GAMES AND SPORT.
HOW TO PLAY BILLIARDS. By Tom Newman. (Methuen. 8s. 6d.) Every year innumerable volumes on sport come out—books that profess to tell their readers the secret of golf, the key to good lawn tennis, what not to do in rowing, quick cuts to good chess and all about swimming ; and though such volumes are widely read, yet no one seems to be much the wiser. The truth is that though all the writers of such hand- books set out to instruct their readers, most of them find the task too difficult and soon become wordy and vague and inclined to fill up space with little anecdotes. Their readers, who have taken up the books so hopefully, feel disappointed and rather angry before they have come to the last chapter ; the secret of golf or the clue to good chess has escaped them once more. So that it is saying a good deal for this new hand- book on billiards by the champion when it is admitted that it is entirely free from this common fault of vagueness and of falling far below its pretensions. It is called How to Play Billiards, and it lives up to its title. Readers in search of interesting anecdotes, amusing instances and graces of style must look elsewhere in billiard literature, for such things cannot be found here ; but persons who are genuinely anxious to improve their game and not merely looking for some pleasant reading should ponder Mr. Newman's lightest word. He is thoroughgoing, practical and ruthlessly efficient, and has attacked this book in the same spirit in which he piles up one of his huge breaks. He does not allow the reader to have his wish and proceed at once to fancy strokes, but takes him firmly by the hand and makes him begin at the beginning. The very first chapter opens with the words, " Please do not skip this chapter." It is a chapter on the best method of holding and manipulating the cue and the proper attitude to be taken up by the player. After that Mr. Newman feels safe in telling his readers how to swing the cue and sight a stroke ; and from this we go on to angles and ball-contacts, " side," " top," and " screw," and finally to an interesting analysis of a game. There are several photographs and any number of valuable diagrams. Those who are apt to regard billiards as a pretty, picturesque kind of indoor game, touched with skill, but largely carried through by chance, will do well to avoid this book, which will disillusion them very thoroughly. Those who take their billiards seriously and have a secret desire to astonish their friends should take Mr. Newman into their counsel : he will not disappoint them.
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