The Placer herald., 1859-05-07
Crabbe Whartons Imprudent Remark.

CraDDe wharton AWpruueuC neWdIA.
The following laughable story we find in
the letter of Mick Spicer," correspondent
of the New York Spirit of the Times. We
have seen few of these grabbed fellows in
our time, and can appreciate the quaint man
ner in which it is told by the Virginian, who
is a loyal son Of 'Fauquier." Here she goes:
"Crabbe was universal tavorte with old
and young, and was well known to every
body, and the rest of mankind, from the
Blue Ridge, in Virginia, to the Caronas,
having visited every race track, general mus
ter, and Superior Court, for the last quarter
of century. He was an honest, blunt,
iovial old SOIL, as ever lived. His fondness
for the feminnes was only reasonable but
he was quite partial to old Monongahela.
The sumnuna bonum of all earthly happiness,
in Crabbe's opinion, consists in dealing 'swet.'
He had rather have dealt 'swet' at l 2 2 and
500 to a sprightly crowd, than to have been
installed Emperor Of all the Russias Crabbe
having a natural taste for the corn Juice,
and when fortune frowned, disposed to press
his natural instincts, it often happened that
he was 'busted,' or in other words dead
broke This would compel him to loan
of V. or an Y. Of some Of bis legal friends,
and compel him to contne himself to short
keards (as he called Bluff, Brag, etc., until
he could make raise sufficient to justify
him in spreading his darling 'swet cloth
Crabbe when in luck, possessed fair comfy
stride, but when cleaned out his gait was
short, crooked and ambing. On a certain
court day, when the whole sporting commu-
nifty, including the bench, the bar, and clients,
had become pretty thoroughly exhausted in
funds by fighting the Tiger Crabbe had
been forced to suspend his tavorite pastme
for the want of the tin to carry it on
Crabbe, after giving his numerous friends
and patrons sundry pretty broad hints for a
small loan, (without any response being made
in the shape of a tender Of a loan,) boldly
proposed to the Hon. Sam. G. (who is as
celebrated for his goodness of heart and
sparkling wit as he is distinguished for his
legal acumen,) and four others, that they
should make up a game of Poker, saying,
for the sake Of facilitating change, they
should each take thirty grains of corn a
piece each grain of corn to represent one
dollar; the game to last three hours, and the
ante to be one dollar; at the expiration of
which time there was to be a general settle
ment. lDlS proposition was readily agreed
to, the corn was shelIed off, thirty grains
allotted to each, the cards shutfled out, and
dealt. Crabbe, who had learned to play
Bluff during the memorable Flush times Of
Aabama,' soon found by holding a few hands
of good papers, himself in the possession
of some fifty grains, independent of his stake
Slowly, and carefully counting over his pile,
and finding it all right, he gravely addresses
the party thus: 'Recolfsct, gentlemen, al
though we use grain of corn to represent
dollar, yet this is strictly cash game, and
every gentleman is expected to redeem, in
hard cash, every grain he loses, before he
leaves the board This likewise being ac
quesced in by the party, Crabbe proceeds
to deal the cards again. Just before the
game expires, by limitation, Crabbe, by one, y,
or two unfortunate Bluffs in which he is
called, loses not only his winnings, but some
sixty grains besides. The game is over, and
Crabbe, silently arises, starts off, in his pecu
liar short,step ambling gait The Hon.
Sam. G. remarks, Mr.. Wharton, did not
understand you to say this was strictly a cash
game, and every gentleman was expected to
redeem, in hard cash, his corn before he left
the board? Crabbe ,ejoined: i did, Sam,
but it was id imprudent remark"