believe they are examining particles of some recently discovered antediluvian remains, which they contemplate submitting to the next meeting of the British Association. Dominoes amuse the ninny because they employ him, and some few men of mind, simply because they do not require their attention. Chess meets with zealous partisans only amongst good old boys of from fifty to eighty years of age. It is the King of games, but, like most sovereigns, is far more majestic than amusing: hence the disciples of Phillidor's cunning art decrease in number daily. Who can wonder at the King of games losing his influence after the "Ruins of Empires?" Draughts would have disappeared long ago from "this dim speck which men call earth" were not it and Chess allied to each other like the Siamese twins. Back-gammon, which really has a very vulgar sound in these refined times, fortunately turned its back upon the "great metropolis" about the beginning of the present century. Since then it has never been heard of, except at village clubs, or seen, except behind a screen in the parlour of some old gouty Justice of the Peace, who plays sixpenny games with his prim hearty-looking dame. Whist is the game à la mode in all good society. Speculation is John Bull's own dear game, but equally a favourite with holy-day masters and misses. Pope Joan is the only Pope acknowledged to be orthodox. Vingt-et-un, (pronounced Van tune!) which has a foreign air, is a favourite with fusby dowagers and old bachelors. Ecarté and Piquet belong to low gamblers; All-Fours and Cribbage to tap-rooms, especially where there's a cab-stand close by. Beat-my-neighbour-out-of-doors, which, by the way, is anything but neighbourly, is the delight of school-boys; whilst the antiquated game of Marriage finds admirers only in aspiring youths and despairing old maids. Billiards is the passion of commercial travellers, students, clerks, shopmen, provincials, and, in fact, of such as are excluded from all society but that to be met with in cigar-divans and billiard-rooms. Unfortunately it is one of those charming games in which a gentleman can only indulge in the country. The game of "Golden Goose" has still some few admirers, who are to be met with in old farm-houses, and at village shop-keepers' during merrie Christmas time. |