Arizona republican., 1900-11-04
TALE OF A BILLIARD TABLE.
That Now in Use at West Point Has
 an Interesting History.

an Interesting History.
 One of the most interesting of West Points traditions is that relating to
 the billiard table Shortly after the civil war the cadets. always on the alert for some new scheme for amuse- ment, decided that they would like to have a billiard table. and accordingly organized a billiard club. A collection was taken up with which to purchase a table. and a suitable place was sought in which to set it up. Until the present steam heating apparatus was installed in the cadet barracks. about twenty-five or thirty years ago, the heating was by means of furnaces. The
 basement of the sixth division of the
 barracks was used for coal bins, the bins being so arranged that there was a large one near the center of the building. which could only be reached by passing through one of the others. After considering all available places, this coal bin was finally selected as be- ing the place least liable to detection for it must be remembered the table was unauthorized The table was bought in New York. and sent to Gar risons. across the river. for there was no West Shore railroad in those days. One cold winter night it was hauled by a team of oxen across the river on the ice and up the hill, and was safely slowed away in the coal bin before morning The table was soon set up and became a source of great enjoy ment to the cadets. A keg of beer was always kept on tap. and lamps were hung from the ceiling, giving the room q cheery appearance. The members of the club used to gather there at all hours of the day and night when their presence was not required elsewhere by their duties. and sit around smOk- ing. drinking and telling stories while two Of them played billiards.
 The authorities soon became aware that Lhere was a billiard table some where in the barracks, for they could hear the balls clicking together. but they could not find it. The cadets con- tinued to enjoy the privileges of the billiard club for more than year. Fi- nally one night soon after midnight. as two officers Were returning from cOnViVfal evening at the mess. they saw two cadets. clad in their under clothing and dressing gowns. emerge from the north sallypOrt and disappear down the steps to the aTeaway in front of the barracks. Instantly the thought of the billiard table flashed through the minds Of the two officers. and they started quickly after the cadets. On reaching the basement doorway of the sixth division the two cadets entered and the officers. arriving moment later. saw them climb over a pile of coal and enter an open door, through which came sounds Of laughter and conversation and the clicking of balls. while the air was laden with fragrant tobacco smoke.
 The officers paused for a moment and held a whispered consultation. Final ly deciding that they would tell the other officers of their discovery and have all of them come down the fol- lowing night to enjoy the fun of a raid on the club, they withdrew and went home. Next day all of the officers at the post were informed of the discov- cry, and it was arranged that the raid should occur at midnight. All might have gone well and the officers might have had their little fun had it not been. that there were three cadets the previous night instead of two. The third had forgotten his pipe and had gone back for it. while the other two went on and were discovered by the officers. The third. coming along moment later, saw the officers and quietly followed them, observing all their movements and listening to their whispered conversation. When they withdrew he went in and told the members of the club all he had heard and seen. Tha cadets at once aliZed that it was all up with the club. but they determined to have Q laugh a the expense of the officers. Accordingly. all arrangements were made before ,he club adjourned that night.
 The next night the officers met as ar ranged and crept stealthily dOwn the areaWay and into the sixth division. ! Hearing no sound of clicking balls. | some became skepticai and concluded the whole thing was hoax, but never . theless they pushed on and climbed over the pile of coal Opening the door. they were greeted with a glow ! of light but still no sound. On enter |. ing they found the room deserted, but there was the billiard table. an almost | untouched keg of beer, several pounds of tobacco, some chairs and lastly a | note on the table. addressed to the off | rers on duty at West Point. The note | was to the effect that as the officers of i the post had been so kind as tC permit | the club to continue it's existence for . more than a year. it desired to present | to them (the officers) the table and all | it's appurtenances. as i- was deemed | eXpedient to wind up the clubs affairs. The note was signed The Executive 1 Committee
 The officers, of course. were much Ina agrinned at being thus outwitted by the cadets. Nevertheless the table was to the officers mess, and. ac- cording to tradition. is the one still in use there.-New York Tribune.
 HAS QUIT LECTURING.
 Mark Twain apparently has perma- r1,- 1r~.- ,1g+