The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-07
SENATORIAL BILLIARDiSTS,
Some of the Members of Congress Who
Can Handle the Cue SI<iIIfuII@

Some of the Members of Congress Who
Can Handle the Cue Sl1ilIfuI%
At the National Hotel few nights
ago was seen one of the finest amateur
billiard exhibitions ever witnessed in this
city. The participants were legislators
and all Southern men. 1t was a three
handed game, the cues being welded
by the one-legged Senator from Ar
kansas, Berry; Robertson, of Kentucky,
and King, of Louisiana. All three are
good players, but Berry proved HIM
self to be the finest shot among Wash
ington statesmen. lie made no very
high runs-thirty-two being the highest
to his credit-but he kept up an ex-
cellent average. His strong point is
draw shots, many of which are as sur
prising as Schaefer's One shot in
particular elected wild applause from
the Southerners who frequent the Ma
tional. The object balls were apart by
nearly the full length of the table and
in straight line. The white sphere
was near the center of the table. The
Senator made the shot by wonderful
draw and cushion stroke, at the same
time bringing the balls into a position
which insured picnic" The pic
mic" Melted him twenty-one. His
average was ten on the whole game.
King came next, with an average of
seven, and Robertson something over
six.
Senator Berry's principle recreation
is billiard playing. He has certainly
had practice enough to make him an
expert. While he was Governor of
Arkansas he was widely known as a
patron of the science. A good player
always found welcome at the Executive
Mansion and had social attentions
showered on him. The Governor had
table and set of cues which were
said to have cost a years salary.
Robertson is known as one of the
best cue wielders in Kentucky. He is
not SO devoted to the game as Berry,
but when he takes hand the others
get left. He plays with great rapidity,
seeming hardly to observe the position
of the balls; still he makes them click
quite often. King seems to have in
herited his skill from his father, Hon.
Thomas Butler King, who had no
equal in Louisiana twenty years ago.
He is slow and painstaking and makes
many scientific shots.
These are not the only statesmen
who handle the cue effectively. Sena-
tor Warner Miller is very fair player.
He is occasionally seen at Wizards en-
gagged in a game. His science has
! deteriorated, however, since Senatorial
ease has added many pounds of flesh
and made him rather awkward in get
ting around the table. Senator Butler,
of South Carolina, also plays well. He
is often seen in the Metropolitan
billiard room, his antagonist generally
being Ransom, of North Carolina.
Senator Don Cameron used to like the
game when he first came here, but his
health has become so bad that he no
longer seems to care for any kind of
amusement Frank Hiscock gave an
exhibition of his skill at Riggs about
two weeks ago. Runs of twenty-five,
eighteen and fifteen showed that he
was not a novice. Reed, of Maine,
while city solicitor of Portland, had the
reputation of being the finest shot
among the lawyers of that city. Con-
gressional life has made him very fat
SO fat, indeed, that he now handles the
cue with difficulty. Warner, of Mis-,
souri,; McComas, of Maryland; Reed,
of North Carolina; Crisp, of Georgia
Hepburn, of Iowa, and Belmont, Of
New York, are quite passable players.
| WaShin0t0l Letter.