Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-09

ts.ssasse= a.-:i.=7.--19 -.
THE CORNER SHOT" AND THE LONG
CUT"
When an American had gained sufficient
knowledge TO hud his way 80 NiSnnnNs
Academy through this winding labyrinth
IL was considered u sati 3fnctory test OF
his knowledge of the city. l. woIC be
hard to estimate the amount Of profanity
which has been uttered by billiard loving
amateurs from abroad trying v1inly TO
find this queer place where NignnuX
"Profcssors" used to hold forth daily.
When one finally reached the Academy,
he found himself ia two rooms, one OF
which was fitted up with rows OF seats
around billinrd table In the center. This
was the grand amphltheater although "
was not grand ut all beng capable OF
seating only about two hundred persons,
aud that not comfortably.
The other room was devoted TO ordi.
nary billiard playing and was patronized
by such persons as had the courage 10
exhibit their puny skill side by eide with
the great masters In the nrt. On one side
of the larger room Il well-preserycd wO-
man of forty with black hair and eyes
presided at a sort of pulpit which was
reolly the cashiers desk On the other
side prOpped up on a high stool IN front
of a blackboard, was u well-fed lad OF
fourteen wearing blue uniform with
brass buttons, whose duty II was to come
out tie score and mark them ON tho
board for the benefit of the audience. In
the centre seated about the table, that
Is II they could find seuts were the half
dozen professors waiting their turn like
gladiators eager for the fray
About year ago the crush Of people
at the Academy became so great that
NignauX and his friends appreciated tho
desirabllity of securing larger and more
convenient quarters. So they moved the
establishment keeping everything just
as IL was, with the same professors, tile
same well-fed, Unconstitutional boy and
the same buIOm cashier, TO No. 251 on
the Rue Saint Honore Ia the same huild-
ing ms the NOuveau Cirque, formerly tho
site of the notorious Valentino Garden,
where feats of high kicking were done ns
remarkable as the feats with the worries
now perform there.
Let US drop in here after dinner. say
about half past eight, and watch the
evening performance. The men have
been playing already for two or three
matches will be ON now. This place.
hours in the afternoon, but the best
you see, Is much better adapted to the
purpose, and the walters busting about
to serve drinks can get ut the customers
without spilling the grogs, cognacs and
other turntables over persons in the
vicinity. These drinkables by the way
are the essential part of the system
for as no admission Is charged the pro
pretors of the place count upon the
bar receipts IN payment of their expenses
and everyone who enters Is expected TO
take what they call n Contamination,
the usual price being 10. 10 and 20 cents,
and the drinks are fairly good.
WHEN THE MATCH Is ON.
IN.
men standing at opposite ends Of the
table with little books in their hands
are the professors who are matched
against each other They are not the
best players, although all of them are
first class. Plot, GARNER and NignauX
himself will come later In the evening
when the house has got warmed mp 10
the point OF high betting. The two play
ing now, however, are worth watching
The round-faced man with the long hair,
who reminds one Of Circassian princess,
Is Goffert, Belgian player, famous for
fancy shots and trick playing, and a
good joker. He keeps the people In Il con
slant roar with his funny remarks aud
frequently in this way, 80 breaks up
his opponent as TO win against a much
stronger player, such a man us Plot for
instance, who generally Is irritable. COT
fert's opponent is q little, dried mp man,
with a face like mouse His name Is
Beau Monsieur Beau's strong point Is
his unfailing nerve and his ability 70
make the best of himself under all
circumstances. He has beaten the Amer
lean Eugene Garter several times m
matches for $500 although the latter viii
tell you that he can wipe the door up
with Beau any time he feels IKE II.
That Is Carriers way.
The spectators, You sec, are leaving
their seats and crowding around each OF
the players, giving them sums varying
from five franc pieces 70 hundred franc
notes. each PLAYER marks down the sum
received. crediting II 20 certain initials,
for the people who bet rarely give their
real names. Some Of them are spanish
noblemen. some belong 10 New l0rk
-Four Hundred all Of them are sure
to lose in the long run as l VIII presently
explain.
This betting goes on until each Of the
players has received precisely the same
total varying from two hundred 10 two
thousand dollars according TO the players
aud che recllessness Of their hackers
Sometimes IL may be imagined one pro
fessor' is more Of favorite than Tue ON
er and SO gets the greatest portion OF inc
backing. just now you see Beau y IN
that position and poor Gofart Is inaklhs
witticisms at his expense. In order 70
obviate that difficulty Beau viii give
points 10 bis opponent until the betiers
are satisfied that the odds are even;
Then both books viii be promptly nlied
aud the game Nill begin
Now, you see, all Is ready and the TWO
hooks with the two equal sums Of money
are placed In the little wooded box ana
given IN charge Of the black.haired lady
III the desk She smiles nc G9iiart, fhe
fot boy at the blackboard straightens
himself up for work, one Of the walters
brnshes OF the billiard doth very care
fully and marks fresh chalk lines fourteen
teen inches from the cushions, Tor lhsy