The herald. [microfilm reel], October 27, 1895, Page 24, Image 24

About The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
24
WHAT
THE
MEN ARE
WEARING
The fashionable man is already figuring
on what he shall wear the coming win
ter. In these days of well-dressed mascu
linity every one, whether he be dude, or
plain matter-of-fact business man, strives
to keep within the radius of "good
form," as far as clothes are conoernd.
Regarding the dude, he is in a stage of
evolution. No more can he ape tlie
eccentricities of English attire. Dud ism
has dropped England and taken up Scot
land. Perhaps in a few years Ireland
will be the center of attraction. Tho
game of golf lias much to do with this.
Scotch plaids, of course, in subdued hues,
'heather" suits and other external sym
bols of Scotland will be the propel caper.
Just how far the fad will extend only
the individual eccentricities of the
"Willie boys" can tell.
Aside from this the fashions for the
fall and winter season are unique, for the
reason that they are built upon founda
tions of common sense"ana"comfort. Any
man can dress fashionably without ap
pearing dudish. Of course iv every com
munity there aro some benighted indi
viduals who insist upon exaggerating the
prevailing modes in the hope of being
deemed ultra-fashionable. They are the
"Willie boys." Aside from furnishing
a fruitful theme to the cartoonist their
mission in life is a blank.
The knickerbocker fad has not yet
reached the point where the makers of
sensible fashions have seriously settled?
down to the task of meeting it. They
regard tbat as a work of the future. The
question of colored evening clothes, so
often raised, has also been left in abey
ance until the knickerbjeker fad takes
definite shape.
For the men who follow strictly in the
narrow path of fashion the sack coat is
permissible up to tbe luncheon hour.
Then tbe frock or cutaway coat is worn
up to dinner time, when the dress suit is
donned. Rusiness men, uo matter how
much they may be inclined to follow the
modes, do not keep an auxiliary ward
robe in their offices, and consequently the
The New Sack Coat
•ack suit can be worn all day without
offending any of|tho dictates ot good
taste.
The sack suit should worn complete
of tbe same cloth, unless a double
breasted coat be worn, when trousers of
another pattern ran be substituted. For
the coming season the single-breasted
aacK will be of the three.button variety,
although very tall men can wear the tour
button coat, as an offset to height. Thir
ty-one inches is the right length for men
of average height—five, feet eight inches -
the back banging straight from the shoul
ders and slightly narrower at tbo hips
than last year. If the four-mitton coat
be worn the vest should be completely
covered, but in the three-button style,
the coat should bo cut away. so thai one
button of the vest is vitiblt. The coat
should be shapely at the waist, the .-boul
ders of natural width and as square as
possible without padding. The collar is
cot higher than for summer wear, with
notch widths of one and tnrec-eigbth
Inches anu a roll about six inches long.
They will havo Bin gle-st I tolled edges,
pocket Saps to go in or out, and sleeves
Tented to close with two buttons
The double-breasted sack will be much
worn wdien tbo cold weather sets in. It
is an inch longer than tbe sack ami the
back sets tbe same as in the sack. The
collar will be long, with the lapels decid
edly penned ami in widtO three inches.
Tbe sleeve will be linished wiih a three
button vent. Either three or four rows
of buttons can be worn.
Cheviot will be the most popular mate
rial for these suits, lirown, green and
red blcndings, or what is called "heather
mixtures, ' are tlie proper colors with
plaids—the favored pattern. In tho dou
ble-breasted sacks solid mixtures should
be worn.
The eccentric bell-shaped frock coat is
a thing of tbe past. Last year tin' flock
coat was foiled in at tbe waisi with tbe
ends of tbe skirt reaching far below the
knee and flaring out iv grotesque style.
For an average man the length of the
'96-'9u' frock coat is inches to tbo
waist and 21}4 inches from the waist to
skitt bottom. Lamb's wool, worsted,
cheviots and vicunas for the coat and
vest, and moderate Iv striped woolens or
wortted for the trousers are the correct
materials. Diagonals hava passed into
oblivion for the frock and cutaway.
Ibe collar will be extremely long, will
meet tbe lapels flush, and will ba about
two inches wide at tbo ends and a trifle
narrower at the back center. Tbe lapels
will be very decidedly peaked, will aver
age two and a balf inches in width at the
top, three and an eighth at the breast
and two and a half at the bottom, will be
evenly spaced for live buttonholes and
will turn to the third. The edges will be
olind or prick-stitched j tbe silk will be
extended to the buttonholes and tbe
>leeve tinish will be a three-button vent.
The skirts will have considerable full
ness at tbe top to deline the hips, will be
of liberal width at the bottom, and will
have the back plaits sharply creased;
that is, they will De French pressed.
The vest oan be worn double or single
breasted. The indications arc that the
fancy-colored waistcoat will be revived,
but the patterns will be less audible than
in tormer years. If single breasted, tha
The New Cutaway
veit should be 25>-£ inches iong, with an
opening of from 14 to inches anil to
closi with live buttons. The double
breasted waistcoat should be Hi inches
lung, with wellpeukcd. cut-off lapels, and
to close with four buttons.
The cutaway coat of the coming season
will lack the freakish features of the
present garment. It will be made in the
sann> materials as the irock coat and will
generally close with three buttons. The
absurd dove tail has been abolished and
the dudes who loved to strut about with
the long, hanging tails Muttering in ihe
breeze, will have to select some new sub
ject for their extravagant devotion. For
the average man tbe total length should
not exceed :io inohes.and the skirts should
be well rounded to medium width at the
bottom.
Trousers for all suits are also under tho
reign of king common sense. Tbe peg
top is a tiling of the past and the ankle
spring will not, be tolerated. Tbe proper
width at the knee is nineteen inches, and
at tbe bottom seventeen inches. Evening
suit trousers should be half an Inch nar
jower.
Theie is not much change in tbe styles
of evening dress. The peaked lapel* on
tbe coat has been restored to favor at the
expanse ol the shawl roll. Tbe skirts will
not be as pointed as last year, but tbo
shield effect will slill be carried out in
lbe ves'. The materials should be of soft
finished and dull-faced goods, glossy
cloths having gone out of fashion. Ihe
waistcoat. If of the same mateiral as the
coat, should be single-breasted. Waist
coats of silk or Marseilles can be double- j
The Latest in Overcoats
breasted, closing with three buttons and
with a collar of medium width.
In overcoats tbe only new thing ia the
Spanish mantle, which should only be
worn to some festive function in the eve
ning. The Spanish mantle takes the
placo of tbe Inverness coot. Tha latter
baa always been a great manutacturcr of
pneumonia and has fallen into disfavor.
The Spanish mantle con be tightly
wrapped about the body. The short Cov
ert coat, just long enough to cover a sack
coat,will be the popular autumn garment,
while for colder weather tbe Cbeaterrield
and surtout will be the correct things.
The usual length of the Chesterfield
LOS ANGELES HEBAI/D: STJISTDAY OCTOTiETI 27, 1895.
should bo forty-two inches in length,
hanging fairly close to the tinure and
without the exaggerated back flare of tho
box coat.
Z Altogether, tlie sensible man can follow
tho new styles without feeling that he is
making a guy of himself.
SHE WILL TURN OUT NEW WOMEN
Dr. Mary Walker's farming scheme,
where unly women who will bind them
selves to a life of celibacy while members
of the community and to wear bloomers
for life are to be eligible, is progiessing.
"We will all live in a large, commodious
farm housj, for which I am having
plans prepared " said Dr. Walker
"Kveiy member will hava ber own room.
Tortieres will take the place of doors.
Steam will be employed tor heating pur
poses, and there will be bathrooms and
every convenience to be found in a well
regulated and modern bouse. I shall
give my personal nipervision to the estab
lishment. Members, however, will jlect
officers twice a year to conduct it. There
will be an auditing board to look after all
accounts, an improvement board to look
alter improvements ot the property, and
a governing board.
•'lt shall be tbe duty of the chairman
of the latter to report all infractions of
the rules by the members. There will
be two judges chosen. One will have
powers similar to a police magistrate.
The other will have a position analogous
to our general term. Those accused of
infractions of the rules will be tried by
a jury of live, and if not satistied with
the Judgments of the liwer courts, they
can appeal to me. 1 will sit as a corut
of last resort.
"If we should get into our fold unde
sirable women, who tlirt or gad about
with men w hen they go to market or on
any other occasions, tbey will, after suit
able warning, be expelled. All women
of good character, between the ages of 15
ami 85 years, are eligible to memebrship.
1 am certain that tnetarm can be made
to support fifty or seventy-five persons.
Each member will have a share in the
profits after the expense for board and
clothing bas been deducted. The re
mainder will go into the general fund for
betterments and tbo purchase of adjoin
ing lands.
"Any member will, after throe years,in
tbe community, be eligible to retire,
taking witb ncr the amount of the initi
ation fee. if one has been charged, and
seven-eighths of her shore of tho earn
ings, the other eighth to go into the gen
eral fund. My object is to educate and
to turn out new women. They will be
women who have govern themselves. 1
expect lots of politics in tbo community.
It will not all be farm work. There will
be many hours each day for study, and
the curiiculum will be as broad and ex
tended as tbat in any of our universities.
There will be frequent lectures in a
large assembly room I propose to have
and current literature, politics and ques
tions oi the day will lie discussed. The :
members can ride bicycles and a num
ber will he kept for tneir use. There will
lie horses, but no side saddles. My girls
will rido astride, as do tho men. " I wiil
not make rules that defy all tho laws of
nature and exact pledges binding for
life. That of dress will ba the only life
pledge that will ba asked. Tbe site se
lected for tbe colony is a delightful one,
in the very heart of the finest fruit
country in New York state. Several acres
of the land have been use in raising tbo
famous Oswego county strawberries.
There is a fine apple orchard, several
hundred pear trees, and four acres de
voted to vineyard. It is a beautiful place,
and unless all my plans fail it will be a
pafreoi garden of Eden, but without an
Adam.
"What will it be called? January Ist
next I hope to be able to announce the
name. It has not yet been selected."
The doctor is enjoying good health,
and bar plans arc being carefully made.
Many prominent women of this city
interested in the advancement of women
have been consulted ami approve the
scheme. — Xew York Herald.
Sweetest Sound to Counsel for the Defense
Thu great Dan Voorhees of Indiana ami
the equally great, if not so celebrated,
Joe Mann of Danville, once defended a
man charged with murder in Edgar
county. This case was a serious one for
tbe defenuant, and Voorhees and Mann
exhausted their talents in nis defense,
with scarce a hope of successfully prov
ing his innocence. The trial was long
and bitterly contested; the jury was out
for hours, aud finally tbis verdict was
read in court: "We, tbe jury,find the de
fendant not guilty."
As tbe reailin; of the verdict broke the
stillness of lue court root , Voorhees
sprang to his feet, seized Mann hy the
arm with a clutch that nearly took a
pieco out, and in a hoarse, commanoing
whisper said: Come on 1 Let's take a
walk.'' They left the court room and
walked in "Hence down the street for
some distance. Then Voorhees stopped,
laid his band on Mann's arm, ami said
impressively :
"Joe, you're a good citizen, and I be
lieve if justice is done you you'll get to
beaven. We are told tbat in that land of
perfect peace and rest there snail be
heard such music as mortal ear has never
heard. Sweet tones will ring on every
side; grand bursts of song will rise from
myriad happy souls in praise of tneir
Redeemer; murmuring melody will Moat
along on every balmy breeze, and exquis
ite music will everywhere nnd forever
thrill the ecstatic senses of the n'.est.
Hut, Joe, in Ibat heavenly land you will
never hear a sound so sweet to human
ear as tlie utterance of ttisae words: 'We,
the jury, find the defendant not guilty.'
Now let's go and take a drink."—Olii
cago Heralu.
Not Posted on (lolf
In Newport tho past week there has
been much amusement over the tele
graphic wires of the local operators in
sending off the reports of the gidf tourna
ment on at tho grounds there. The terms
are quite new to citizens of tne Unified
States, says the Providence Journal, and
it was extremely difficult for operators
to get on to them. While tbo scoring is
quite tbe opposite from the usual
of this country, it was not an infrequent
thing lor an operator at the other end of
the line to state that he bad not taken
the score correctly and asked to have it
repeated for correction, for he found Ihe
winner re: Ily bad a lets total than Ihe
loser, which seemed to bo entirely con
trary to sports that they were acquainted
witb.
Wild roses were picked on on Cushings
Islan, near Portland, last Tuesday.
AN ITALIAN HORSE RACE
The Palio, a Turf Event One
Thousand Years Old
RUN IN A CITY'S CENTER
An Historic Festival for the People
of Siena
Houses Are Padded to Protect the Horse
and Jockey When He Runs
Into Them
ROME, Sept. '20. —If any American
horseman could ace an Italian horse raco
as it is conducted in one of the provin
cial towns he would probably fall dead
with surprise and disgust, or he might
pass into tbe great unknown in spasms
of laughter. Hut to a man who does not
take a serious view of the noble sport*
and has die capacity for enjoying the
unique and picturesque in all forms, the
Italian horse raco is an extremely inter
esting event.
Anyone who has seen the derby of
England, the grand prix of France or the
suburban of Amereia can understand tbo
wild enthusiasm of the multitudes who
witness tbo running of tbe races. The
vast tracks which represent expenditure!
of hundreds ol thousands of dollars, tho j
A Pan tier-Hearer
horses and jockeys. ad of them costing
fortunes, tho months of preparation, all
excite the public mind to enthusiasm.
But this enthusiasm is a ?priog-liko
zephyr compared with the tumultuous
uproar and oyclonio excitement which
tills an Italian crowd wben one of its
historic races is being run.
Tho oldest turf erent in tno world per
haps is the palio of Italy. It ia run in
the ancient republic of biena, now an
almost unknown place to the rest of the
world. This race is almost a thousand
years old and, it is claimed that in all
that time a year bas never passed with
out its being run and won. More than
tbat, it is managed precisely as it was
many centuries ago, when the'dead game
sports of tbe Mlddlo Agea loat and won
THE RACE TRACK
fortunes on it. These facts in themselves
are sufficient to account for the great in
terest in the palio. Hut there are many
other reasons.
The race is run on .the Plaza de Oaropo,
and the field with the exception of
minor details lias practically remained
unchangei for centuries. The track is
Situated almost in the hearl of the city,
being surrounded by public building's,
churches and dwellings. It is in the
form of a half circle, narrow* in some
places and wide in others and exceeding
ly dangerous because of the streets, which
run into it. The straight line running
from one sine of the circle to the other,
makes two very dangerous turns for the
horses and in rounding these sharp coi
r- -s they frequently run into the houses
•it 4a other sole of the street. Assume
Ser.ous accidents have hnrpenod, tho
The Trophy of Victory
fronts of these houses nre now padded
with tied tuatresses, ao wlipn'a horse gel
lops headlong into them, his rider bas a
soft spot to fall into.
If the Suburban were run around tha
Seventeenth street end of Madison sqiiaie
in New York it would Do much tbe same
as the race in Hiena.
The folio breeds ihe most inienso an
tagonism in Siena. In the early history
of Siena as a republic it was divided Into
about forty contrades, which correspond
to the wards or districts of au American
city. But in tbo uld days each contarde
was a little city in itself, having separate
muncipal luwb, a separate church, and a
separate treasury. It was only when
Siena was threatened by an outside foe
that the contrades combined to compter
the. enemy. When not lighting with out
siders, they, like many families, fought
among themselves, and the rivalry to
surpass each other in all things was
most herce. This rivalry has been handed
down from one generation to the other
and is as intense today as ever. In its
most prosperous times the city bad liftv
nine contrades but today thero are but
•eventeen.
As the most peaceful way of settling
the vexed question of the superiority of
ono contrade ovor all tho others, some
master mind nine or ton centuries ago
hit upon a horse race; each contarde to
enter a horse and trust the rest to Dams
Fortune, for thero n?ver was a bigger
gamble than a horse race in Siena. The
veriest plug that ever lived would stand
a good chance against a Salvator, and,
in fact, would stand a batter chance, for
tbo high spoed of tno last horse when
rounding the sharp and narrow corners
would probably carry him into tbe mat
tresses Danaed up on tbe houses.
Owing to the extreme danger of the
track only ten horses have been allowed
to run during tbe past few years. There
are prelimiary competitions' and the best
ton horses and riders out of tho seventeen
aro selected for tho great event. Tbe
contarde left out in the cold shouts and
enthuses for ins nearest neighbor witb an
entry, and gets almost as much excite
ment out or the race ns if it had a horse
of its own.
The only prize is the Paho, a white
satin banner with golden tassels and
cords, bearing pictures nf the Holy Vir
gin and the arms of the city and tbo date
of the victory.
When tbe ten horses have been soleoted,
which II done about live days before the
race, the intervening time is occupied in
training the horses and riders tn make
the ciicuit of the dangerous track at top
speed. The horse that can hug tbe rail
tho best and swerve tbe least in making
the turns usually has tbe best chance.
But that makes little difference in tho
wagers. Each contrade stands loyally by
its horse, no matter how certain a loeer
lie may be.
Wben the morning of tho day of the
race comes around each horse is taken to
the church of oontrado it represents and
blessed. Each contrado has a tribune, or
stand, erected at tho course and from
there watch tho race. Tney march to the
stand in separate processions, and head
ing each contrade is a group of eorgeously
attired banner bearers clad in the oos
tumes of the middle ages. They bear
in triumph tbe banners won in previous
struggles, and the flags of all the cities
and towns which wore once subject to
tbo republic of Siena.
Following the banner bearer comes the
horso which will race. He is led by his
rider and attnded by twelve assistants.
All of them are gaily dressed and tbe
horse is almost smothered in a cloud oi
richly embroidered harness, saddle cloths
and other paraphernalia. All tho time
the rank and tile of the contrado ore
cheering for its horso and the rival cries
make a fearful uproar. The banner bear
ers as tbey near tbe scene of tlie race be
gin a peculiar dance, waving the banners
and frighten tne excitable horses until
they dance about m a wild frenzy.
All the superfluous harness is then re
moved from tho horses and soon they aro
ready for the race. Each rider is banded
a long Whip, whlo . rather strangely, is
not to bo used on bis own horse, hut for
a more effective service, that of beating
back tbe rival horses by switching them
across the fnce during the race. This
would mako an American race goer start
a riot, but tho Italians regard it as a part
of a jockey's education,and the man who
is expert in the work of fouling another
1101*80 .s esteemed a line rider.
A pistol shot starts the horses on the
race. The jockeys shout like Heads, tho
horses wabble all over tbo little track,
the multitudes go mail, the riders com
mit a hundred fouls, and in a short time
the race is over. The man on the win
ning horse never stops urging his mount
until be is safe in front of tbe tspntrade
he represents, and bo implores his peo
ple to liroteot him against the vengeance
of the rieaten ones. Tho women and men
kiss tne horse and tbe jockey, and sur
ronding the latter carry him on their
shoulders to the judges where they see
fiat he is awarded the much-coveted
banner.
The festival continues for two days, the
people of the victorious contrade spend
ing much money in entertaining their
defeated friends.
The Vanderbilt Men
Cornelius and Willie K. Vanderbilt are
opposites. I never heard anyone speak of
th elder as Coiny, Cornele or Nele, while
everyone speaks invariably of the young
er as Willie K. Thoso names tell the
story. Cornelius is tall, spare, ascetio in
appearance, with little make-believe
whiskers by bis ears, an eye of kindly
keenness, good teeth, manners pleasant
but, reserved. He might be taken for a
fairly well dressed Methodist minister.
He never speculates, keeps no fast horses,
has no yacht, is much interested in
church matters, gives with discreet liber
ality, and attonds to the business of his
ollice witb the intelligent interest and
methodical regularity of a man of affairs.
Willie X, is a born speculator, takes big
risks, and of late years very successfully.
He has long been a yachtsman. ■ I doubt
if any man could teach him bow to play
cards'. He knows little about horses, but
is now investing in them. He stands
about tbe same height as his brotber, but
with a stockier build. He looks yoanger,
jollier, and, in spile of his divorce, hap
pier. Itotb men are particularly fond of
thilorou and anxious for their welfare.
The present generation of Vanderbilts
uphold tne name worthily. Cornelius is
regarded as a first-class man of business,
William Iv. as a bon vivant, witb sprious
interludes; Frederick is ns yet a smnll
investor, without much caro for tno plea
sures of society, and Georgo considers
himself favorably as a fair promisor al
ong the lines of literature. — Chicago
Tinies-Herold.
He Paid His Pine in Cappers
Handi Iph Wernicke was lined $1.1 nnd
costs by Justice Underwood Thursday
morning. Wernicke promenaded tbe
streets late Tuesday night looking for
trouble. He found more than he looked
for wben an officer headed him off and
conveyed him to tbe lockup.
"All right,' said lie, whon tne fine bad
been imposed. "I'll settle up." and
walking to Clerk Heller, who sat in his
wire cane, he thrust, threo shot bags
tilled with pennies through tbo window
uf the wire network.
"There, clerk," said the prisoner,
"you'll lind that correct."
'You'll hear from me by Christmas,"
snapped Heller, as lie poured the con
tents on the de«k before him and then
looked with indignation at the departing
Randolph.
It took one hour and twenty minutes,
ry tbe clock, to count the money, and
at the end of thai time it was found to
b« correct. After court was over for the
day Clerk Heller walked one mile and a
half trying in vain to dispose of the pen
nies. At ii oclock he returned hump
shouldered to tbe armory, and, after put
ting hil ballast in the safe, tried to in
duce Desk Sergeant Mike White to issue
a warrant for the rearrest of Wernicke on
a charge of malicious mischief.—Chicago
Inter-Ocean.
Herrings Know of Approaching Storms
Herring, it has now been discovered,
havo a wunderful electro-magnetic sense,
by which they a'o able to detect when a
storm is approaching. Tbey also know
which way it will blow and so can go out
into deep water or keep in tbo shelter of
the shore as may suit them best.
The czar of Russia has issued a decree
warning duelists that they will incur
severe punishment if they continue the
practice. Tbe royal displeasure will ex
tend also to those who encourage duel
ing.
Those who know und love the Words
worth country will jearn with regret that
tho old rectory ut Ciiasmere. where the
poet prepared Tbe Excursion for the
press, has been razed to tho ground.
ODD TRICK BILLIARDS
Some ol the New Shots Made
by Experts
THE TRADE'S QUEER FACTS
Where Materials for a Billiard Outfit
Come From
The Making of Billiard Balls Is Causing
the Extermination ot the
Elephant
Tiick billiards is becoming a more
popular pastime each year and there are
dozens of men touring the country today
who are making fat incomes Jd>y their
ability to make tlie small ivory spheres
do the moit extraordinary things.
When tho humble origin of the scien
tific game is called to mind these tricks
become all the more wonderful. The
present game is really the outcome of a
child's toy. The children of many cen
turies ago amused themselves hy a small
scaffolding, shaped somewhat like a gal
lows and fitted with a slate. A ball was
attached to the slate and tbe game con
sisted in knocking over a pin fashioned
somewhat like a imall nine-pm.
Subsequent elaborations cf this toy
brought about a crude table and the game
A Fine Draw
attained tbe dignity of rolling one ball
with tho hand so that it rebounds from a
second ball to a third It was a long
timo after tbis before a one was thought
of, and several Jater generations content
ed themselves with tbis play, until somo
master mind conceived the Idea of elastic
cushions. This caused the tinal revolu
tion of tbo game and made it possible to
perfect it to its present degree of science.
Looking at billiards from a commercial
standpoint, it has become ono of the
most unique of tbe industrial world. All
quarters of the globe have to he searched
for tbo necessary material for a lirat
class outfit, while the skilled labor it em
ploys earna millions in wagea yearly.
All of tbe fine tables art made ot the
The Bottle Trick
liiehist (.rade of mahogany, that coming
from Honduras, Mexico and Cuba
tho best for the purpose. It is purchased
in square logs.which are kept in store for
six or eight years before tbey can proper
ly be used.
A largo billiard table manufacturing
concern sometimes has $100,000 tied up iv
mahogany logs all tne time.
There is a deal of work about a fine
billiard table of which tho ordinary play
er of tbe game knows nothing. Tbe legs
are all hand carred and only tho most
expert mon in the craft aro employed in
the work.
A Difficult Shot
The slate used for the bed of the rable
must oe carefully selected and made as
true as tne most delicate piece of ma
chinery. In the average table there are
2000 pounds of this slate, which is used
in slabs of 400 pounds each. Five slabs
are generally used. TbJ best rubber for
the cushions is tbat grown in tbe most
isolated parts of l'ara, near the mouth of
the Amazon. Where these caoutchono
trees grow the climate la most deadly,
owing to tne malarious character of the
soil, and tbe natives can only be induced
to collect tbe rubber by very high wages
for that country.
Woods from all parts of tbe world are
iiaerl in tho making of the cues, bwt the
average cue ia made of carefully seasoned
ash fitted into an ebony handle. The cue
appears to be a simply made instrument,
but there are so few really good ones
made tbat when a professional player
co men across one hundreds of dollars
would not induce him to part with it.
I'layers become attached to a cue. like a
musician loves a particular violin.
The greatest science aud skill is required
in ttie making ol tbe balls. Jt is not gen
erally recognized that the came of bil
liards is slowly but surely accomplishing
the obliteration of the elepahnt in his
wild and native shape. Hundreds and
thousands of elephants are Killed annual
ly in Africa and Asia for tho ivory in
their tusks. Only ten billiard balls can
bo made from the two tusks of a full
grown elephant.
There aro about 2400 billiard halls sold
each month by tbe great dealers to the
smaller dealers. This in itself represents
the ivory from 210 elephants. Multiply
that by twelve and it is easy to see the
inroads made annually upon tho eljphant
species.
There are not more than a dozen large
makers of billiard balls tho world over,
and each one ot these firms is looking for
the day when ivory will no longer bo on
the public market. They are all accumu
lating a large reserve stock, and it la
said in tbe trade that one Now York con
cern bas a surplus stock of 15,000 balls
with a market value today of close to
$70,000. Ton years from now this concern
expects that this reserve will be worth
almost double the money.
Within the past fifty years the price of
a set of ivory billiard balls has increased
nearly MO per cent. A lirst class set to
day costs between $26 and $30, while a
half century ago thoy could be bought for
ono-sixth of that sum. Much uf the in
crease lias ocurrod during the past d-d
--cade, and the values arc steadily going
up.
The men who make tlie balls must bo
expert judges of ivory. There are unly
certain portions of the tusk which can bo
used, and it is necessary to avoid the
rest, otherwise an imperfect ball will be
turned out.
Thero aro hundreds of billiard ball turn
ers in this country, but very few experts.
Absolute accuracy in the production of a
perfect sphere is essential, the ball must
be of a certain diameter to the hundredth
part of an inch, and must weigh so much
and not tho thousandth part of an
ounce more or less. Some of the new
est trick shots aro shown in the accom
panying illustrations. The bottle trick is
an exceedingly difficult one. Hy a quick
and hard twist of tho wrist the cue ball
after striking tbo object ball jumps into
the air, and from the effects of the
"English" put on it, swerves against the
hall on tbe top of the bottle, knocking it
off. The old-fashioned way of doing this
trick was to mako the cue ball fall into
an up-turned hat, ana while it was a very
hard shot, the bottle shot is much moro
difficult.
Another most difficult shot is shown in
the cut, where five balls are placed in a
row at tbe head of the table, tho ball
being nearest the cushion. In the shot,
a masse, the cue ball hits the hall nearest
tbe side cushion ana then makes a series
of mathematically perfect semi-circles,
striking each of the remaining four halls
and tbe cushion alternately. Not one
trick billiard player in a hundred can do
this sbot.
A tine draw shot is shown in the third
cut. Tbo cue ball, ufter striking the
object ball, rolls up the incline and falls
into the hat.
TAMIL©!!
Room 17
California Bank Building
Corner Ptcond and Sroadvray
Take Elevator
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THE OWEN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO..
201 to £07 State St., comer Adams Bt.,
CHICAUO.
IHE PRESS GLIPPING BORiftH
110 West Second Street,
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