Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-10-17

KAODEk II, 1917
snAa's two and two cried Tom Piper
- @ yOs sy = Playing tAsa d. Al.
.An right 60 In aid Albert. fun o
- itsy played Tie ahh game, and b.
~ Va 10 pay for the I've eamss.-
- "A exeiting contest. Both made
~ runs. but IN the eod Albert ~,
~ three points; snd with little
uentrp to pay the bin. Fiys1Smes
eests'a ga6e-just oos 2hir.
~ 6r s1sh spors; and be psid oai
= ~ ~ > 1se4e. and nsscr oncs
81 u III thaf hecotD1 not aAbrd Il.
Have : slysrr said Tom.
They lighted their cigars and then saun-
tered down the hall to watch others play.
Albert soon found himself seated over
against table on which some Of his friends
were playing. and close BY stood two gen.
slemen. strangers to him. one Of whom
was explaining to the other the mysteries
Of the game.
1t is healthy pastime.' .aid 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 curiosity to hear what tho
ether. who seemed to be unaequaiuted with
billiards. would say.
Il cannot, Of course, assert that sny
game which calls for skill and judgment,
aud which is free from the attendant oi
gaming. is Of itself an evil remarks the
second gentleman. Such things are only
cvl 50 far as they stimulate men beyond
he bounds Of health and recreation
That result can scarcely follow such q
game said the first speaker.
But the other shook his head.
You are wrong here. The result can
follow in two ways: First, it can lead
men away from their business !; it can lead
men to spend money. who have not money
to spend. You will understand me.
would not cry down the game of billiards,
fos If l understood it l should certainly '
try you . game now; but whenever visit
. place Of this kind I am lead to reflect
upon q most strange and prominent weak
ness Of humanity as developed in our sex. /.
For instance observe that young man who
is just settling his bill at the desk. He
looks like mechanic, and I should say
from his manner and from the fact that
he felt it his duty to 60 home at this hour,
that he has wife and children. see by
his face that he is kind hearted and gen.
eroas. and l should judge that he means
to do As near right as he can. He has been
beaten, and he pays one dollar and forty
cents for the recreation. If you observe
you will see that he pays it freely, and
pockets the loss with . smile. Happy
faculty! But how do you suppose it is in
the young mans homel Suppose bis wife
had come to him this morning and asked
him for dollar to spend for some trifling
thing. some household ornament, or some
bit Of jewelry to adorn her person-snd
suppose his little child had put in plss
for forty cents to buy paper and picture
book With, what do you think he would
hare answered? Of 6fty men just like
him, would not forty have declared
that they had not money to spare for
any such purposey And, moreover, they
weuld have said 20. feeling that they we're
telling the truth. Am not rightr
Upon my SOUL responded the man
Who understood billiards. you speak to
the point. I know that young man who
has just paid bis bill. and you have not
misjudged him in q single particular
And what is more happen to have fact
at hand to illustrate youe charge. We
have club for an excellent literary paper
in our village. aud last year that man was
one Of our subscribers. This year he felt
obliged to discontinue it. His wife was
very anxious to take it, for it became q
genial companion in leisure moments, but
he could not afford it. The club rate was
one dollar and City cents year.
Aye. and 20 it GOES said the other
gentleman. 'Well, that mans wife may
be wishing At this very moment that she
had her paper to read. while he is paying
almost its full price for year-for what I
And how smiling be does it. All! those
poor sympathi.ing wives! How m,ny
clouds often darken upon them from the
brows Of their husbasds whec they ask for
triAing sums Of money, and how grudg-
ingly the mite is handed over when ii il
given! What perfect foods Of joy tha,
dollar and forty cents might have poured
upon the children of tha. unsuccessful bill
lard player. All !! it 10 we'll for such wives
and children that they do not know where
oil the money goes.
They had finished at the nearest table.
The two gentlemen moved on, and Albert
Landman arose from his scat aud left the
house. Never before had he such thought.
a. now possessed him be had never dwelt
upon the ,ame grouping ideas. That very
morping his own true. faithful. loving
vife had been sad and heart sick because
he had harshly and uatindly met her &c.
quest for small sum Of money. And his
sweet Lissie had crept away to her houe
almost bsoken-hearted for the want of q
simple toy. such % her mates. possessed.
And yet the sum Of both their wants
amounted to not a. much Is be had paid
away that evening for billiard playing.
Albert Landmau wanted to Be aa honest
husband and father. and the lesson vas
nos lest upon him. On his way home he
stopped At Mr.. Grants and purchased The
best and prettiest hoop to be found. with
driving stick painted red. white and blue.
and in The morning when be behed his
child . delight. and had received her CRATE
fsl. happy kiss. the qaestioa cane 10 his
mind: Which was the best and happiess
result. this q The eve games Of billiards I
The hoop had esst thirty cents. He could
play too games Of billiards less. and be
the absolute g.ioer ef ten cents BY ths