cessful attempt the chorus was still more animated, but
not more original, as "Good stroke,"--"Bad flewke"--"On the red," &c. &c.
The game that was being played was called "pool." A number of people put
each 2_s._ or 3_s._, as they may choose to arrange it, and they have each
a ball of a different colour--red, blue, pink, yellow, white, brown,
black. Each player has what is called three lives, and each time he is
put in by a player--for they play in turn--he pays sixpence or a
shilling, according to arrangement, and loses a life, whilst the
successful player is allowed to play again upon the ball which happens to
be nearest. The money in the pool is ultimately divided between the two
players who have kept their three lives the longest. It will be seen
that, if everything is straightforward, the best player has the best
chance of dividing the pool or taking the lives. But, unhappily, this
game, so child-like in appearance, is not always innocent. It may happen
two players, gifted by nature with conveniently elastic consciences, and
a very confused notion of right and wrong, may arrange when they play
upon each other to purposely avoid putting the ball in. Of course, each
time this omission is made it is equal to the owner of the ball having an
extra life, and of course makes the division of the pool almost a
certainty. Perhaps at the end of the evening the two gentlemen, "who
merely play for their amusement," may be seen under a lamppost dividing
the spoil. The other games are pyramids and billiards, which it is
unnecessary to describe. I will simply remark that the best player
should win the game; but this is not always the case. Alas! for human
nature! Sharps lose to win; muffs win to lose (the term "muff" is
applied to an indifferent player). After this not very flattering
description the reader would doubtless like to know who frequent these
places. A very large majority are gentlemen--men who are perfectly
incapable of doing anything but what is strictly honest; the minority are
billiard sharks. The gentlemen play because it is a source of
excitement; the sharks, because it is a source of profit. There are also
some who play only for amusement with gentlemen like themselves, and
never risk beyond a shilling or so; and others, mere lookers-on, who,
fatigued by their daily labours, prefer a _dolce far niente_ to the
trouble of theatres, &c., and who read the paper, drink their brandy and
water, and smoke