The Nevada journal. [volume] (Nevada City, Calif.) 1851-18??, 1857-11-27
WHOLE NUMBER 800

History OF BILILARDs.-Theo origin
of this game, according to little book,
lately published by the Appleton's, like
the birth place of Homer, is a contested
point-and its antiquity, like that Of
many elderly spinters, is involved in
considerable doubt Some suppose it to
have been imported into Rome from Per-
STA, under the consulship of Lucullus,
while others hold that Caligula intro
duced it from the East The records
are unauthentic, until the return of the
| Templars from the first crusade. It
soon became the favorite amusement
and means of exercise to which the
clustered monks of that period were
permitted to have recourse. The game
fell with the Knights Templars, and
was revived by Louis XII, of France,
who preferred it to the bloody tourna-
ments then in vogue. Henry III. still
more widely patronized it; and we find
that Mary Queen Of Scots, in a letter,
written the evening before her execu-
ton, complains that her "billiard table
has just been taken away from her, as
the preliminary step to her punishment"
1t become a favorite game with the
ladies in France and Germany. Mad
anne de Stael was an enthusiastic advo-
cate of billiards. Even when exiled in
Switzerland by Napoleon, she overstay-
ed the time limited for her departure
from Paris, in order that she might per-
sonally superintend the removal of her
billiard-table The Duchess de Bern
was also noted for her fondness for the
game. Mr.. Phelan says that "tho
Frenchman is the most brilliant, the
English the most careful, the Americans
the most successful, and, therefore, if
that be any argument-as it is common
ly admitted to be the most conclusive
the very best of billiard players"
DIoGENEs.-Tn his old age, Diogenes
was taken captive by pirates, who carri-
ed him to Crete, ard exposed him for sale
as slave. On being asked what he
could do, he replied, Govern men sell
me, therefore, to one who wants mas
ter" Xcuiades. a welthy Corinthian,
struck with this reply, purchased him,
and, on returning to Corinth, gave him
his liberty, and consigned his children
to his education. The children were
taught to be cvnics, much to their own
satisfaction. 1t was during this period
that his world-renowned interview with
Alexander took place. The prince,
surprised at not seeing Diogenes joining
the crowd Of his fatterers, went to see
him. He found the cynic sitting in his
tub, basking in the sun. Il am Alexan-
der the Great" said he. " | am Do
genes the cyaic," was the reply. Alex
ander then aglled him ifthcrc was any
thing he could do for him? Yes, stand
aside from between me and the sun"
Surprised at such Indifference to prince
" fav0r-an Indifference so strikingly
coutrasted with everything he could
hitherto have witnessed-he exclaimed,
'werc ! not Alexander, wonld be Do
genes !" One day, being brought be-
fore the King, and being asked who he
was. Diogenes replied, "a spy on your
cupidity = language, the boldness of
which must have gained him universal
admiration, because implying great sim
gularity, as we'll as force of character.
Singularity and insolence may be re-
garded as his grand characteristics.
Both of these are exemplifed in the an
ecdote Of his lighting a lamp in the day
time, and peering about the streets as if
earnestly seeking something being
asked what he sought he replied, " A
man The point of this story is lost in
the usual version, which makes him
seek an honest man." The words in
Laertius arc simply, al seek a man."
Diogenes did not seek honesty he wan
ted to find 4 man in whom honesty would
be included, with many other qualities.
1t was his constant reproach to his CO.
temporaries that they had no manhood.
! He said he had never seen men; at Spar
Ia he had seen children at Athens wo-
men. One day he called out, cap
proach, all menl" When some approach
ed, he beat them back with his club.
Saying, " / called for men We are ex-
| crements."
Thus he lived till the ninetieth year,
bitter, brutal, ostentations, abstemious
fdisgraciug The title of "The Dog" for
a dog has affection, gratitude, sympathy,
and caressing manners,) yet growing
over his unenyicd virtue as cur growls
over his meatless bone, forever swapping
and snarling without occasion; an OBJ
ject of universal attention, and, from
many quarters, of unfeigned admiration.
One day his friends went to see him.
On arriving at the portico under which
he was wont to sleep, they found him
! still living on the ground wrapped in his
cloak. He seemed to sleep. They
pushed aside the folds Of his cloak; he
vas dead.
NT,pprr GRANNY Gorr,o ~, firm of