The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-12
A BILLIARD GAME.

They are waiting for orders and none
come from headquarters.
Nevertheless the headquarters are not far
of. They are at that fine Louis XIII
chateau. the red bricks of which, washed
by the rain. shine out among the stone
work. a truly princely building, we'll
worthy to carry the fag Of q marshal Of
France.
Behind 8 deep most and low wall Of
stone smooth green lawns, bOrdered with
vases of flowers. extend TO the flight of
steps at the entrance.
On The other more private side OF the
house groups of trees stand out against the
sky; a sheet Of water, on which the swans
are swimming stretches cut like mirror,
and under the pagoda roof of an immense
aviary peRcOcks utter their sharp cries and
golden pheasants flap their wings and strut
proudly about Although the owners are
gone, there is no sign OF the abandonment
or the deso!ation of war.
Thanks to the oTi1iamme Of the chief OF
the army even the smallest flowers OF the
lawns are preserved, and 1t is something
wonderful to find so near the field OF battle
that opulent calm which is manifest IN the
order reignlng over everything, IN the cor
rect outline of the stonewoTk and in the
profound silence of the avenues.
The rain, which makes such ugly mud
heaps in the road and digs out such deep
ruts, is here only an elegant aTlsto cratic
shower, frightening the redness of the
bricks and the green of the grass, giving
luster to the leaves Of the orange trees and
the plumes Of the swans.
All is shining, all is peaceful
Indeed, but for the flag which floats On
the roof, but for the two soldiers on duty
he tb1
ones self at headquarters.
The horses repose IN the stables. Here
and there one meets officers servants,
oTderies in undress lettering about the
entrances to the kitchens, or some gardener
in red trousers drawing his rake quietly 10
the sand Of tie large courtyards In the
dining room, which faces the front, may be
seen a table half cleared, unc0Tked bottles
dim and empty glasses on the crumpled
tablecioth, the remains of a Tepast, the
guests departed, In the next room may be
heard the sound of voices, laughter, balls
rolling. glasses clinkiDg. The marshal is IN
the midst IF his game and that is Why the
army is awaiting orders. When the mar
shall has begun his game, though the sky
should fall. nothing Will induce him TO stop
till he has finished.
Billiards
That Is the weakness Of this great war
riOr. There he stands, as serious as in
battle, in full uniform, bis breast covered
infamed, In all the animation of the repast,
the game and the GTog. There is a rusiling
of epauiets and plUmes, a clashing Of
crosses and shouldeT-kn0ts, and TO see all
those pretty smiles, those c0urtly bows, so
much embroidery and s many new uniforms
In that high Ga k-carYed chamber opening on
q park-all this recalls the autumns of
eompIegue, and is q relief from the sOiled
coats that shiYor down there along the
roads and form such gloomy groups in the
rain.
The partner Of the marshal is little staff
captain. dappeT. fTiZZed, in white gloves,
a frst-rate billiard-p player and capable of
beating all the maTshals in the word; but
he knows how 10 keep at respectful dis
tance behind his chief, and applies himself
not to win out not to lose too easily. He is
what we call a promising officer.
Attention, young man, mind what you are
doing. The marshal scores fifteen and you
ten. You have to lead the game to the end
like that and you will have done more for your
promotion than if you were outside there
with the others. under those torrents oil
water which drown the horizon, s0iliug
your fine uniform, furnishing the gold OF
your epaultes. awaiting orders which do
not come.
It is really a very interesting game. The
balls roll, touch each other. cross their
colOrs.
Suddenly the fash of a cannon firing
passes across the sky. 4 rumhling noise
starts; they look at each other with anxiety
The marshal alone has seen nothing, heard
nothing; bandiDg over the billaTd-table
he IS about to combine a magnificent effect
of the rebound of a ball; il is his strong
point the result of reboundi
But there comes another fash, and then
another. The firing is repeated and &C
CELEBRATED. The aids-de-camp run to the
windows. Are the Prussians attacking?
well. let them attack!' says the mar
shal. st is your turn to play, captain"
The staff trembles with admiration.
Turenne asleep On a gun-carriage was
nothing compared TO this marshal, so calm
before his game of billiards at the moment
of action. All the while the noise re.
doubles. With the shocks of cannon are
mingled the explosion of shells and the
rolling of the platoon firing. A red cloud.
edged with black, rises below the lawns
A II the bottom of the park is on fire. The
ahrghted peacocks and pheasants make a
clamor in the aviary; the Arab nurses
smelling powder, rear In the stalls. The
headquarters begin to show signs Of move.
ment. Dispatches follow dispatches. Is
tafettes arrive at full gallop. They de-
mand to see the marshal.
The marshal is not 10 be seen. Did no
tell you that nothing could prevent hin
from finishing his game?
As they have been fighting for two DAYS
and nave passed the night with their KNAPP
sacks on their backs under torrents of rain
tDo eO4uieIS are quite worn out. NeYerthe
less, for three mortal hours they have beer
left to shver. shoulderng arms, in the pools
OF water on the highroads and Ia the mu(
OF the saturated fields.
Overcome with fatigue, after many sleep,
less nights, they lean against each other L
keep warm and also to keep from falling
Some are even asleep as they stand, sup
ported by the gnapsacks CT their neighbors
and on these dropping and relaxed face
lassitude aud prIvation can be all the NOR
plainly read. Rain-mud-no fre-no sou,
IA black and heavy sky-the enemy fel
close round them-all this Is CHASTITY.
What are they doing there? What i
going on?
The cannon with their mouths turned to
ward the wood appear TO be watching TO
something. The men in ambuscade keep
fixed watch on the horizon. All seem
ready for an attack. Why do they not be
ginp What are they waiting for?
"Your turn TO play, captain"
But the captain is absent minded. Tha
Is the case with young men There h
stands, losing his head, forgetting how {,
play, ard making such good strokes tina