The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-03
THE GAME OF BILLIARDS.
AS 1T SHOULD BE PLA YED

The sporting department has received
many communications of late. commend
ing the recent articles published in these
columns pertaining to billiards, and eX-
pressing regret that more space is not
devoted to this most attractive branch
of sport by the Washington papers.
To this end, an experienced billiardist
will contribute a series of weekly re-
views, concealing his identity under the
nom de plume of Three Cushions" the
first of which follows:
Interest in billiards is rapidly reviv-
ing in Washington considering that but
one room in the city is equipped with
all the latest appliances necessary to
good play and tournament facilities. The
other establishments still retain a small
sized table, which, among good players,
was relegated to the past, ten years ago.
Games played on tables of different di-
mansions, fitted with dissimilar cush-
ions, cannot be relatively gagged; there
can be no standard of comparison.
''Three-cushion caroms" is in great
favor in Washington just now, and is
played almost as much-generally at
Scanlons Ninth Street parlors-as the
straight rail game. While very good
exercise in becoming accurate in round
thetable shots, three cushions can hard
ly be recommended as an aid in acquir
ing a good pail TO BALI style of play
or touch. The former is almost wholly
lone shot" game; the element of ''po-
sition" play is practically mil" where
as the balk line, or straight game,
can never be well played unless the
player eXcels in playing for the succeed
ing shot and the general management OF
the worries.
In treating of the different styles OF
games, it is interesting and instructive
in the evolution of things to note the
gradual changes in the construction Of
the billiard table and the gradual elimi-
nation of everything that would prevent
the development of the highest form of
skill. The American game was originally
copied after the English style of play,
very large tables with pockets were used.
This gave an opportunity for large runs,
but very little chance for the fine eff
fects and delicacy of execution prac-
ticed by modern billiardists. With the
abolition of the pockets succeeded the
fourball carom game. which, in turn,
gave way to the three ball game. which,
with slight variations. is the standard
game all over the world, except in Eng
land, where they have persistontly chung
TO billiards in a clumsy and undevelopei
form.
France the Home of Billiards.
In France, the original home of the
game as 1t is now played, billiards are
held in high esteem. Paris is The
greatest city for billiards in the world.
The French professional and high
class amateur players have attained IN
extraordinary degree of skill. In the
recent tournament for the worlds
championship at the 1s-inch balk limo
game, Kune and Vignaux, the French
representatives, made a better showing
than Sutton and Slosson. the players
from America. Sutton played remarka-
bic billiards; good enough TO tie for
first place with the Partisan pair, but
the showing OF sfosson was wretched,
and unusually bad for so famous a
player.
Sutton's play has improved very much,
so much so, in fact, 10 have him now
considered one of the very few players
of first rank, now before the public
A few weeks ago a French amateur,
Renalle in public game made an
average OF over 80 in a 400 point game
at 18-inch game. This would be very
creditable performance for the highest