The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-02
Rirbmunh Qispatrt.
Extraordinary Billiard Playing By Nj. Ber-
mrr, the Erench L Ia IN nian

ger, the French Champion
M. Lsrgsr, the celebrated French billiard
player, gave private seGnes to a number OF
alnatsLs and professional players, on Tuesday
evening, at the saloon of Michael Phelan in
New York. He confined himself to q variety
of fancy saois, much to the delight and aston
iAhmsnt of the spectators, among whom not
the lsist in terested was the redou bta BILE Mi
chael himself The Tribune says
The least of the shots made by Berger were
superior<n Skiil to the very best that Ameri-
can billiard players are in the habit of execut-
my. Among his peculiar caroms which it is
impossible to describe without the aid of dia-
grams may be mentioned ono in which the
baiis being placed at diagonal corners of the
taDie, ne make. q carom by striking the first
Dali, ana bouncing his own on the side of the
cushion, on the top of which it rolls about
half way, then falling on the Ia BILE hits the OBJ
Ject ball Some ct his draws OF shots were
nearly incredible, and though playing on
strange table, and with cue very different
from his own, they we're made with great ac-
cnracy. He has the art OF pumping bounc-
ing balls 10 perfection. One shot, which he
makes with remarkable dex terity, 10 thus exc
Gu ted: ball is placed some distance from, the
head of the table, and another between that
and the top cushion; cue being held over the
object ball, he places his own ball near the
third, strikes the object ball, jumps over the
'cue from The inside, comes back beneath aud
makes the shot. Placing one ball in a hat iy
ing on the table, and another alongside, he
strikes the second, bounces his ball into the
hat and caroms on the one there. Another
which he is in the habit of play ing, .ists in
striking a ball on one tai BILE and bouncing his
own Oh an ada table, where it caroms on
another ball. This he did not attempt on the
present occasion, however, as the tables were
loo remote. In tact, he seems TO make all the
"impossible" shots with perfect ease; how well
ne Will play counting or'winniDg" game, re-
mains to be seen. After M. Berger had con-
cluoed his performance, Messrs. Phelan aud
Kayanagh played three carom games, in which
he seemed much interested, though he ex-
pressed his contempt for ''shove" or "push"
shots in most emphatic French. He is also free
in denuncation ofpockets, and says that the
game played in this country Is no more ad-
yanced than in the days of Louis q uatorZe.
He thinks he should find no difficulty in max
ing several thousand, according to the Ameri-
eau plan, but confesses TO no more than run
of2i3 single shots, at the three ball French
carorn game. He will probably give a series of
exhibitions, Mr.. Phelan having literally Of
tered him The free use OF a room in his large
saloon during his stay here. He has brought
his own table, cues, &C. which will be set up
at once. He intends making tour through
the United States in which he will probably
lie accon panied by Mr.. Phelan, for whom he
expresses the strongest admiration. They
have no Intention OF playing any match for
money.