Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-09

IL L Old IOI DIO1 Ill NAA,
with brass nails. The calf, excepting in lts
sweet breads, seems never so truly valuable
as in this form. The soft brown hue OF the
tanned hide is one of the most agreeable
tlnts that nature and man have combined
to produce. 1t carries with it also such a
pleasant suggestion of strength, endurance,
indiferenceto to hard knocks, a sense of vlr1llty,
complimenting those things one likes 70
think of men, and therefore so appropriately
used in mems rooms and belongings.
A CHAPTER ON CUES.
Not great deal of attention is given to
handsome billiard cues. Length, weight
and balance are the important considera-
tions. The wood proper is ash finished with
leather tips that are made by the French
peasants, and not procurable elsewhere.
Each cue is or should be constructed so that
it will balance in the middle when placed
ACROSS the finger. For this reason the end
in the hand is usually of lighter wood and
here some ornamentation is given. A present
fashion consists in bead-like holdings that
assist the hand in its grip. But the most
expensive cues are ornamented something
like peacock eyes, with successive curving
LAYS of colored wood so perfectly Joined that
they look more like enamels or lustrous
paints.
Billiards are rather polite accomplish
ment than an exercise, and so owe nothing
to the later prominent of athletics. On this
subject men hold diverse opinions. One man
will tell you how he has recently had all
the rheumatism shaken out of his bones by
placing him under the direction Of pro-
fessor of physical development. The pro-
fessor's regimen usually includes a dietary
schedule, which should not be admitted in
taking tbs results into consideration. Other
men look with dismay on the increase OF
sudden arrangements of the heart which
bowl man over before be knows anything
is the matter with him, and these are at
tributed to the newly acquired taste for ex-
ercise. Mr.. Chauncey Depew, to me the
other day, attributed his fine health, amid
increasing cares. to the fact that he took no
exercise, and quoted Mr.. Evarts, whose
health in long and busy life has been
phenomenally good, in support of the same
conclusion.
Still the tide goes the other way. Most
busy men make some provision in their
scheme of lite for exercise. Dumb bells and
Indian clubs are found in most bathrooms.
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie has pulling machine
for getting his muscles in trim. Numbers
crowd the athletic clubs, the bovs'l schools
and now the girls schools are introducing
gymnasiums with trapezes and turning bars.
Some few private houses include gymnasi-
ums. Mr.. w. K. Vanderbilt has private
gymnasium above his banqueting room.
This was suggested by the construction OF
the banqueting room, the ceiling of which is
hung from the roof. The space above through
which the trusses extend seemed valueless
except for this purpose, for which the beams
and supporters fitted exactly. Accordingly
the usual equipments of private gymnasi-
um are found here and it is royal place for
roller skating and velocipede exercise for the
younger people.
A FANCY SKATER.
You do not often get a chance to see
sugar broker dance, as Mr.. W. S. Gilbert
has aptly remarked. We do more often see
man skate whose income it is alleged is
SIG, ,000, 900. Nor does Mr.. John D. Rookie
feller intend that he should be seen in his
favorite pastime, for high board fence now
shuts in the refreshing green that used so
agreeably to lie exposed for the benefit of
tired town eyes on each side of his house,
and also screens his private skating rink.
This is not for roller skating, but is an ice
rink, and is intended primarily for Mr..
Rockefeller's own diversion. Here in the
winter he skates every morning before going
down town, and is Joined usually by some of
his business friends. There are skating
classes for the misses and daughters who do
not skate, and all the provisions for a merry
time It is doubtful if out of Russia another
man gratifes his taste in this particular
way, and there is something delightfully."-
naive in a man SO fatally rich prosecuting
his hoyboods tastes and skill in this iupen-
ious manner In the heart of a city.
Another man who takes hisexercise under
exceptionally happy circumstances, and in
a novel manner \is DR.. F. n. Otis, the
prominent and popular physician.
DR.. Otis is addicted to the rowing ma
chine, which furnishes an admirable exer-
else, but is really great stretch on ones
dignity. The idea of sitting up in dry
room and pulling with any heartiness on
oars that never touch water requires more
Imagination than most men are willing to
expend in the mere pursuit of health. But
DR.. Otis assists the delusion, that it is really
necessary to give the first impetus to the
blood-stirring current by having the end of
the room toward which he looks as he pulls
on his oars filled with a large painting.
This is a Lake George landscape painted for
this especial purpose by Mr.. Homer Martin.
Mr.. Martin has Imagination enough and
charm of touch sufficient to expand the walls
and glorify the ballroom which DR.. Otis has
dedicated 10 his recreation. And DIR. Otis
has imagination or he could never have de-
vised so happy an expedient. And so as he
sits and rows he has daily the illusory de-
light of pulling out from the lovely shores
of one of the loveliest of all lovely lakes.
MARY GAY HUMPHREYS.