Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-24

wild suffsr debt and indigestion.
| One wet afternoon last autumn we had
q very full meeting; three dog-carts and
two-wheeled omnibus stood under the
shed In the yard Of the Red Bear as
passed through II on my way from the
bank and six players were assembled in
the bllliard-room, come taking their cues
from the boxes 10 which they were kept
securely locked, others chalklng their
tops, all preparing for the combat in some
way or other, except Mr.. Rice, whose
age, trembling hand and equity toe uu-
fitted him for playing himself, though he
took great delight In criticlsirg the per-
formances OF others from the raised seat
which he occupied, and at times, when
the chances were considerably In his
favor, stalking sixpeuce on the division
OF this OF that competitor. Joe the
mprker, gave out the balls he was but a
lad, and bis voice was cracking indeed,
he had been chorlster till lately, but the
failure OF his organ had unfrocked him.
Red plays upon white" he squeaked
ont in a shrin trebble. "Yelow's his
player" be added in a gruh bass.
Red was Captain Woodruff, who bal
anced himself on his leg Of nebb, while
the timber one stuck out stifily behind
him, and dribbed his ball up to the white
with that care which the commencement
of every enterprise demands.
GYeilow on red" (bass). "Grsen's
his paly" (trebble).
Tbe owner Of green was the doctorf six
foot two In his stockings, thin as an eel,
and very shoft.sighted. He adjusted his
spectacies, blew his nose, placed himself
about two yards from the table, on which
he almost lay, and looked along bis cae
as II II had been a gun, as he made bis
stroke.
Mr.. Long played next. "Tut, tat,
dear me-" he said, when the ball had
ceased rolling. "I have left you tight
under the cushion, doctor. l am sorry.
did not do 1t on purpose, assure you
have left my ball safe, 'he added TO me,
who played next" quite anintentional,
assure you and green Is such bad
color to play on-l dislike being on II
very much nv self"
81 think there's double" said
! +No," cried Mr.. Rice " ips as tafe as
church,"
dan Irish church, then, /" cried RicktuI
az the ball rolled Into pocket-not the
one l had In view, though. Some Of us
tried to smile, but II was foreed-Rlck.
! tus had made that joke so often.
30 the game went on, the best p'ayel
being Colonel Raynor, who, however
/ rarely touched a pool, as be always plays
for hazards, and not for safety. Indeed
he evidently liked TO be killed out ,becauss
then he could sit up by Mr.. Rice ant
. chat about county business uninterrupt
edly. Not but what conversation was al
d imnortant Item with eYerybody-the pro
ceedipRs often being suspended for sew
4 erai minutes while some subject Of gen
eral interest was being discussed ant
/, what with that, and DR.. Keane's elabo
:, rate rubbing Of his spectacles, and M
Ricktus' Jokes, and Mr.. WoodwalP
/. habit of taking a pinch of snuff, befor
ne PLAYED, and the general custom Of 60
ing round the table TO inspect the ball q
ie narrowly as II II were the apple whic
1 William Tell did not shoot.off the partin
70 of his sons hair, we did not get throug
" many pools in the afternoon.
r.. This first game, however, was term
mated at last, and Joe was collecting th
balls In his wicker-bottle, preparatory
at giving them out afresh, when the door
,e the room opened, and the eyes OF a
turned upoa that rare phenomenon,
Il, strapRer' He was a man who, suppos'
he must be called good-looking, Tor his iei
tures were regular, his hair and mou
IT, tache black, aud his figure well set VI
He was dressed as II for weddlnl
d; sl,nln,- lat aud hoots, and o flower
We hie buIton-hole, and gloves that fitted w
sa a lady's. he had u very smnll umorel
ne in his hand, and a large cigar In b
mouth, aud though we all glared cold
: AT him he WIS not Rbashed one 1oi, p
stroll, d carelessly up 70 the cue rack, al
observed, as naturally Us poselol'
ed iMarIeer, will take ball"
We'll, why not Il was a public rool
ssl though We were In the habit Of app
re pdntlng IL. The stranger was In l
ng .Have you no other cues than the'
boys9 Why, they are as crooked
= rams horns. Never mind this is pre'
straight think It was originally pu
IN. pole stlll II will do.
Il did d0i Il the tool was bad
workman was good, and be slaughter
ua all around in brilliant manner.
est was welcome 10 do that, but 1 did !
Nn, like the airs he gave 10 himself NJ
nei he found the value OF llte was Dut @
w, sixpence he smiled superellionaly' WI
ons @ he had to pay one, Mr. Long nay, i
ere auked him, he pulled out q handful
lla- ,gold 10 search for the modest coin wi
'us- mai gentleman remarked his success
IN the result Of an accident, be begged }
on not 10 apologize aud when, sbo'
reei afterwards, the same Mr.. Long mis-
e, putting him into an easy pocket, ana
en- nlained that Il was IN consequence
oWs there being no chalk on his cue, he
reg him that there was still less cause
tlce excuse. and he fofgave him entirely
lLe, also asserted thvt the table, OF when
the ,,,are 40 nroud. was "beast." W.
iul' s,lI. be sileuced our wit. He was
as ehoJt Ia play upon Mr.. Riektus, "
ita some one called the markers atten
lun- TO the fact that the fire was going out
mere |Is III Lock the door then, quiel
10 sl1 IA cried our joker. -,-,
hed 81 saw" said the stranger, rising
nbly his contemplated stroke, and looking
wing culprit gravely in the face, "be
VIC dinner, you know"
man, 81 am aware of DR.. Johnson's opinl,
mere said Ricktus, rather diseomt torted,
.ns suppose you agree with MIN, ina
ahu man who would make pun "oula
, ~ ~. ~ a pocket. -, ..
their one', said the stranger, and plumbed
onrn ~.
,y;s,s Mr.. Long was somewhat hypoeho
nsss acal, aud felt the need sometimes
Ras uttle stlmulant but, as he eoul'
nless nothing without an apology, he al
'Okey carried me ne Sis Mandy ont of Il.
other went lnIouEn .u"s astion ihs hr
en.e hronght him by the walter was, as U
rooni. an ordinary wine-glassfui, and y eh
pear iitted his measure but he poured it
49,, the little sgo' into the graduated med
,,orts glass with the utmost gravity, mii
" ,hs with water In tum5ler, and made
% :. 's so as he swallowed the first gulp.
innsr. UAh thanks for reminding me J"
most the stranger It is my medieine tim
"A of walter, bring me peg double-shol
in the ayes sir" said the Waller SO
Teyer. rather think we are hout Of IT,"
within "What No soda waterl"
have ooh, yes sir"
a are 81 see, you dent understand clN
English here. Put two glasses Of b
ked to one bottle Of soda, and bring
is are that plain ~
an one he had slaDdered our table, aud
rather Of ourselves. Yet ] cannot say q
balance was absolutely insolent, all that
.ee fig- might have passed of very well #
~ that been ewes slightly intimate with q
no at A IL seemed absurd to resent II. II v
sSrson. manner which provoked me NOR
Colonel his actual words, aud that cant
sts mad serlbe, Not that he was vulgar
N grav low had lived a good deal in tue
~ the ~ gentleman, and his ease was ~
IVA any gether M-bred. Colonel Raynor'
10 Al was called once, when be neglec
J othersi turn 10 play tne strspset osu
tSef =, .--t.. ~ addresaed him eaid