Year: 1862

xrlckS At Billiards.


The Philadelphia Transcript says: A man
Of sad and peni.ent aspect walked into our
sanctum, the other day, and deposit ed small
roll Of manuscript on the table with q Sigh.
departed without uttering word. It will
be seen by perusal Of the article, that the
tricks of old billiard players are fully expo.
sed by one who has reformed and become
penitent. We did not know that 80 much
fraud could be practiced at billiards. Young
persons just learning it, should give bis con.
fession an attentive perusal:


CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED BILLIARD


PLAYER.


For years have been devoted to billiards.
The kiss Of the ivory balls in the entranc-
ing carom, has been the only music that has
thrilled my ears, and my eyes have found
their principal delight in observing the geo.
metrical exactuess with which angles are de.
scribed on the rubber bound cloth. Having
fiddled away the best part of existence with
a billiard cue, now renounce it. As a
practical atonement for an il'spent life, l
have determined to expose the tricks Of the
same, in order that the young and unwary
may be on their guard. If those who know
nothing Of billiards, can see neither interest
nor profit in my confessions, l will say to
them that am not writing for their perusal.


The following are tricks most frequently
practiced at billiards, by cunning adverse.
ry, Of which desire to warn you:
l. Fiddling long time with his cue
across his hand before shooting. 1t has
tendency to make you nervous, and the
chances arc that you will miss when you
come to shoot.


2. Running his tongue out of the corner
OF bis mouth as he shoots. cannot explain
the reason of it-nobody ever did that am
aware of-but it is an acknowledged fact
among old players, that the course Of the ball
rolling along the table may be greatly inhul
enced, if not controlled, by running out the
tongue. have seen a player prevent his
ball rolling into a pocket when it appeared
to be making bee line for it, by violently
twisting his tongue out of one corner of bis
mouth, raising up slightly on one foot,
squirting one eye, and giving lateral twist
to the body. This is trick at billiards that
requires to be particularly watched.


8. Immediately after shooting, using his
cue as a magic wand, tlourishing it above
the table to give an increased English"
to the ball.


5. Thrusting his cue forward in the air, and
leaning over the table, when be wishes his
ball to move little further on.


S. Making backward motions with his cue,
and backing away from the table, when he
desires the ball to stop.


6. Lifting up one leg when he shoots, aud
giving it violent thrust back Of the other
leg. The movement is designed to give ex-
cessve "Engish," to the ball, and according
to cloth measure is about equal to an Eng.
lsh ell. A man who becomes an adept to
it, has surprising advantage, but the effect
is very bad on the legs.


7.Giving directions 10 the ball by squirting
the eyes. One player Of my acquaintance
became so skilIfu at it that he could make
bis ball jnmp on the table after it had jump
ed of, but be became hopelessly cross
eyed.


There are other minor tricks practiced by
the less expert, such as talking to the balls,
and ordering them here and there clench-
ing the fist and closing the teeth tight to
encourage scratches" against which it is
unnecessary to warn you.