Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-04-26
THE GAME OF BILLIARDS.

| in their dripping uniforms they middle
close to each other to keep warm.
! Some fall asleep standing up, leaning
| against the shoulder of n neighbor, and
especially evident are the dire effects of
weakness and privation in the relaxed
figures of the slumbering men. Rain,
mud, no fire, no soup, black skies, the
enemy liable to attack at any moment.
1t is depressing, indeed!
| What does all this mean? The cannon,
with mouths directed toward the wood,
have the air of intently watching for
something. The gatling guns in ambush
| guard the horizon. Everything seems to
! indicate an immediate attack. Then,
| why don't they begin?
| They are awaiting orders, but head
| quarters send them not. Nevertheless it
| is not far off, this headquarters, being i'm
| stalled in that beautiful Louis XIII. cha
| teau, whose red bricks, washed by the
rain, glisten among the trees half way up
the hill This is, in truth, princely
abode, well worthy to fly the pennon OF
| a marshal of France.
Behind n wide meat and flight of
| stone steps which separate them from
| the road the veivety lawns rise gently TO
| the perron, flanked by vases with flower
| ing plants. On the ether side, screening
the private part of the mansion, the
| hedges display luminous openings and
| the sheet OF water where swans are
| swimming lazily on its placid bosom re-
sembles a mirror. Within the immense
| pagOda-roofed ayiafy peac0cks and gold
EN- pheasants beat their wings and plume
themselves, while utterng piercing cries.
Although the owners have departed
there is still no suggestion here of aban-
Comment, the grand lachez-tOut of war
nj ffa nFf heA If ho
has preserved everything intact, even to
the tiniest flowers of the garden, and 1t
startles one to find so close to the field
of battle the absolute calm which comes
from perfect order, even to the correct
alignment of the trees bordering the ave-
nue.. The rain, which everywhere else is
piling up mud on the roads and digging
deep ruts, is here nothing more than n
grateful and refreshing shower, height
ening the redness of the bricks. the green
of the grass, polishing the orange leaves,
the white plumes of the swans.
Everything is bright and shining
amidst perfect peace. Truly, We're it not
for the flag, which floats from above
the roof, or the two grim sentries at the
door, one would never suppose this place
to be the headquarters. The horses are
snugly bestowed in the stables. Here
and there are seen body servants or or
derlies in undress uniform lounging
about the approaches to the cuisine, or
gardener, perhaps, TRANQUILITY at work
with his rake.
Ia the dining room, the windows OF
which open onto the perron, one secs u
table half cleared away. with uncorked
bottles, empty glasses and a stained and
rumpled cloth, all indicating a repast fin
shed and the departure of the guests
From an adjoining room come the min
gled sounds of loud voices, bursts of
laughter and the rolling of billiard balls
The marshal in fact, is in the midst of n
game, and this also happens to be the
reason why the army 10 awaiting orders.
For be it known that when the mar
shat has once commenced his game moth
ing under heaven can prevent him from
finishing it, even though the earth should
cease to rotate.
Billiards.!
1t is indeed, the weakness of this
warrior indomitable. See him there se-S
rious as in action, in full dress. breast
covered with medals and with eyes
bright and cheeks inflamed from the
triple excitement of food. wine and play.
His aides-de-Camp surround him, eager,
respectful, almost dying with admiration
at each of his strokes. When the mar
shall is thirsty each one strives for the
honor of preparing his toddy.
1t is constant brushing of epaulettes
and piumes, jingling of swords and
aigiets. and to see these smiling faces,
these elaborate reverences OF the cour-
tier, so much embroidery on new uni
forms, in this lofty hall, wainscoted in
oak, opening ON the park and the court
OF honor, this indeed recalls autumn DAYS
at Compiegne, and presents startling
contrast to the shivering figures wrapped
IN soiled cloakS, who are waiting in vain
IN dreary groups along the muddy roads
The opponent of the marshal is lit
tie staff captain, slim WASTED, with care
pnFlp1 xK.hh -, H.
master hand at billiards and capable of
heating all the marshals ON earth, but
he knows enough to hold himself at q re-
spectfnl distance from his chief. and
plays IN such II way that although he
gains not, neither does he appear TO lose
roo easily. In other words. he is what
one might call an officer with a future
before him.
Attention. young man. Mark well
what we say! The marshal has made
fifteen points and you ten. Play the
game to the end with about the same
difference and ven will have done more
toward your advancement than if you
were outside with the others drenched by
the pouring rain, your handsome uniform
spoiled, the gold of your aiglets tar
| niShed, waiting for orders that come not.
1t is certainly Il most interesting
game, The balls roll. touch. cross each
other constantly. The cushions are live
", the very cloth grows warm.
Suddenly the flame FRI nj the discharge
of q cannon lightens the sky. A duh
rumble makes the glasses shake. The
entire company is startled; they ex.
change nervous glances.
| But the marshal he alone has seen
nothing, heard nothing: leaning intently
over the table he is about to effect q
magnificent draw" it is his special
forte. this draw" shot!
Soon there is another flash, then a
third. Now there is quick succession
of cannon shots. The aide -de-camp
rush TO the windows. Have the prus-
slams actually commenced the attack?
| Never mind; let them attackr' said
the marshal as he chalked his cue.
Your turn. captainr'
| The whole staff quivered with admira-
ton. Turenne. asleep on gun car
riage, is nothing to this marshal. SO calm
ly, continuing his play in the face of the
advancing enemy. Rut rho
noise redoubles. The roars of the can
non are mingled with the rending shots
of the gatling guns, the rapid firing of
whole platoons. 4 rudy cloud, black at
the borders, hovers over the lawn. The
confines OF the park seem to be on fire.
The, affrighted peaeocks and pheasants