Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-08-02


handsome sideboard, of carved oak, dis
played tempting variety of wines and
liquors, in TASKS and fagous of Bohemian
glass, silver, and crystal, upon whose
rainbow tints ond metallic glitter the sof
light Of the heavy chandeliers played with
an ever-changing subdued lustre.
Walking through, into the rear parlor
I saw another long table, but somewhat
differently occupied from the one first men
toned. A pack of playing cards were
spread out upon it, in rows, with the odd
ones by themselves at the end On one
side of the table man sat, drawing the
cards from another pack, placed in small
box Of chased silver, and laying them in
two piles. Opposite HIM, another man
had a box with compartments, in which
were arranged a quantity of ivory coun-
ters of different colors, and observed
more of these lying upon the cards which
were spread upon the table. AT almost
every card that the dealer drew from the
silver box, these counters were changed
sometimes being taken up by the players
who surrounded the table--sometimes by
the man who presided over the box with
compartments, and sometimes more were
laid down. ......- ....
This was the game of Faro.
The players were the interesting feature
of the place to my eye, and after l had
been introduced to the proprietor, and
drank glass of sherry with him, l took
seat near the board, and studied the
characters of those around it.
The dealer had very striking face--a
dark, yellowish brown complexion, pierre
ing black eyes, overhung by heavy sable
brows, and short, bristly beard, of pure
blue -olack tint, covering the lower part Of
mis- face. He was extensively dressed,
but in bad taste, with crimson velvet
waistcoat, ornamented by an enormous
gold chain, fashy plaid pantaloons, red
and white plaid neck tie, with embroidered
ends, vevet-faced blue coat, and an
open-work shirt-front, supporting an i'm
mense cluster diamond pin.
My eyes turned fIom the glare and gilt
ter of this obtrusive costume, to find re-
lief in more tasteful outfit. The ma
jority of the players were middle-a aged,
respectable-loohing men, with clean-sha-
ven faces and black suits of fine broad
cloth. These men were mostly mer-
chants, lawyers, doctors, and other we'll
to-do professional men, who came here to
kill time with excitemet of play, while
their wives were killing time with the ex-
ritament of dano:.-,y --:---.:s -o,.4,v-
fashionable evening party.
Such is the social fabric of high life in
New York! ...
There were also few regular sporting
men, of the conventional type--fellows
with dyed moustaches, of luxuriant growth,
and protruding under jaw--fellows with
hair, and snowy kid
gloves--with conceited swsgger, anil a
hardened, vicious expression Of counte-
nance--but fewer of these than l had ex-
pected to see. As general thing, this
class is employed in "roping in" victims.
They hang about the hotels and theaters,
to secure innocent countrymen, who have
bricks in their hats and rocks in their
pockets, and receive as their wages high
on all that the faro bank makes
off their dupes.
But The only really interesting person 1
saw at this table, was a young man
hardly more than boy--who sat quietly
at corner, with his head leaning listlessly
upon his hand. He vas what I should
call beau ideal Of youthful beauty, and
every gesture and movement he made be-
spoke the elegant, high bread, leisurely |
gentleman. He could not have beer more
han twenty years old and had that fine,
clear, red and white complexion that so
ew young men in the city keep, even to
hat age. His eyes were dark blue, large,
md full OF soul; his hair wavy, and Of a
beautiful golden brown; his features regu-
ar, expressive, and delicately chiseled;
lis mouth firm, but mobile, just shaded
title by small blond moustache; and his
,auGs white, dimpled, delicate, and cared
or like those of woman One might
lave sworn that he resembled his mother,
whoever she might be.
His dress was quiet, plain, but perfectly
asteful and elegant; and as he sat there,
lly contemplating the shifting fortunes of.
hat board Of grief and gain--of woe and
was a perfect picture in him
elf.
l asked the proprietor who he was.
"Hie name is Harry" said he 81 don't
now his last name, though he has played
ere every night for some weeks. He is
queer fellow, and don't seem to care
,hether he wines or looses. He is in luck
o-nigbt, and you see he doesn't seem
leased, especially. Night before last he
ost three thousand dollars, and was just
8 quiet about it,
Supper was now announced, and feeling
ungry, proceeded to the front parlor.
he cold lunch had been removed, and
orgeous supper set in its place. Every !
elicacy and luxury that complete cui- =
me could produce was upon the board, !
nd the wines were of the most expensive
nd delicious brands. While at supper, /,
,e gentlemanly proprietor gave me slight
lsight into the game of faro, and on re- !.
lring TO the table I invested a five dollar = =
i'll, merely as a sort of initiatio on fee. :
ad the satisfaction of losing three dollars
first, then of winning three--6ve--ten
-and SO on, with an occasional loss---for J
placed my "ehips," as the customers are II
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