Marker Antony and Cleopottera

The Billiard Player. August-September 1921

“The game of billiards,” says the unveracious Hughes, “was known in Egypt, though the Pharaohs were more in favour of pyramids. Potiphar was the first player of note, but his fame was eclipsed later by Marker Antony and Cleopottera. Billiards was introduced into England by the Lombardy bankers, who displayed the three balls as a sign over their doors. They settled for the most part at Cue Gardens. A century or two later the game was taken up by William Shakespeare, whose remark, ‘Out damned spot,’ as his opponent was trying to leave him a double baulk, has passed into current speech as a household word.”—From a review of “Sport in a Nutshell” in The Sporting Times.