Various are the styles of billiards played now, such as *three-cushion carroms,* *cushion carroms,* *champions' game,* *balk-line game,* and the regular three-ball game.
Pool may be said to be, broadly spealcing, a branch of billiards, and is very popular with the masses. It lacks the skill and variety of billiards. Pool is played on a 5x10 or a 46x9, six-pocket table, and generally with gully at tachments — a new device that rather adds to the popularity of the game. This gully is so placed under the table that all the balls, when pocketed, will drop into a basket at the foot of the table. The • most popular of the various pool games is econtinuous played with 15 numbered balls and one plain white one — the cue ball. These 15 balls are arranged in a tri angle form at the foot of the table. The play er's object is to drive as many of the numbered balls successively into one or other of the pockets as he can, subject to certain rules and regulations. There are various other kinds of pool games opyramid,)) "Chi "forty-one,)) and others. For a complete list of these various styles of games, also all styles of billiards, with the rules governing them, the reader is referred to the 'Handbook of Standard Rules of Billiards and Pool.' This handbook also gives valuable hints on the care of tables, balls, cues, etc.
One of the most important parts that go to make billiard playing complete is the cue and cue-tip. The size and weight of the cue is a matter of individual judgment, but nearly all professionals and the best amateurs prefer one that weighs from 19 to 22 ounces, with the tip of the cue about a half inch full in diameter. The cue-tip is one of the leading, if not the leading, factor in billiard playing. Many public and private games are lost because of the im perfect quality of the cue-tip, and many players are wont to ascribe their defeat or bad play to the tip itself. Much depends on the manner of tipping the cue. Cue-tips are made in France and are of comparatively recent origin. They consist of two qualities of leather united, the under leather being very hard and flat, while the upper or top leather is somewhat porous, spongy and springy. Selecting a good leather
and the tipping of billiard cues is an art in itself, and has become so important an adjunct to the success of the business that the leading billiard halls in this country find it necessary to employ a man to exclusively attend to that branch of the trade. It is an art, for instance, to hammer a tip down to the requisite firmness before it is ready to be glued to the top of the cue, over which the tip generally projects (if a new one), on all sides. Inside of an hour's time in dry weather, if the quality of the glue is good, the tip may be finished off ready for use. Turn the cue bottom side up, firmly press the leather onto a table, then using a sharp knife, cut the leather even with the top of the cue itself, and pare the upper leather as one would an apple, finish with sandpaper, size about 15/2, and smooth off with single 0 sandpaper. A cue-tip, when ready for playing, should be about half-moon 'shape, but many and various are the shapes of tips. Never use sandpaper on a cue-tip after it has been played with for a while. If the tip becomes hard and greasy from frequent use of chalk, roll it lightly with a French file.
Billiards is without doubt far superior in point of skill and science to any game played, either indoors or outdoors. Chess and check ers are purely mental and yield no exercise to the body. Golf and other out-of-door games are dependent chiefly on execution, whereas bil liard playing requires and combines both knowl edge and execution. As a health-giving exer cise and recreation, restful to the mind, physi cians are now agreed that billiards leads all other games, while divines, politicians, artists, men of letters and women recommend it and it at home, in the clubs and public rooms. It is steadily gaining in popularity among merchants, bankers and brokers as a relief to the turmoil of a busy life. No residence is thought complete without a billiard table.
Bibliography.— Thatcher, 'Championship Billiards, Old and New' (1898) ; Daly and Harris, 'Daly's Billiard (1913), and for the English game, Ritchie, 'Useful Strokes for Billiard Players) (1910).