New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-06
THE ROMANTIC BILLIARDS..

The fame of NJ. Berger is daily extended by the re-
port of miracles wrought in the upper chamber OF Mr.
Phelan's building. A new element has been infused
into the game of billiards. Revealed by the touch OF
the French Enchanter undteampt capacities dawn
upon the player. From being mechanical pursuit IN
which perseverance and care, directed by good COM
mon sense might lead TO the most satisfactory result,
billiards is raised to the brilliant emuence Of fine art
Il is more-a religion For the soul of this great
master il is philosophy, poetry, and love. His balls
are not mere instruments of ambition and sF but are
interpreters of beauty and truth. No wonder he
caresses them with pet names, and hangs over them
with the lovers bur ming passion, the saints wrapt
devotion Those polished spheres of livery s.s
BerQers diyinities and they shape bis end, as the
poes jnsen1ate forms of loneliness and the priests
heavenly visions till their life with melody aud with
rapture.
It is indeed at once pleasant and eDnobling to
the earnestness of Bergers play. There is artist
without it. and no life without blood. And yet you
all the while see the graceful concession that the art is
at superior to the individual There is with the spec
tator that invgorating sense OF constant fury OF
genius to reach the unattainable which is the cleo
tricty of all art Uniting such enthusiasm such deli
cacy of feeling an such consummats genius, the game
saloon up stairs at Broadway and Tenth street spot
conse:rated to the finest and tenderes feelings of
nature.
We trust this vesture of imagery may not hide from
the readers mind the naked truth that as we becoms
better acquainted with Bergers billiards wonder
grows with admiration at the elaborate and perfect
system to which his perception and sk have reduced
the game. Intellectual and physical exercise of the
severest order have brought it to the concrete per-
lection of mathematical demonstrSlion, but hs nice
fancy anOins il with grace and leaves it charming
glitter of amusement. Every observer of his play,
however slightly familiar with the gare can realize
the almost infinite capacities OF billiards for the grateful
exercise Of all the powers which other and perhaps
more honored games call into action, and doubtless
his exhibitions will give fresh impulse to the sport
while they will certainly rebuke that superficial sys-
tenn of training common to our own amateurs.
The great players of this country have now tested
their skill with NJ. Berger. The tournament has been
attended each late evening by crowded company OF
spectators and has probably possessed all the chivarc
interest of ancient tilts. Besides the redoubtabs
Knight Phean himself Sir Chris. Bird of Philadelphia
and Sir Dudley Cavanaugh of this city, both champions
Of no small renown, have entered the lists Phean is
vanqushed and es with broken cue at the feet of the
FreDchman. Bird and Cavanaugh are also at his
mercy. All confess that so true ard sure knight
they never met before. They humbly acknowledge
that it beats all They pously calculate that there no
talking. Phelan plays at the game to obliee
the audience-a sort Of background to Berger's pic
lures. Bird pecked away at Monsieur, Thursday
night. Monsieur, in the three-bsI French caroms,
made run OF ttty points-a feat wholly III.
precedented in this country. Bird is believed
TO have been unsettled in his mind. Poor fel-
low his Imagination never scared above 10 at a
run in French three-ball caroms. Cavanaugh
came up calamity, but was struck with paralysis,
and fell away to tell tales of his wonderful ex-
perience with the great Berger. 1t must be said for
all OF these good knights thar they enter az dsad
vantage The construction Of Bergers tables and the
size OF bis balls, alike bae their knowledge and con.
fufe their judgment The extravaganza of his game,
the apparently reckefs audaciy of his shots complete
their bewildelmeS and render hopeless their iref-
cheney. Now Berger refuses to enter another field
will not play on Pbelan's table. And until he makes
demonstration of versatility which conforms 10 any
fair standard aud offers every fair chance the ouiet
Phslan will be AS amused and amazed by his brilliant
exploits Ar the simplest looker-on but will stll cherish
the belief that his own game, on equal ground would
be he winning one. And this has all along been Tnr
TRnrNE's honest conviction
But how extraordinary, how dazzling are his com.
blua'ious, convolutons, and chmaXes How strapce
the tk which controls the three small balls that
they arrange Themselves Tor fifty consecutive oaroms
ana lne genius wch masters their rowing propensdes
and binds them together by subtle bond of symp,.
Thy Where Berger YVES ihought to he woakest-in |
The cold and unromantc discipline Of the balls hs has
within the pas, few days proved bimsefa giant. HE
fame-'n his own i'''' seems imoeguabls az evory
LNll IrNm L. ill.- Ln.. L In. fnulN .ln h. IL.