Show Billiards Improvement on an an Old 0 O Game There are several theories about the origin of billiards One expert says the Greeks Greek Invented it another that It was brought from the Eastby East by the Crusaders Crusader a third that the French invented the game In the Fifteenth century a fourth that itis It if is an Indoor variety of or the old English Eng Enl lish Bah game lame of Pall Mall says say Pearson Pear Pear- son ions London TAndon Weekly It U is an improvement on the outdoor out door game according to a book written In 1800 because it precludes pre eludes the need for a player to stoop or kneel when he strikes the ball ban and it accommodates the Ule game to the limits of a chamber Most authorities believe that the game began in England They say lay laythe the name billiards comes from the word billet which mean meant a sUck stick and is now chiefly found In the names of Inns You will still find And several of them called The Crooked Billet II It ii is certain that billiards billiard wa wat originally played in the open air ona ona on ona a green lawn Hence the green baize table to represent the grass French writers say that it began in England as Indoor bowls in Queen Elizabeths Elizabeth's time Ume It was certainly known in Queen Elizabeths Elizabeth's time because Shakespeare Shakespeare Shakes Shakes- peare pearl mentions it In Anthony and Cleopa Cleopatra Ira But Dut it was Wal then already aheady an old game Long before the Normans Norman landed in this country a high king of Ireland called More had died leaving 55 53 cues or billets and balls baUs behind him all aU of them made of bras bran At that time Ume the game iame was still played outdoors outdoor on the green reen Irish lawns lawn |