A practical and technical manual on the game of billiards that combines historical survey, equipment description, and systematic instruction for amateurs and players. It explains one-, two-, and three-ball practice, the physics of motion and rotation, and a variety of strokes including spot, safety, and break play, with discussion of championship rules and the three-inch-pocket table. Supplementary chapters cover pyramids, pool, and country-house variants. Diagrams, photographs, and expert contributions illustrate technique, while editorial commentary addresses reform, practice methods, and the relation between scientific theory and table skill.