The Shasta courier., 1862-04-26
SH ASIA COURIER.
Tricks at Billiards.

The Philadelphia Transcript says a inan
of sad and penitent aspect walked ln:o oua
.otrm the other day, and depositing a
SAIL Ill of manuscript on the table, with a
s;nh denarted without uttering word. 1t
iii ha Seen by perusal of the article, that
the tricks of old billiard PLAYERS are iuiiy
exnosed by one who has reformed ana be-
come penitent We did not know so much
fraud could be practiced at billiards Young
persons just learning it, should give his con-
fessions an attentive perusal
CONFESSIONS OF REFORMED BILLIARD
PLAYER.
For years have been devoted to billiards.
The kiss of the ivory balls in the enhancing
carom. has been the only music that has
thrilled my ears, and my eyes have found
their principal delight in observing the ge-
ometrical exactness with which angles are
described on the rubber bounded cloth. Hav-
ing fiddled away the best portion OF existence
with billiard cue, now renounce 1t, and
as practical atonement for an ill-spent life.
/ have determined to expose the tricks of the
same. in order that the young and unwary
NAV be on their guard. If those who know
nothing of billiards. can see neither interest
nor profit in my confessions, l will say to
them am not writing for your perusal
The following are tricks most frequently
practiced atbilliards, by cunning adversary,
of which desire to warn you
I. Fiddling long time with his cue across
his hand before shooting. 1t has a tendency
to make YOU nervous, and the chances are
that Won will miss when you come to shoot.
2. Running his tongue out of the corner OF
his mouth as he shoots. l cannot explain
the reason of it-nobody ever did that know
of-but it is an acknowledged fact among
old PLAYERS, that the course of the ball rolling
along the table may be greatly influenced, IT
not controlled, by running out the tongue
l have seen player prevent his ball rolling
in pocket when it appeared to be making a
bee line for it, by violently twisting his
tongue out of one corner of his mouth, raising
up slightly on one foot, squirting one eye,
aud giving a lateral twist to the body. This
is a trick at billiards that requires particu-
larly to be watched.
5. Immediately after shooting using his
cue as a magic wand, fourishing it in the air
above the table to give an increased . Eng
lish'' to the ball.
4. Thrusting his cue forward in the air,
and leaning over the table, when he wishes
his ball to move little further on.
5. Making backward motions with his
cue, and backing away from the table, when
he desires the ball to stop.
y. Lifting up one leg when ne snoots, ana
giving it a violent thrust back of the other
ieg. This movement is designed to give ex-
.cessive g English" to the ball, aud accord
ing to cloth measure is about equal to an
English ell A man who becomes an adept
lat it has surprising advantage over his
adversary, but the effect is bad on the
legs.
Z. Giving directions to the ball by squint-
ing the eyes, One PLAYER of my acquaint-
ance became so skillful at it that he could
make his ball jump back on the table after it
had jumped of, but he had become hopelessly
cross-eyed.
There are other minor tricks practiced by
the less expert, such as talking to the balls,
and ordering them here and there, clenching
the fists and closing the teeth tight to en-
courags " scratches, !" against which it is un-
necessary to warn You.