The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-22
proper stroke and were pOcketed by the

attendant conducted me up this on the coca
sion OF my first visit when had called with
friend to play game in Vignaux's place.
felt that here at least something might be
found corresponding to tho comfort and
elegance which are combined In the average
American hall No; the upper floor con-
sisted OF two small rooms, each lust large
enough for one table, two chairs, a cue rack,
and a small stand for the inevitable coffee,
andy or absinthe that accompanied Paris
diversion. / do not recall that the dull
walls were graced with single picture, and
l am certain that the chairs were not cush-
Toned. The table and implements were
fairly good.
And this comprises the whole of the
business place of the most expert billiard
player in France. II there are other rooms
IN the institution they are not for billiards
None other, IN fact, are needed, Judging
from the public patronage. The upper
rooms are in so slight demand from casual
players that doubt seriously whether the
income derived from them would be con-
sidered profitable by an American. Yet
from o'clock p. m, to $50 O'clock and
from o'clock to midnight, VignAux's is
crowded every day. People 60 there not
to play, but to bet their money on profess
sional games.
VIgnaux EMPLOYS several of the best
billiard players in France. IL is their bust
ness to play against each other during the
the playing will be OF a high order, and
that it win be strictly honest None of
these hired experts could afford to play
other than his best, for the patrons would
spe Oily recognize it, refuse to back his
game, and then his occupation would be
gone. These games are played in the room
first described. When the contestants
have been appointed by the manager,
the style of game decided and the odds
announced. for it is seldom that players are
evenly mltched, the spectators crowd about
the table to make their bets. The players
stand at either end of the table, each with a
book in hand TO register the bots laid on
himself and to collect the money. After
all who wish to bet have deposited their
money and named their choice. the books
and cash are locked in tin box and placed
on the cashiers desk. The game then pro-
ceeds, and at the end the hackers Of the
winner receive their money less 20
per cent. This amount is de-
Quoted for division equally betwesn
the players. Itasounds like a heavy tax,
but no admission is charged and the omni-
present refreshments are served at ordinary
prices. Still. if any American sport feels
that he would object to laying so francs for
the sake Of winning 80 in game whore
the chances had been as evenly adjusted as
the handicap of odds could effect that,
shall offer no arguments against his atti-
tude. | can only say that wager-ioving
Frenchmen do this day after day, not only
at Vignaux's, but in many other billiard
rooms of less fame in Paris
The games, as l have said, are of a very
high order, and it would naturally be
thought that all pains would be taken TO
tho haut conditions for NAV Tho
table is as good as possible, it Is thoroughly
renovated at intervals of a few days. The
players, of course, use their own cues, and
good balls are provided; but the atmosphere
is so exceedingly bad that the balls must
deteroriate rapidly. All who wish to, and
that means nearly everybody, smoke con-
stantly, no arrangement OF the windows
and doors, opening for the most part into
covered areas or passages, would give
proper ventilation; even with the most
brilliant play in progress it is difficult to
keep the ewes open.
Among Vignaux's employees this summer
and autumn was Mr.. Eugene Carter, the
remarkably expert cushion player from
Wisconsin. He has been in receipt of O
good salary aud plenty Of distinction, but
he hos not experienced unalloyed happiness.
81 can't do myself justice here" he ex-
planned; "the atmosphere IL so bad that
both balls and cushions got out of order
quickly. 50 that fac playing is almost out
Of the question. feel as IL / were using
slodge-hammsrs half the time. Besides
that / have the most dreadful of
days It's reasonable enough. for
If the air has an effect on ivory
that the player can distinguish.
why shouldn't It affect the player himselfl
That might pass without complaint If 1t
were not for the fact that my experience
here is not teaching me anything. / cannot
improve uader sucn conditions, and besides.
one Of the chief inducements under which
came here was that / should have the privi-
lege of playing with Vignaux Ibeat him
at cushion carroms several times, and then
he went off into the country to stay rather
than take any more defeats from an en-
ploye The other players, while magnificent
billiardists, are excessively jealous and hard
to get on with. l have to play all sorts of
games at all hours every day, and be IN call
all the time, whether / am to appear or
not"
Mr.. Carter said good many other things
not wholly complimentary to the French,
but he may get over that when he Is once
more in familiar atmosphere and in sound
of familiar language. had the pleasure
of seeing one of his games with Vignaux,
and / know that soon after it the famous
vacation into the country. A curious
feature of Mr.. Carriers experience has
been that though he speedily demon
strated his great superiority in cushion
play. the habitues of the place
would not back his game unless
the opponent allowed odds from 40 to 80 in
$50. They could not seem TO persuade
themselves that an. Cartay," as they called
him, could play billiards. / saw him play
once at balkline with the most expert play
ers at that gams in France, Vignaux
alone excepted Carter was allowed forty
points. He ran out in four plays, leaving
his opponent with modest three points TO
his credit. Naturally enough, Carter was
occasionally defeated, but on the whole he
has made a strong record here.
The Vignaux ''sch )ol" is not entirely mis-
named. The salarisd experts give lessons
ia the morning to ambitious amateurs,
using generally the tables in the upper
roma From these Lessons and their per-
centage on the be.s.laid they earn from Sl2
70 SIS daily the year around. 1t would
seem that Vignaux's income from the
establishment must depend largely
upon the sale of drinks, but Ia ad-
dition TO this he does a business in billiard
implements and repairs.
Two small points to conclude with. There
are no buttons on a wire to count with
here; the score is kept either by pressing a
knob at the side of the table which regis
tors the play on a dial somewhat like a
street car conductors punch, or bv marking
with chalk on a miniature blackboard sunk
in the rail-
There are many halls in Paris whers the
tables aud implements are not so very UNI
intentionally bad where the cost Of the play