The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-28
The Farmer From the
Richelieu River
loriglnaLl

/
the cue. Indeed, he held a champions
trophy. During the daytime there
were few people to use his tables, and
u any one desired a game the proprie-
TOR would accommodate him. One aft
eEn0on q farmer whose llneaments
were French strolled into the place and
seemed greatly pleased with It
would you like to play a gamer"
asked the proprietor.
The farmer admitted that he had
heard a great deal about billiards and
had come to Montreal especially to
play a game. The proprietor called for
a set Of balls, handed the farmer a cue
and, unlocking a private rack, took
down his own cue.
How much you play forT asked the
farmer.
II don't play for money"
WHAT Nothing to max Get inter
estingT
IF you like wen play for refresh
ments."
"Refreshmentsl What IL thatY
Drinks, cigars, anything you like"
"Ver' well. How much de gamer
"oh. wen play till you are satisfied
that can beat you"
Meanwhile several lolterers gathered
around to see the expression that
would come over the farmers face
when he saw the proprietor counting
az much as he liked. The farmer was
given the frat shot He took long
time to make up his mind what to do
and when 1t was made up did great
deal Of saving with his cue. He
missed the shot he tried for, but
scratched" one point. The proprietor
then attempted to show the spectators
a very difAcult round table shot, but,
having no incentive, played carelessly
and missed.
go ahead" he said to his opponent
"You say we play till / am salts
fiedY' he asked.
THAT was the understanding"
II am satisfied. stop"
There was a burst Of laughter from
the onlookers, for the 'hOuse" had lost
the refreshments.
Now, 1t happened that an amateur
player, an expert. was looking on who
was not as averse to betting money as
the proprietor. When the latter threw
down his cue and ordered the refresh.
ments the expert went up to the farm,
err with outstretched hand and told him
he was the cleveFest countryman that
had ever honored Montreal with his
presence. Then he offered to play him
a friendly game for a nominal stake
The farmer accepted. and the game be-
gan. The expert played as badly as he
could. but not badly enough to let the
farmer beat him. which he intended in
order to draw his dupe into his net
Flut the more the farmer lost the more
he insisted on playing further and, to
regain his losses. continually suggested
raising of the stake till he had lost
in round numbers $3.50. Then he got
very much excited. Drawing a wallet
, from his pocket. he showed his enemy
! $3.50 In bills, which he agreed to put up
! In case he could get odds of to L.
The expert. with well feigned relue-
! lance. at last agreed. and. getting the
\ mouey from the proprietor, the stakes
: were placed In the latter's hands.
4
G3 points, the game being 100. Then
the farmer chalked his cue. looked
at the balls and began to play. His
tirst shot was n difficult masse. with a
draw nearly the full length OF the Ia
BILE. and he made II beautifully. From
that be proceeded to make one difficult
shot after another. always leaving the
halls In the position he desired A
4 crowd gathered around. and it was
: soon apparent to them that no such
! handling OF billiard balls had ever been
4 seen in Montreal The game being q
short one, 1t seemed that the player
!. was ambitious to make nearly all the
points by difficult shots. he missed no
a shot ut all TIL he had counted 100
a points and won $1,000.
From the moment the farmer made
the frst shot the expert. who was the
hest amateur player In the city, had
;. made up his mind that he had fallen
8 Into his own trap. When the money
y was paid over to the farmer the Loser
= said to him:
y "Now that you've been paid the bel
. perhaps you won't mind telling US whS
you areT'
81 got leetle farm down on de Richie
lieu rlglere" said the farmer.
Il "Ratsr said bis questioner and. turn
y Ing on his heel. left the place. Their
the farmer called for refreshments and
q invited his admirers to partake Of
them.
Now. there was a billiard match Il
~ played that night between the cham
, ploA of the United States from New
Z York and the champion OF France from
II Paris. This was mentioned to tn,
y farmer, and he manifested a desire t