The Game of Billiards.
A history and description of Billiards. Samuel May, Billiard Table manufacturer. 1867
The origin of the game.
This delightful game has become so universally esteemed for its beauty, mechanical varieties, its scientific illustrations, and, above all, for its wonderful sanitary advantages, that the following description and summary of facts will be found interesting to the reader.
The origin of this game, like the birth-place of Homer, or the problem of the Sphynx, has ever been a contested point. Hence its antiquity —its exact age— continues to be involved in considerable doubt. Some historians suppose it to have been imported from the Persians during the Consulship of the Roman Lucullus. Others contend that the honor of introducing the game into Europe from the East is assigned to the Emperor Caligula. The most reliable, at least the most plausible, accounts of the origin and antiquity of the game of Billiards, is taken from certain parchment manuscripts, once the property of Sir Reginald Mortimer, who was contemporary with Peter the Hermit, and who figured in the eleventh century, somewhere about the year 1085. Sir Reginald was among the Knights Templars who returned in safety from the first crusade to the Holy Land, and afterwards joined the second crusade led by Richard Cœur de Lion. It is known that on the return of the Templar Knights from Palestine, the game, now called billiards, was introduced by them, and was, at that time, considered not only an amusement, but a means of preserving health and to which the cloistered monks of that period were permitted by their superiors to have recourse. At this time it was not considered among the carnal amusements by the fountain heads and only sources of the christian faith. Anterior to this, if known at all by the Romans, as is generally supposed, it must have perished, together with many other noble arts, on the overthrow of their empire. Though cradled in the monasteries, having been introduced into Europe by the Knight Templars, the game is supposed to have shared their fate, and died out when the order was overthrown, by the cupidity of European monarchs. We next hear of the game in the reign of Louis XI, of France, who preferred this innocent pastime to the bloody tournaments that were then so popular with the court.
It is said that the game, when introduced into France, became very much improved upon the original crude game imported from the East, and that during the reign of one of the Henry’s, an artizan of Paris, named Henri de Vigne, was commissioned by the King to design and manufacture a billiard table, with a bed of stone, covered with cloth, having a hole and hazard pocket in the centre, into which the balls were driven; this table was to be appropriated to the use of the Dauphin, at that time a lunatic at the palace of Versailles.
The game was much patronized during the reign of Henry III, at which time it received its application of “this noble game.”
Titled players.
The Kings of France were at all times considered its most powerful and steadfast friends. Mary, Queen of Scots, was a passionate lover of the game, and on the evening preceding her execution, wrote to the Archbishop of Glasgow that her “Billiard table had Just been taken away from her, as a preliminary step to her punishment.” The King of France having married the Dauphin to Mary Stuart, she became, for a while, the guest of the King, and it is supposed in this way was introduced to the game during her stay in Paris.
The Empress Josephine entertained so great an idea of the fascinations of the game, that during Napoleon’s moody moments she would challenge him to a bout of billiards, and he never appeared more happy than when engaged in the game.
During a very long period, therefore, a period embracing some centuries Emperors, Kings, Princes and titled nobility were competitors at this game, women as well as men participating in the exhilarating amusement. No wonder then that billiards became a popular game, and that the genius of man, evoked at a later period, improved upon, and made it what it is now— the most accomplished, fascinating and healthful game in existence.
The great feature which most likely will eventually lead to the general adoption of billiards as the game for home —the game to be introduced into private houses, and shared with the families of all who are wealthy enough to afford the luxury— is this: that it will admit of being enjoyed in common by both the male and female members of the family circle. Neither sex can enjoy an amusement, so rationally or innocently when alone; for in company they exert a happy influence on each other, and more than one half of the vices and follies which affect society result from the separation of the sexes in the pursuit of their different amusements.
Those giant plague spots of society, aa at present constituted, gambling and intemperance, seldom dare to show their features in the drawing-room, while they often obtrude their unwelcome presence into places from which ladies are excluded. In France, Germany, England, and in this country also, women have for many years participated in the game. One of the most celebrated women, Madame de Stael, was an enthusiastic advocate of billiards, and was acknowledged to be one of the most brilliant players of her age. The late Duchesse de Berri was also very fond of the game, and played a great deal. Her example gave the tone to Parisian fashion, and to-day the billiard room is regarded as an indispensable adjunct to every chateau of any pretensions in continental Europe.
Its salutary advantages
The celebrated Sir Astley Cooper —recognized, during his brilliant professional career, as the head of the faculty in England — when asked his opinion relative to billiards as a medium of health in country places, remarked: “In country houses, removed from the theatre and balls of the metropolis, operas, soirees, and other amusements peculiar to large cities, billiards would not only supply the place of these excitements, but would add something healthier and purer to the enjoyment sought for. We should all sleep more soundly if we made it a rule to play billiards for an hour or two each evening before going to bed. Our wives and children would be more healthy and happy, and more affectionate and fond of home, for there is nothing that so endears the family circle, as the recollection of amusements shared in common—in games in which we all take part.” The fruits of these cogent suggestions are now making them-selves apparent in the domestic circle of all parts of Great Britain, and in the West India Colonies: the billiard room, as with the nursery, is an indispensable portion of an Englishman’s home, when he can afford it. As a means of regaining impaired health, a few instances are noted which are worth recording. One Doctor, Ignatius Fleming, of London, opened a sort of boarding house and infirmary, a few summers since, at Bristol, England, for the reception of invalid patients, and in his advertisements announced billiards as one of the means of cure for consumptive patients. The novelty of the treatment attracted large numbers of people who were suffering with pulmonary complaints, several of whom were annually so far benefitted, that their ultimate cure was thought to be more than probable. A French lady living at Paris, the wife of a respectable merchant, had contracted liver complaint, and had yellow jaundice, and was threatened with a confirmed dyspepsia. Her situation was a critical one, for it is well known that most persons suffering with liver complaint, in this phase of the disease, contract what is called hypo, a technical term for nervous debility, not unlike in its effects the shocks of delirium tremens upon the system: the patient dying in a short time in a most pitiable manner. This lady was induced to accept the invitation of a friend to pay her a long visit at her chat [bad scan quality] near the sea port city of Bordeaux. This invitation was accepted and [bad scan quality] the sources of amusements and recreation afforded her was that of billiard. Forced by her friend at first to engage in the game, she gradually got to be fond of it, and for several hours each day she continued in her now favorite pastime. So great was her improvement in health and appetite in the short space of two weeks, that her husband, delighted with the wonderful change, conducted her back to her own home in Paris, fitted up a room for the purpose, erected tables and implements necessary for the game, and insisted that she should become an habitual player, and always had some one at his hotel to amuse her in this way during his absence from home to attend to business. She continued to improve, and eventually recovered her health and spirits.
Instances are also related of consumptive patients in the Island of Maderia, a tropical latitude, to which particular locality they are sent when their cure is despaired of at home, engaging in friendly encounters in this game, and in the course of time, recovering their health thereby. Numerous other instances may also be noted of the many healthful advantages derived from a regular practice of this game, when patients have been suffering from various complaints. These notices, however, are foreign from the object of this article; sufficient reference is made to them to indicate its purpose, which is simply to show wherein physical games excel all others in contributing to health, in addition to furnishing amusement to those who engage in them.
Ten Pins, Croquet, Racketts, Skittles, Cricket, Base Ball, &c., are, most of them, out-door sports, and with the exception, perhaps, of Croquet, seldom indulged in by women. In this respect Billiards has the advantage of all other games, and as a healthful amusement, opening a wide field for speculation between the regular physician, who kills more often than he cures in dangerous diseases, and the Billiard Table, mute, unpretending and more efficacious in its treatment of patients, with less expense to the sufferer.
An amusing incident is recorded of the celebrated physician, Doctor Lambert, of Paris, of which the following is a translation:—
“Hoguet, the well-known banker, of Paris, called upon Doctor Lambert, and asked him to prescribe for his wife, whom he thought was in a bad way.”
“What is the matter with her, Monsieur?”
“I cannot tell, nor does she know herself; she has no organic disease, no pain, no visible malady of any kind. With all the advantages my wealth affords, she is miserable, has no appetite, and feels no disposition to engage in any of our fashionable amusements.”
“Have you a billiard room attached to your establishment?”
“No. I have neglected to have one fitted up for the purpose.”
“Ah! I see. So madam has to suffer for your negligence.”
“What mean you, Monsieur le Doctor?”
“Can you not see? Your wife is suffering from lowness of spirits, induced from some buried grief.”
“Mon Dieu! it must be so; we buried a favorite daughter, upon whom my wife doted, twelve months ago to-day.”
“She remains in the house and has no relish for society; divides her time in reading dismal books and reclining on the fauteuil; takes no exercise, and is not at home to visitors.”
“Monsieur le Doctor is an astrologer. It is all true, but how am I to blame.”
“Never mind. Now for the cure. Go at once and fit up the best apartment in your house as a billiard room; let her engage in the game, she will soon become fond of it. Yes, Monsieur, billiards is the only medicine I will prescribe for Madame. With exercise will come appetite, appetite will soon exorcise this nervous debility with which your wife is troubled; that once removed, Madame will recover her spirits and become what she was before her loss, an ornament to society, and more than ever a treasure to the domestic circle.”
“Monsieur le Doctor, your words are pearls—they have made me quite happy; I will go at once and do your bidding. Adieu!”
Three months later the worthy Doctor received the following missive, with a cheque enclosed, for 5,000 francs: “Chere Docteur— Thanks to your prescription, I have entirely recovered my health and spirits. Accept the enclosed souvenir from your grateful.
Eugenie Hoguet”
The philosophy of the game.
The game of Billiards differs from all other games in every single element which contributes its integral portion towards the formation of a harmonious whole.
The game of Whist, one of the most, if not the most beautiful and accomplished games known, and upon which various treatises have been written, is at best a game of chance. True, application, a good memory and long practice have their influence in inducing a certain success, but to command entire success, a great deal depends upon the cards dealt out to the respective partners. Without fair hands, the best players seldom or never command success.
The game of Chess, said by many adepts at both, to be superior to Whist, depends on a thorough knowledge of the game, a good memory, good calculation, some scientific proficiency and a world of practice to induce complete success. These two games are simply selected as a medium of contrast to that of Billiards, because they stand highest in the scale of excellence, and because they are among the few which do not lead to gambling in polite circles.
Euchre, All Fours, Monte, Faro, and sundry others, are essentially gambling games, and as such are irrelevant in this connection.
One of the primary elements in the game of Billiards, is first to understand how the balls are manipulated, and how much they count towards making up the number of points necessary to complete the game. The next step is to know how to strike your ball, the force required in delivering it in the right direction, and the particular point of the ball at which the cue shall strike it, so as to command its performance as the player may desire. Then follows practice skill, science, mathematical calculations, geometrical deductions, &c. Taste, precision, nerve, &c., follow as a general sequence. The crowning advantage, however, of this game above that of all others is the immense physical benefits it offers in the way of healthful exercise. The game of Billiards may truthfully be said to be a scientific gymnasium, affording a real pleasure, an intellectual recreation, a pleasant way of employing time which cannot be so agreeably employed otherwise, by those who are required not to engage in sedentary pursuits. Add to this, it is not a game of chance; it never can be, as the superior player invariably triumphs over the weaker adversary, notwithstanding the chances which the game affords, by the natural impetus of the balls, reaching, bounding and rebounding to and from the cushions, may give either adversary. Knowing and feeling this, the ambition to excel becomes literally epidemic with the players, and the pleasurable excitement is intense. As an evidence of the exhilarating and delightful effects of this game to invalids, it is recorded that hypocondriacs and persons suffering with bilious and even pulmonary disorders, have gradually recovered from their maladies by indulging in the game, where private tables afford them the opportunity.
In speaking of the philosophy of the game, the aim of the journalist should not be to land one game at the expense of another, to gratify a liking for the one and a prejudice against the other; but to show that any game, to satisfy all the requirements and avoid all the dangers of a public or a private amusement, should contain within itself the following indispensable prerequisites: It should exercise and discipline the faculties and resources, both of mind and body, without exhausting or disgusting either; and in the second place it should contain within itself sufficient mental excitement and ambition to render the intrinsic interests of a money bet superfluous to its full enjoyment. Experience has shown that these requisites are fully attained in the game of Billiards. It combines science with gymnastics, teaching the eye to judge of distances, the mind to calculate forces, and the arm to execute with rapidity and skill whatever the mind and eye combine to dictate for its execution. It expands the chest, while giving grace and elegance to the form, and affords even to the illiterate mind a practical basis for the appreciation of mathematical and geometric truth.
As regards the action of the game on the muscular anatomy of man; according to the best opinions of anatomists, there are in the neighbourhood of four hundred muscles in the human body, and that beauty of person and health are measureably dependent upon their proper action. The game of Billiards calls into action each and every one of the sinews, tendons, joints, and muscles of the frame. In walking, striking, posturing, stretching, stooping and leaning back, the requirements of an ordinary game place the player in almost every conceivable attitude, thus imparting grace and elasticity to the body, while the exercise of the muscles increases its strength.