The sun., 1918-12-01
MARKED CHANGES
IN BILLIARD GAME
Its Development Rapid; Has
Become Most Popular Of
Indoor Sports.

Half century ago John Roberts, then
the billiard champion OF England. arrived
In New York to begin his memorable
series OF matches with the best Amer
lean cue sharps OF the day.
The next few days offer several other
velopment OF the most popular of indoor
pastmes. On January IS. 1859. Joseph
Dion defeated Melvin Foster in q four
ball match for $4,000 in Montreal.
In January. 1876. Just forty years age
the. late William Sexton defeated George
F. Slosson by 500 to 432 at three ball
billiards in New York. In 1885. thirty
one years ago, the late Jacob Schaefer
defeated Slosson, 500 to 719 in a L. inch
balkline billiard match for $1,000 played
in Chicago. In January. 1908, at New
York. George Sutton successfully de-
Tended the 1872 title against Ora Morn
!ngstar, 500 to 800.
Many and radical have been the
changes in the cue game in the half
century covered by these scattered rec
ords. Record balkline was first played
in 1883. when Maurice VignauX. the
Z fTtIltHHldIi, ildue a run VI 80 al
1872 in Chicago. Three cushion carrom.
which has lately become very popular In
spite of the opposition of the defenders
OF legitimate billards.-was introduced at
Chicago forty years ago.
The French carrom game with IT.
| American variations has long held the
| lead in the hearts OF American billiard
lists, although the English game, with its
/ monstrous tables. has been rapidly gain
| ing in popularity since Melbourne In
, mans visit.
Billiards had about as many American
deyotees proportionately to population
| fifty years ago as now. as evidenced by
thessize of the poms in the larger cities
| In New York there was the famous
! Phelan place. with twenty-nine 6xl2
| tables Major Walker had twenty
table room in New Orleans. which was
| famous all over the South. The Musse;
| room In Chicago, the Davis place In
! Pittsburg and many others werc almost
equally well known.
France, England and Germany MI
! claim to be the birthplace of billiards
! but the best authorities ascribc the IN.
vent!on of the game to HeUrique Dev,gre
a French artist, about 1871. Wherever
! 1t originated. the game soon became
! popular In al! the western European
countries and was introduced Into
! America at an early date.
| Some idea OF the changes made II
billiards in the last hale century may bt
gained from the following extracts from
! an encyclopedia article on the subjec
! published in the carly COS:
"a game played with ivory balls on q
! fiat, oblong table covered with greer
cloth, having raised, elastic cushioned
edges, with semi-clrcular apertures, On,
! at each corner and two facing cacl
other at the centre OF the long sides
The dimensions OF full sized billiard
table are IL by G. The balls are driver
by a cue or mace. as they are re-
spectively termed. the cue being by fal
the superior instrument Of tho two: tn,
mace being the implement for novice,
and is especially suited TO the latter
TIE game consists IN striking one Of tn,
other balls at which the striker aims
with his own ball IN s2ch a manner a!
D, tn force that hall or ether balls into on,
OF the rockets, The principal games ar,
the English or three ball. the American
or FOUR ball the Russian. the Span,s,
and the pool games"