BILLIARDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 256, 12 August 1935, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

HOW THE GAME* BEGAN.

FIRST CALLED “FAILLE MAILLE.”

Billiards had,its origin! man outdooi game called “paille maille,” an old. French pastime played like croquet. It was tiffs game which gave its name to a famous London Street —lull Alali —which is built on the site of an alley where “paille maille” was played m the okl days. When the billiard table was invented is not known but it is mentioned in a manuscript dated loJi. For many years the indoor game continued to be played on the same lines as “paille maille.” The cues were curved* like hockey sticks, and the balls, which were larger than those m use to-day, were made of wood. Gradually the hoops of the original game were replaced by pockets' and the tab e was reduced to its present size, in balls and cues were also altered as time went on, and for the last bundled years or so the game lias retained tne form with which we are familiar today.