Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1911 — Parlor Billiards Inventor Disappointed by His Failure. [ARTICLE]

Parlor Billiards Inventor Disappointed by His Failure.

From the Chalmers correspondence to the Monticello Herald we learn of the death of George. King, who a few years ago was the Monon agent at Fair Oaks. His death occurred at Frankfort. Mr. King was for many years the Monon agent at Chalmers and was engaged in the lumber business as a side line and succeeded to such an extent that he made that his sole business. He succeeded and made considerable money. While engaged in the lumber business in Chalmers he invented a game called pango or parlor billards. It was much on the order of croconole, but the cushions of the board were stripped with rubber that made a very pronounced rebound to the disc when it was thumped. Mr. King became wrapped up in the game, thought he had invented something that would prove a great seller, and he played at it until he became very expert, making three-cushion shots with all the dexterity of a professional billiard player. He went out of the lumber business and into the manufacture of pango boards and was unable to sell the product, although he spent much money in advertising. He was unwilting to give it up, however, and did not quit until he had spent all the money he had saved up. Then he went back to telegraphing. The failure embittered his life to a great extent and he never regained his former geniality. He would not discuss his failure and when the subject was mentioned to him he would say, “Pango be damned.” Mr. King was an exemplary man and*a successful one until carried away by his invention that failed to prove a seller