As many of you know, billiards had a major impact on the life of Mark Twain. He has had much to say on the subject and just below I will share my favorite story that he told in April, 1906.
He spent seventeen years living with his wife and kids in a home he had built for them in Hartford, CT. "Tom Sawyer", "Huckleberry Finn" and "Prince & The Pauper" were just three of the monumental works that were written right there at his desk in the 3rd floor billiard room in Hartford. They said it was not uncommon for Twain to be distracted between the two passions to the extent he would often end up with some of his writing strewn around the pool table.
Pictures were frowned upon (hey, that sounds like something MT might have said) on the inside part of this tour so I had to pull a move where I lagged behind waiting for the guide to begin his descent down the stairs. This allowed me to quickly take these two photos (see below).
What an incredible home and the feeling I had in the billiard room - I was definitely experiencing history-induced goosebumps. If only the magnificent hand-stenciling on the ceiling could talk...
The table was a gift to him by a friend from Redding, CT and there was a BBC wall rack with some non-period, but still fairly old, cues.
It was a great day.
I hope you all enjoy my favorite MT story, the two pics I heroically took 
, as well as another link below where other MT billiards related quotes can be found.
Mark Twain Anecdote
While attending a billiard tourney on the evening of April 24, 1906, Mr. Twain was called on to speak. He told this story:
The game of billiards has destroyed my naturally sweet disposition. Once, when I was an underpaid reporter in Virginia City, whenever I wished to play billiards I went out to look for an easy mark. One day a stranger came to town and opened a billiard parlor. I looked him over casually. When he proposed a game, I answered, "All right."
"Just knock the balls around a little so that I can get your gait," he said; and when I had done so, he remarked: "I will be perfectly fair with you. I'll play you left-handed." I felt hurt, for he was cross-eyed, freckled, and had red hair, and I determined to teach him a lesson. He won first shot, ran out, took my half-dollar, and all I got was the opportunity to chalk my cue.
"If you can play like that with your left hand," I said, "I'd like to see you play with your right."
"I can't," he said. "I'm left-handed."
The other link:
http://www.twainquotes.com/Billiards.html
Best,
Brian kc
He spent seventeen years living with his wife and kids in a home he had built for them in Hartford, CT. "Tom Sawyer", "Huckleberry Finn" and "Prince & The Pauper" were just three of the monumental works that were written right there at his desk in the 3rd floor billiard room in Hartford. They said it was not uncommon for Twain to be distracted between the two passions to the extent he would often end up with some of his writing strewn around the pool table.
Pictures were frowned upon (hey, that sounds like something MT might have said) on the inside part of this tour so I had to pull a move where I lagged behind waiting for the guide to begin his descent down the stairs. This allowed me to quickly take these two photos (see below).
What an incredible home and the feeling I had in the billiard room - I was definitely experiencing history-induced goosebumps. If only the magnificent hand-stenciling on the ceiling could talk...
The table was a gift to him by a friend from Redding, CT and there was a BBC wall rack with some non-period, but still fairly old, cues.
It was a great day.
I hope you all enjoy my favorite MT story, the two pics I heroically took
, as well as another link below where other MT billiards related quotes can be found.Mark Twain Anecdote
While attending a billiard tourney on the evening of April 24, 1906, Mr. Twain was called on to speak. He told this story:
The game of billiards has destroyed my naturally sweet disposition. Once, when I was an underpaid reporter in Virginia City, whenever I wished to play billiards I went out to look for an easy mark. One day a stranger came to town and opened a billiard parlor. I looked him over casually. When he proposed a game, I answered, "All right."
"Just knock the balls around a little so that I can get your gait," he said; and when I had done so, he remarked: "I will be perfectly fair with you. I'll play you left-handed." I felt hurt, for he was cross-eyed, freckled, and had red hair, and I determined to teach him a lesson. He won first shot, ran out, took my half-dollar, and all I got was the opportunity to chalk my cue.
"If you can play like that with your left hand," I said, "I'd like to see you play with your right."
"I can't," he said. "I'm left-handed."
The other link:
http://www.twainquotes.com/Billiards.html
Best,
Brian kc
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