The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-10
How 20 Tell the "sbarp"-seme signs
which Reveal tho nsan Maa with
ont TaiL

.
ries the chalk ia his trousers pocket and
calls the marker John, for verify lac is "A
sharp" With all due Difference 20 the writ
or Of the advice. must say that my own
experience Is I'm direct antipodes 10 his
aphofism. The sharp Of today is not so
easily spotted. You see TINT man playing
over az the far table, possessed Of "A child
like and land manner Well, that Il the
modern billiard sharp. With patent leath-
or boots and dressed with fuultless taste,
he lies in wait for the unsuspicious and
conhding learner. To all appearances DO
ia a perfect stranger 10 the marker, and II
would not do to hint that the latter is
subsidized and "Roes whncks' in the spoil.
Our gentleman sharp, you will notice, in
quires innOcently the way TO turn the
marking board, makes a tremendous num-
Der Of scientific misses, does not carry the
chalk in his pocket, makes shots WORTHY
OF Roberts himself and then apologies for
them to his unsuspecting opponent as
"boastly fiukes." He is most profuse with
"I beg your pardon, sir, " when he "unin-
tentionally" pots his antagonists white
and assures him, with every expression Of
sincerity, that "he played for a screw can
non"
At the commencement OF the game he in
sinuatingly suggests that the small sum
of 2s Cd. shall be a stake on the game, not
for the sake Of having bet, but just To
have a little "interest" in the game, while
his real reason is 10 have both principal
and interest in his pocket. He never wins
by too many, and then he has been sex
ceedingly lucky to win, " "the balls ran
for him" but he will give his opponent
"double OF quits on the next game IL he
cares to have his revenge. He constantly
calculates "Hard lines, sir" "You are
having all the bad luck, " and so the sharp
plucks his pigeon.
From my experience should say that no
game Of skill in the world brings out
mans meanness like billiards. There is
mean man playing Watch him prepare
for the combat Probably he has argued
his friend into giving him half the game,
for he never plays with a stranger-he
might get taken in, he says. See him care
fully chalk his cue, and with what care
and anxiety he gives the preliminary miss
In balk. his face expressive Of his mental
agony for fear the ball should stop out Of
balk. Watch him during the progress Of
the game, how he walks round the table
aud views the position of the balls when
it j. his stroke from every part of the ia
BILE lest he should by an oversight give
his opponent an advantage His hesita-
ton over each shot is prolonged, and when
/ he does make up his mind TO strike his
| nervous prostration j. terrible as the balls
/ go spinning round the table, and he knocks
one Of the shades off as he flourishes his
cue about in his endeavor 10 influence the
/ course Of the balls Great is his disap-
pointment when he fails to score. Listen
/ TO his grumblos deep and loud when his adj
/ versary brings of "a fluke." Let Us leave
/ him, for it is drendfully painful 70 play
/ with him, and to see him grudgingiy part
with shilling, if he he the loser, Is like
| having tooth drawn. when found IN
/ a billiard room, "make note Of and
avoid. The jolly, good natured man Is the
life and soul of the room. lie doesn' I care
a straw whether he wins or loses. lie
wants a game and means 10 enjoy Il.
(Which ball do prefer2' he says. 81
don care. They are both round" OF he
goes, forgets to chalk his cue and then
laughs heartily when he gives a miss, rare
! ~ asks for points. and if you heat him
! will ask you to have IA cigar, tips the mark
er and laughs loud and long when you
| make some extraordinary fuke You play
| carclessly with the generous man, and as
a consequence often get beaten, but you
take your defeat kindly enough from a
man like this
The grumbler and the mean man at bill
lizards are very much akin, and you take a
keen delight, in which the spectators par
ticipate, in giving him n sound beating
lie il to be met with in every large room
and whether the gnme be pool, pyramids
or billiards his grumhles are to the fore
to the annoyance of every one, with The
result that he gets intensely hated. lie u
always being sold" at pool and Is 'th'
unluckiest man in the world. ~ Gets th'
yellow ball, which is crooked, nine times
out Of ten. - aud lac missed "A certain divi
sion through one 81 the spectators ordering
mild and bitter" His tip always Gomez
OF on AN important stroke which woull
have won him the game, he missed big
break through his ball, which, by the way
is anything but round. jumping over IA
infnitesimal piece of chalk ON the cloth,
= which the marker fails 10 find. "rhere i
not a straight cue ina the room. the cush
ions are too slow or too fast, bad light
the gas fickers, the room is drafty. Wh'
can make shot with all this row. An'
the marker is the worst he ever met al
ways talking TO some one and not paying
attention 20 the game. One would won
der that he continues 10 play with all thes
various conditions against him. icloavc
the room in n temper every night, 20 tn
great relief Of the frequenters, solemn.
vuviug that he will never play again, onll
20 bob up grumblingly the next night. IL
: can't hop It. poor fellow IL Is his nature
! Watch that youth over there He has jus
: been talking Of a biz 90 break hc mad
p while ON has recent holidays aud playing
. the marker of the hotel at Sloshcum on
! thc-Snnd. "Take points," Not hci vii
rlay the best player In tho room level
lie rolls mp his sleeves. takes the chalk on
: of his pocket aud after blk flourish com
{ menccs the game. The uuinitinted are pry
! ! pared for something big. but are doome'
20 disnppointmeut, rs the youngster Is onl
: an empty boaster. just learning TO play
D and after being h0pele,sly beaten 10y q
says he D. out Of form tonight aud the tabl
does not suit him. lie T. quite content &
part with his shilling n he conveys th
3 impression that be T. a great player e.
n London Sporting Life.
y With pure, viEor"us ood eoursif
E .,. uuuh tie veins ard saimatinR evsi
= r.. 80 a.. IL cold uaatLar IN uot uul