Sir Astley Cooper attributed to the practice of this game, among the families of the English aristocracy, both male and female, their admitted superiority of health, beauty, and physical development, over all other races on the earth. Billiards can be played as a relaxation It becomes an intense and exciting game only when the mind throws all its energies in that direction, and then it is full, often, of the spirit of heroism. To be well played, it taxes the intensest powers. Chess is too sedentary and, besides, it turns out to be too irritating. Physicians and surgeons of the highest rank among all nations have prescribed Billiards as the most exhilirating and the most beautiful of all games. There is much to be said on the subject of innocent and exhilarating amusement. John Quincy Adams, while President, had one in his house, as one of the luxuries which his hospitality provided for the after-dinner hours of Lafayette. General Washington devoted to it as many moments of leisure after dinner as the serious occupation of his life allowed. It was cultivated before the revolution by the most illustrious, intelligent, and best educated classes. The game was introduced into this country by the cavaliers of Virginia and a few gentlemen of Holland, who became the early possessors of Manhattan Island, then called New Amsterdam. During the reign of Henry III., one of the most luxurious of the French monarchs gave to this amusement the epithet of “the noble game of Billiards.” With this royal sanction, its fascination soon enthralled all the elegant circles of Europe, and before a quarter of a century had passed, Billiards became the favorite amusement of the nobles and principal classes of England, Germany, Italy and Spain. Billiards were introduced into France as early as the first crusade, which occurred in 1099. There seems to be little doubt that the game of Billiards was known to the Romans and we think it would not be difficult to prove that every hospitable and elegant palace of the Roman citizens had a room devoted to this glorious and inspiring game. We have never leaned to this conclusion, because it is hard to believe that so hard-hearted a wretch should have had any agency in introducing so elegant and generous an amusement among iis countrymen.
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Some have referred its introduction to the Emperor Caligula.
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This is the more remarkable, as it has been pretty satisfactorily demonstrated that the game was in vogue among the Romans, and particularly cultivated by Consul Lucullus, that elegant and accomplished Roman epicurean, who devoted his colossal fortune to the graces and accomplishments of refined and polite life. To America belongs the honor of constructing the only perfect Billiard Tables made the world. History of Chicago Its Commercial and Manufacturing Interests and Industry, By I.D. open their extensive Bowling Saloon on the corner of Clark and Washington streets this evening Location: Lake Street Between Dearborn and Clark StreetsĪrchitect: Unknown, but owners were Walter and Edward Wright, Chicago Lawyers.