PONTUS 



4753 



POOL 



PON'TUS, the ancient name of a region in 

 the northeastern part of Asia Minor, bordering 

 on the Black Sea. Originally Pontus was a 

 part of Cappadocia, but in the third century 

 B. c. it was formed into a separate kingdom and 

 rose to great power under Mithridates the 

 Great. Pontus was early Christianized, and 

 under the Romans was an important point in 

 their advance towards the Euphrates. In 1204 

 Alexius Comnenus formed a new kingdom in 

 Pontus, which existed until conquered by Mo- 

 hammed II in 1461. 



The south and eastern portions of Pontus 

 are mountainous, but along the coast the land 



LOCATION MAP 



The black area Is Pontus; (a) is ancient Ar- 

 menia; (b) Bithynia; (c) Galatla ; (d) Cappa- 

 docia. 



is very fertile and still produces grain, fruit 

 and timber in abundance. In ancient times 

 Pontus was noted for the culture of bees, and 

 honey and wax formed the chief articles of 

 commerce. 



POODLE, poo'd'l, a breed of dogs much 



red as house pets because of their int. Ih- 



and affectionate ways. The variety most 



commonly seen has a thick coat of white, curly 



which may be clipped as fashion or the 



whim of the owner decrees. Other poodles are 



black, and still others are reddish. The hair 



may be short and tightly-curled, or it may 



hang in ropelike cords. Poodles vary in weight 



to forty pounds; they are well 



and graceful. 



POOL, the name of a number of different 



games played on a table similar to a billiard 



rhat it has six pockets into which 



to roll the balls. Although a comparatively 



M 



recent addition to billiards, the game of pool 

 suggests a return to the very first known bil- 

 liard tables, which had pockets or holes like 

 those in a bagatelle board, generally six in num- 

 ber. The modern pool table measures five by 



POOL TABLE WITH SIX POCKETS 

 Some tables are equipped with but four pockets 

 the corners. 



ten feet, standard size, but the tables used in 

 public pool rooms are generally four feet six 

 inches by nine feet, the same size as the aver- 

 age billiard table. .There is one pocket at each 

 corner, and one in the center of each side. 



The game of American pyramid pool is one 

 of the most popular forms of pool and is 

 played with fifteen balls, of different colors 

 and numbered from 1 to 15, and a white cue 

 ball. The opener of the game plays with the 

 white ball from anywhere behind the string, 

 or balk line, at the fifteen balls, which are 

 placed in triangular or pyramid formation at 

 the opposite end of the table, the ball marked 

 1 forming the apex, standing on what is known 

 as the red spot. After the first stroke the white 

 1>:-.11 must be played just as it lies, regardless 

 of the string. The first player must strike 

 the pyramid hard enough to send at least two 

 balls to the cushion or at least one into a 

 pocket. When only two are playing the player 

 who first scores eight by forcing eight balls 

 into the pockets wins the game. 



In one plan of game the player must call 

 the number of the ball he intends to pocket, 

 and if the one called is not pocketed, though 

 others may be, no ball is counted by the striker. 

 All pocketed balls except the one called must 

 be returned to the table. When the ball called 

 is pocket. nker is entitled to count all 



others that arc forced in by the same stroke. 

 A player forfeits one ball when he shoots and 

 does not hit a ball, forcing the cue ball off the 

 table, or for pocketing the cue ball. A hall 

 pocketed and scored by the striker must when 

 forfeited be replaced on the table, on or as 

 ;ly as possible behind the red spot. If tin- 

 striker incurs a forfeit before he scores a ball 

 tii* first ball pocketed by him must be 

 1 on the table. 



