 201890 Special correspondence cor-respondence of THE HERADJAs j a people peo-ple Americans are undoubtedly becoming with each succeeding generation more accustomed ac-customed to leisure The energy that marked the pioneer period of our history and the rush and hurry of business that followed the civil war are giving place to a life that follows more closely that of the wealthy class abroad 11 k 4 f F I t UVfl 1J 1 I ff n 1 j f J If1 WflJ hl 1 t Il 1 b Z it J VAWfI I I j J M I lt vM < 1 t 1 mm r I f I k J f 7 r Uhs 1 LjjteMafi I ltj f I Y f < 0 I fiL l LJJfi zfl 1 1 1 r t f f Ii A tJ i I A NEW HEGIXXER Homo amusements have gained by the broader Christianity that characterizes religious thought Billiards was once considered con-sidered a decidedly wicked game Its tables were found only in hotels and saloons and the clergyman who handled a cue would surely have disgraced his cloth In fact when tho game of croquet was first introduced intro-duced the irreverent were accustomed to call it Presbyterian billiards The satire only emphasized fact that churchgoing people admitted the innocent nature of the game itself and only objected to its sur loun ins Croquet may have been the mcaus of introducing billiards to the home circle At all events public opinion has under one a decided change on tlio subject A billiard table is found in many a theo logical seminary and the most eminent divines find relaxation in the click of the loris 19 19y et fVifi tSK s sb = D < yTy V frr 3M H K J I JI 1 L LEAItXIXG TO HOLD THE CUE The game is so wall suited to the home that it is surprising it did not become pop ular long age I requires just enough of lhysical exertion to balance the mental effort Unlike whist the body instead oT wearying of one posture is rested by the exercise afforded in walking around tbe table and handling the cue A list of the men prominent in financial nnd social circles who enjoy billiards at tlicir homes would be a long one Jay Gould and the Vanderbilts have bilard roms in their city residences and George Gould has one in his mountain lodge also C P Huntington August Belmont E D Morgan and Viillam Rockefeller have ta bes in their city and country houses and the billiard parlor in Rockwell on the I Hudson is said to be the finest in the country coun-try tryThere There is a billiard room in the White I house at Washington and two tables are iuc uded in the furnishings of the governors govern-ors mansion at Albany President Diaz has a table at his home in the Mexican cap itl The devotion of military men to the game is well known Generals Grant Me Clellan and Custer were skillful players Xnere are billiard rooms in the govern jnont buildings at West Point and Annapo lis and at every military post tho officers i nnd the cue mightier than tho sword in these piping times of peace 113L PAThS l3ILLiAItl PAULOR The theatrical profession furnishes many really good players Denman Thompson owns two tables McKee Rankin and W J Florence devote much ot time to the game and there are several actresses as well who often show in private their skill upon wel tho field of the cloth of green Mrs Langtry and Fanny Davenport have tables in their homes and Mme Pauls billiard parlor in Craig nos castle i the most luxurious apartment of tho kind in the world The famous diva is an enthusiastic player and as her husband Kicolini is also fond of the game they have spared no expense in fit ting up the room Tho table which was furnished by the BrunswickBalke Cohen der company cost its fair owner 150 Colen I is of ArnericanantiquG oak inlaid with wih mother of pearl Tho most exquisite carv ings adorn the legs and mouldings and cry a peculiarly pleasing effect is produced b pecularly efect by an artistic blending of South American fancy woods in the Tho delicate panels delcte tints of I tulip dagonet and amaranth harmonize with the darker shades of cocabola and mahogany and form a superb background for four medallions which adorn the sides In fitting up a billiardroom it is usual to match the furnishings and table but of course people of moderate means need not go to this expense There is a wide margin between the billiardparlor of Mme Patti and the modest outfit of an amateur who can only enjoy the game after business hours An oak table of the best make 4K9 feet with cuerack cues balls bals bridges markers and everything necessary for the game can be bought for B0 A veneered table will cost less money and there are outfits manufactured by houses of less reputation that will probably give quite as good satisfaction for 150 Besides the table a few chairs and the gas fixtures ga fstures are the only furniture necessary for a home game of billiards and with a mall sideboard included dhe outlay need not actually exceed 200 Instructions for setting up the table and the rules of thee the-e are always sent with an outfit l At the exposition in Paris last year a very ingenious table for home use was exhibited It is ordinarily a dining table covered with green cloth A turn of a crank underneath raises a cushioned curb all around the edge and transforms it at once into a billiard table Such a combination while decidedly novel can hardly become popular here I would not be very pleasant tohave tho servants come in the midst of a game to lay tho cloth for dinner A billiard room must be well lighted The light i possible should come from above through ample skylights so as tog brin to-g the table within a general focus ands and-s prevent any shadow being thrown from the balls or cushions But unless one < A COnXEIl IX THE WHITE HOUSE BILUAHD isoosr is building this can seldom be obtained The next best thing is a corner room which will afford two lights in the day time timT Tho gaslight should be raised about three feet two inches from the bed of the tabled an table-d supplied with horizontal burners sot so-t no shadow is cast by tho pipe The distance of the light from the floor should be about 0 feet 1 inch For a 51 foot table the crossarms of the pendant should measure from light to light 23 inches and the long arms 50 inches For a 4MxU foot table crossarms 2 inches and long arms i 50 inches For a 4xS table crossarms 22 inches and long arms 44 inches A useful use-ful shade has been devised which throws I mla soft even light on the table and keeps c tho glare from the players eyes The floor if carpeted at all should be covered with some thick or soft material C HILLS WARREN |