The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-08

piece of ivory II the crack is extensive.
the tusk must be devoted TO another pur-
pose than that of making billiard balls.
IT 1t is perfect, IL is passed on to another
expert, who measures it and marks il at
proper distances to be cut into blocks.
IL IS then sawed INTO lengths Of 2Is to
inches, according TO the size of the balls
to be made The sawed blocks are then
given 70 the turner's. Turning lathes of
unusual accuracy and delicacW are put to
work, and the ivory sawdust begins fly
ing in all directions, But il is not lost
Ivory IS too precious to be wasted. Every
Speck OF the dust Is gathered up at the
close of the days work. In large quanti-
ties this dust is treated with chemicals,
and by means of peculiar cement and an
nydraullc press IT IS moulded into COM
pact and apparently homogeneous mass.
From this are manufactured many small
articles which present all the appearance
of ivory and are such in reality, though
not in its original st "a. On account of
the value of the material, the utmost care
IS used IN cutting, and the cylindrical
shape or the blocks enables an economy
that would not be suspected. Every one
has seen ivory martingaie rings but every
one does not know that these comes from
the two ends of the ivory block that Is
being turned into shape for billiard ball.
They are cut out with as much care as the
ball Itself, and are afterward rounded and
polished with the same scrupulous atten-
! ton. The largest and finest Of these rings
are sold at a high price in China where
they are worn by Celestials on the wrist
and are blessed by the Chinese gods
The billiard ball itself, after bslnr
roughly turned is laid aside for at least
six months to season and harden. for the
ivory when freshly cut is very soft. or at
least much softer than IL afterward be-
comes. When the seasoning is properly
effected, the turning is completed and the
ponshlng begins. An ingenious machine
is used first he ball is rolled rapidly
around in II. IN il is rubbed with pre-
pared chalk hamois then with leather
alone, aud is completed with the bare
palms of the operator. The skin on these
palms IS often, by dnt of constant rub
bling, worn hard and smooth and tough
Inc bail is now finished. so far the
mechanical processes of manufacture are
concerned; 1t then goes to the wholesale
and retail dealers. The risk is by no
means ended, however, when this work is
done. Few materials are so sensitive TO
atmosphere and temperature changes az
ivory; At almost any moment the BAH
may become lessened in value by the ap-
pearance on its surface Of tiny cracks or
! flaws. II these are superficial they inn
pair only the looks of the ball Some
times they extend far into the ball and it
VIII then break in two or chip with hard
usage Dealers classify The balls in sew
eral ways The balls that are cut from
pure ivory all the enamel OF the tusk
| being removed in the process Of mauufac-
lure are deemed The most valuable. Next
portion of enamel left. which does NOT I'M
pair the elasticity Of the ball, but only
its looks. The balls that show sUrfaee
cracks during the process of seasoning are
the lowest in price
The coloring is done with aniline dyes.
and advantage is taken of the surface OF
the ivory, being thus concealed, to utilize
half clear or enamel balls and check
ed" or surface cracked balls for coloring,
while the "al clear" balls are used as the
whites" With care and an occasional
oiling set of good balls may remain in
use for several years. But there is no tell
ing what may happen TO the whirling
spheres for a net of apparently first-class
balls will sometimes become cracked. chip
ped and worthless al the end of a few
weeks. There are experts in billiard balls
and ivory just as in diamonds and other
precious stones. Every big billiard con-
Germ has an expert on ivory and balls.
The balls are Of different elasticity. speed
and responsiveness. There are live balls
and dead" balls, heavy balls and light
balls. There are balls STEADY on" and
there arc balls "on" or shy"
Among frequenters Of billiard halls there
are many superstitions about billiard balls.
Billiard sharks tell stories of how the loss
OF many a famous match was due entire
Nv to an "om" or dead" or "ny" ball.
When the balls are discarded from "A, table
they drift from table to table. until finally
they go 10 a toy manufacturer or trink-
ct maker. and sometimes bit of ivory
goes back 20 Africa as gaudy earring
OF bright red.