, 1873-01-26

Tom Foley's Great Billiard I.,.u to Be
Opened on Tuesday.
Description Of li,s Largest and Finest Place OF
the Kind in the World.

| Since the death Of Michael Phelan, there
probably not man in America more widely an,
faTorably known to tho billiard-playing work
than is Thomas Foley, of Chicago. For year
he has stood at tho head of billiards in the Wes
for portion Of the time as player, and q
all times as an authority. Personally popular
| and neyer lending Ills namo or Ills sanction t.
| anything which could tend to do other than Il
elevate tho 'gont1eman's gamc," Tom Toleyl
name has become notable throughout all tht
land. It is eminently fitting, therefore, thai
Tom Foley should be the proprietor, and Chica
80 tho location, OF tho largest, grandest finest
billiard ball in the world. For many months
past the work OF construction and preparation has
been going forward, until now it can be announced
| that tho new establishment will be thrown
open to the public on Tuesday OF this week
Everybody in Chicago knows that Tom Foley
has been busi1y engaged in experimenting the
arrangements Of tho great billiard palace, every
detail of which has been subject to his personal
direction, and everybody knows that it is located
Oh Clark street. opposite the Court House. oc-
cupying tho old site Of Bryan Hall, and more
lattcrly that OF Hooley's Opera House. Tho
building has been erected with especial rofer-
ence to the needs of great billiard hall, and the
result shows how admirably tho plans wcro de-
Tised aud carried out. Tho main entrance leads
from Clark street. The first thing encountered
BY the visitor is the cigar stand, with it's counter
of highiy-poliahed marble Of richly-contrasting
hues, and the surrounding woodwork Of walnut,
ebony, and gold. Passing beyond. wo enter tho
grand lobby, in which ia found tho magnificent
sample counter, OF solid marble, fashioned and
polished in tbs height Of the art This room is
beautiful beyond al comparison. Nothing half
so flno wcs ever eeen in Chicago. Hero tho
fresco-painter has almost exhausted his art in
the attempt to ornament and beautify. The col
ors arc wholly in oil, and the designs are elabo-
rate and exquisitely tasteful. Lifesizo portraits
of Michael Phelan and John 1lcDevitt, tho two
most intimate friends Tom Foley ever hat, ARE
painted in oil upon the surface Of the wall, while
the ceiling above represents a canopy, with
beautiful wreath Of flowers in the centre. Tho
aim has been to mako this portion Of tho estab-
Hshment the finest ever seen, and it has certain
II been accomplished.
up.into the billiard hall proper, which is thus
wholly disconnected from the sample bar. Tho
room is 100 by 80 feot in eizo, with
ceilings 20 foot in height, richly-frescood
dome surmounting tho centre. Here also will
be noticed some Of tho most Artistic fresco-
cd with Crosby's ErgGEh Brussels carpet, in
imitation Of French moquet, 200 yards being
required. The room is lighted on all sides with
windows IS feet in height, while nj night = will
derness Of superb gas fixtures supply tho need
ed illumination. It is tho largest bill
lard room in the world, and contains
thirty tables, all surprisingly beautiful design,
furnished from the manufactures Of Stephani,
Manufacturer l. Hart, tho J. M. Brunswick & Co.
Billiard Table Manufacturing Company, and 4.
Zeller. The room ia heated by steam, which
courses through over 1000 feet Of pipe. Marble
washing founts, and richly-constructcd closets
abound plentifully, all of thonost extensive pat
tern aud style. Three mirrors, of mammoth di-
are disposed in the lobby and the
grand hall, costing 5000 each. This description
falls far shor. Of titly conveying an idea Of what
tho great establishment really is. The
cost OF ornamenting and furnishing |
reaches the enormous sum Of $4,000, and +
The result is place to which every Ohicagoan
IAN, with pride and satisfaction, refer. the |
stranger in the city, aesuring him, without fe.r
of contradiction, that the equal to it does not !
exist on the face Of the globe.
The various gentlemen who have contributed
.oward the general magnifcence deserve come |
nention-nmong them, Schubert l. koenig, who
lid the oil fresco work, and Almini, who can
point with pride to the splendid f1escoing Of the |
,rand hall; E. Beggot, WHO furnished the gas
lxtures. the pretties5 ever seen; VIM. 7. Noble
i Co., from whom the mirrors were procured;
md the Chicago Marble Company, who con-
tructed the marble counters and stems.