St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-03-27


animation.
So they played the fifth the games, and
he who lost was TO pay for the five game
1t was an exciting contest.
Both made capital runs. but in the
end, Alhert was beaten by three points :;
and with laugh he went up 10 settle
the bill. Five games, twenty cents II
game. Just one dollar. Not much for
such sport; and he paid out the money
with grace, and never once seeming to
feel that he could not atfo d it.
"lIavc cigar ~ said Tom.
"Yes"
They lighted their cigars, and then
sauntercd down the hall 10 watch others
play.
Albert soon found himself seated over
against "A table at which some of lis
friends were playing, and close by stood
two gentlemen, strangers TO him, one of
whom was explaining TO the other the
mysteries of the game.
at is healthy pastime." said he who
had been making the explanation; and
certainly it is one which has no evil ten
dency."
Albert heard the remarks very plainly
and he had a curiosity TO hear what the
other, who seemed unacquainted with
billiards, would say.
81 cannot, of course, assert that any
game which calls for skill and Judgment,
and which is free from the attendant
Of 4 IL
marked the second gentleman. Such
things are only evil 50 far as they excite
and stimulate men beyond the bounds OF
healthful recreation.
That result can scarcely follow such
game" said the first speaker.
But the other shook his head.
"Iou are wrong there. The result
can follow in two ways. First, it can
lead men away from business second,
it can lead men TO spend money, who
have not money to spend. You will un-
dcrstand me. would not cry down the
Lame Oh billiards, Iur II / uuuyT>.u,u Ii i
should certainly ask YOU TO try Il game
now: ut Whenever | visit Il place OF
his kind, am led TO reflect upon most
strange and prominent weakness aS de
,eloprd in our sex. For instance. OBJ
serve that younr man who i lust S,tt!inr
his bill at the desk. He looks like Il
mcchani,, and | should snv from hi
manner, and from the fact That lie ic' l.
It hi, duty to to 20 home at tins hour,
that he has a wife and children. SEC
hy his face that he !, Kind hearted and
generous. and | should indre that ii,
means to do about a, near ri.ht Il IA,
can. He has been b,a;rn. AMI lac pays
one dollar and forty cent, for tl.. r,........-
tion OF some Two hours duration. Ii
you would observe, YOU will sec that he
pays it freely and pockets the los, with :;
smilr. Happy faculty But how d.
you suppose il i i'll that Young man,
home Suppose hi- wife hal come to
him This morning. and asked him for Il
dnlIar 10 spend Tor some trifllny thin. :
some household ornament, or some bit OF
jewcirv to acorn her pcr>ou-anI sup
pose In, little child had put in plea tul
forty cents to buy Il p per and pictur,
books with, what do you think lie woull
have answered! OF fifty men just like
him, would not forty and five have de
clarcd they had not money 10 spare Ton
any such purpose and. moreover, they
would lave said -. feeling they wcr,
telling the truth Am no: right -
Upon nv soul" responded the MAJ
who understood billiards, '',uu sp. ak t,
the point. know that Young man wh>
has paid his blI, and vou have not ni>
iud.ed him in single particular An,
what is more. happen TO have Il fact =
hand to illustrate your charge. We have
a club Tor an excellent literary paper II
our village, and last year that man wa
one Of our subscribers. This year Ia
felt obliged to discontinue it. His Wit
was very anxious to take ii, for it ha'
become Il genial companion in lclsur,
moments, but he could not afford 1t. Ih
, club rate was one dollar and fifty cents
! year"
Aye, and 80 ii goes" SAID the Othc
gentleman. Nv ell, that man : wife ma
be wishing ut this very moment that slI
had her paI cr Ia read, while he Is pay
inc almost lis full piice for Il ycar-to
what? And yet how smilingly he doc
l il. All, those poor sympalhlzing wives
How many clouds often dmkrn upo
: them from the brows OF their husband
a when they ask for triliing sums OF money
t and how grudglngly the mite is hande
u over when it is given, What perir(
!, floods OF JOY that dollar and forty cent
/ might have poured upon the children
5 the unsuccessful billiard player All.
5 is well for such wives and children I'll:
,, they do not know where the money a