National Republican., 1876-01-05
BILLIARD KxHIBIfION.
An fntsrtainnsnt At .hs Imperial Hotel.

An fntsftainmsnt 1t The Imperial Hotel.
An exhibition Of sRiil IA the game Of billiards
was given last niRht ct the Imperial hotel BY the
well-known experts, Albert Garnier, champion Of
the world, and th6 rising star Of Gotham, Mr..
Wm. Sexton. Two better sxporents could not
have b<ea chofen to illustrate the beauties, difi-
cultiss snd the requirements Of the game. Both
s.~tismea are professionals, one Of decidedly
wo,s .,tsns.d exne,,, ,,..as than the other, which
can be attributed TO q slight - eHvantsgs In age,
and an earlier fascination with the s. s as'
JGarnier, the senior in years Of the two pla ~,
has employed much time In the study OF pL-
lizards, and brought out Of the game rep1ta.
tion eIeelled by none and equaled by lew; Eos
content with mastering the carom game ne mas
consideration, and, as the result, can nerfoEm
scme Of the most wonderful shots possible to e
ecute. In fact, some that he has includssd in his
that men, even lovers and nj is.yers at the game.
would contend It Impossible to make had they NOT
received ocular PROF. to the contrary. Mr.. Gar
chased, and studded with pearl and coral balls,
with cross-sticks of gold, representing imple-
ments of the game, which adequately bespsak
his ability to sustain the title he enjoys as cham
pion Of the world.
His adversary, although younger in the billiard
congress, is by no means poor and unimportant
but showed that to tow Win from him the contestant
must be both watchiul and skiilful. He possesses
excellent nerve, is the embodiment Of coolness,
stroke, and when made the chances for o csrom
are great in bis favor. His present game and the
strides Of improvement that he has made In play
recently should be ample encouragement for him
to persevere and press on toward the champion
Col. Pierce, the proprietor of the Imperial. had
made excellent arrangements for the guests view
ing the game. Over the tables on the east side
OF the room q board platform had been built and
on this were placed seats, which gave the occu-
pants commanding view Of the entire saloon.
The players used the centre table "a Bruins
wick, from J: q. Taylor & Co., Baltimorel Of the
number Of friends and acquaintances, but many
were not permitted in close proximity to them in
in their play. The first was game of French
caroms, 800 points, and, after II innings, was won
by Garnier, he scoring that number TO Sexton's
ss and q, and Of the latter %, As, II and 60.
Both the players made beautiful shots at times,
but It was evident from the beginning that luck
was against Sexton, and operated with telling
effect, frequently causing miss after he had la
btred to get the balls together. With all his mis-
haps he display ed remarkable nerve, and showed
After q short intermission game Of 200 points Of
the American four ball carom. was played, and
ming, and showing himself perfectly at home in
hitting the iyories and rolling up the score. By
the way, he has match on the tapis ct this game
New York city, for q, 900 side, and the exhibit
tions In which he Is now participating will doubt
less ft him fer this contest.
the audience an opportunity to witness what
could be done with billiard balls, If person only
knew hew to use them. His caroms were chiefly
the French, which is done by mdsse, holding the
cue upright, or slightly inclined to the right or
left. and striking downward on the ball. He
would force and follow by the same stroke, ap-
Iparently, drive ball down the table and be-
Itore It came in contact with the lower cushion
Isuddenly take q reverse motion and shoot back
Ito the starting point. Then again It would hug
Ithe side rail, or run zig-zag along the cushion:
directly 1t would shoot around hat, hunt for q
ball in the lower corner, but espying one at the
Opposite end dart off with renewed speed and
effect q carom. Balls in tumblers, or even on
top OF a pyramid of glass were not safe, but were
knocked from their place. Finally, one table
was not sufficient for his operations, but as he
warmed up more space was repaired, and three
tables were in use by him at one time. Hewould
strike the objectball on the first. take bound on
the second and fetch up caroming on ball lying
against the lower rail Of the third. He finished
the exhibition by driving 20 balls twice around the
table without hitting each other and putting
them all In one corner. The entertainment was
highly satisfactory in every respect and the pro-
fessionals will give a similar Entertainment to-
night at Godfrey's saloon. 1t Is highly probable
Mr.. GARNER will give an exhibition Of his skill
before one Of the city clubs ere he departs from
the city.