Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-14

of the table, is one Of the propristoEs of the
house, handsome, dashing Israelite he is.
He is very rch always dresses to perfection,
and besides being the owner of two or three
racers, keeps cabrioet and a small ph@ton,
in one or the other of which you may see him
every afternoon in the Park; and you seldom
60 down to dine, either ut the Grown and Scep-
tire, at Greenwich, or the Star and Garter, at
Richmond, on o Sunday, without finding his
trap at the door during some portion Of the
evening. Idiotic Guardmen, would -be-aristo-
cratic stockholders, green hands from the uni
versities, and fast youths about town, have
paid for that vehicle, and honest Moses gives
them subdued, but intelligent nod ofrecog-
milton as he drives ia it. -. 10y,
The sharp-looking, wiry little man, oppo-
site to him, is the 'croupier. He calls the odds,
and never makes the slightest miscalculation |;
sees that the proper sums are staked at o single
glance; and helps his principal to pay the VIM
ners and sweeps up the stakes Of the losers.
For this latter purpose they do not use rakes,
such as you have seen at Wiesbaden or AK,
but small hooked sticks. The rakes would be
too prononces in the event of any magisterial
interruption |; and, moreover, from the size of
the table, they are not required. I se.,
"'Seyen's the mainp shouts that tall, bland
..'N~SSs'ono~5 sA'eA~ooAio N~Ai s1AnS " wy
"'Seven's the nain!' repeats the croupier;
make your game, please; the castor's backing
in at seven, gentlemen Down comes the
box--out roll the dice, sEleyen's the nick,
says the croupier; and stakes are swept up,
winners paid and fresh main called, with in
conceivable rapidity. That man, with the dice
box in his hand, is the type Of certain class.
He is Of excellent family, holds . commission
in the Household Brigade, and is one Of those
fellows you see everywhere. Driving q drag
full Of other solemn and moustached Heavies
to the Derby, leaning against the orchestra at
the opera, and examining the house by the
aid of his enormous lorg1settc; bestriding q
beautiful horse in the Park, or ponderously
waltzing at Almack's-he is always about
He does not come here for the purpose Of in
creasing his income, or even for the sake of
excitement. He has to pass the house on his
way home from his club, and having horror
ofgoing to bed, looks in merely to pass another
hour. a..i
"Of very different stamp is the man next
him, the old militars, with the tightly buttoned
frock-coat well clipped gray whiskers, and care
fully brushed hat. They call him sthe Gene
raj, for he is an old Indian officer, with small
annuity, to which he largely adds by Q syste-
matte method of play. Heis regular attendant
here is never rufled or put out; and is reck-
oned to win, on an average, three sovereigns
night. have met him in the daytime, walk
ing with graceful, attractive looking girl, APP
parently his daughter or neice and have
wondered whether she had any notion Of her
companions nightly ayocation. & gng !.
One more sketch and / have finished.
That heavy-eyed, dissipated looking man in
the brown great coat, was once one of the gay
est spirits at Cambridge. Brought up to the
church, he conceived violent disgust for
quiet life, and determined on entering the
army. Play, that dreadful demon, which had
cast q cloud over his otherwise brilliant college
career, pursued him still; he became irretriev-
ably involved, and was at length compelled to
sell his commission. Since then he has exist
ed, one can scarcely tell how; but, for the
terms on which he appears to live with the pro-
prietors, and from the fact that he is always
seen hereto first TO risk his few shillings at
the commencement of the evening-he is be-
lieved to be an employee, or what is commonly
termed q bonnet of the establishment.
Occasionally perhaps once in six months
there is furious knocking heard at this outer
door. Sledge-hammers rcsound against the
iron panels, which fall in with q crash; the
police enter, and find four or five gentlemen at
supper, others playing at billiards in the first
room. They are taken into custody, and next
morning appear before the magistrate. No
implements of gambling are found on the
premises, and the captives are discharged"