Billiards on the Brain.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 26

Billiards on the Brain.

The fascination that billiards holds its devotees is almost proverbial, and was never more strongly exemplified than in the story of a once celebrated billiard player named Andrews, who flourished about 80 years ago. Being a man of means he devoted his life to the acquisition of proficiency in this his only pastime and occupation ; he seemed to exist only in a billiard room, he ate, drank, slept; walked, nay, talked but for the sake of the game ; his mind was a blank for any other idea. At the time of whioh we write it was said thab there was only one other player in Europe who could equal him, the celebrated Abraham Carter, who kept the tables at the corner of the Piazza, Covent Garden. Ifc was also stated that he played for money at billiards, for larger sums, than were ever staked before; but he took little heed of money, and played rather for love than lucre. One night he won of a certain Colonel upwards of £1000, and the loser made an appointment to go with next day to the city to sell out for the amount of the sum lost. They took a hackney coaoh, and before arriving at their destination tossed as to which should pay the fare. Andrews lost; then offered to toss for a soverign ; lost again, grew excited, and went on spinning the unlucky coin until the whole sum he had won on the previous night was gone, and the Colonel, upon arriving at his broker's, desired the coachman to drive back whence they came, as there was no longer any occasion to alight. What Andrews won at billiards lie lost at games of chance in which he had less skill or luck, ultimately he was stripped of every shilling he possessed except a small annuity that was strictly tied down. But for this fortunate circumstance he would certainly have come to beggary and starvation.