The weekly union record., 1864-11-26
The UNION RECORD.
A GAME OF BRAG.

wv NOA444C-N4GA lCe VI. lXdl4-
cashire. many Of the everyday passen-
gers are accustomed to while away the
journey by playing cards together
they know one another, and make up
sheir rubs beforehand, and even have
certain carriages retained at either ter
minus for their especial accommodation
and diversion. Whist is, Of course.
the usual game among them, but with
soHae-Of tie juniors that beautifully
scientific game is voted dull and slow,
and they play brag instead-a dis
graceful taste, which is very properly
reprobated by the rest, and stigmatized
as ''sheer gambling" even by those who
pass their days in the stock exchange,
and risk hundreds Of thousands upon
scrip and share. However, it so hap
pened last July that |, a chance pas
senger between Liverpool and Man
chester, with return-ticket for the
day, found myself in first class car
rage occupied by five gentlemen play
ing at the redoubtable game; and,
without having the least desire to ioin
them, | watched their proceedings with
some attention, and was rewarded bv
Witnessing what was admitted by all to
be an unprecedented occurrence, and
one well worthy, if not of immortal
verse, at least printed record. For
the first twenty minutes, | should men
tion, they played whist-of course with
two packs Of cards; but upon the re-
monstrance Of the gentleman who found
himself cut out and obliged them to
make room for the fifth man at the
railway rug, which was their cardta
BILE, they changed the game to brag.
While my moral nature was shocked.
/ could not help being interested by
the secretiycness of each competitor, by
the air of confidence with which they
backed an indifferent hand, by the af-
fected hesitation which they continued
to brag On good one, and by their
close scanning of one another's coun-
tenances, in which nothing but cunning
and ayarice could be traced. And yet,
in sense of playing for big stakes, they
were not gambling. A sovereign Or
thirty shillings was the most that had
been lost by any person, when, pres
emily, they having thrown up their
hands, two players began to back their
cards at such considerably high sums
as to arouse everybody's curiosity to
know what they were stalking on.
''Let me look at your hand, jones'"
cried one; ''I'm not playing, you know,
and Smith will never be able to tell
anything by my face"
''That's true, my dear fellow" re-
piled Jones, coolly; ''If want of ex-
preston could beget confidence, one
could trust in your face as much as in
any mans. But l can't let you see
my hand-Smith, brag five thousand
pounds"
81 brag ton," was the response;
"and allow me to warn you as a friend
not to back yourself extrayagantly, for
you'll lose, my Jones-and you are
family mani"
Here took place burst of laughter
this was new ruse, indeed, to affect
interest in the state of an adversarv's
pocket, in order to make him give in.
"Well," replied Jones, "you're a
bachelor, it is true, but you cannot af
ford to lose twenty-five ponnds, and
that is the amount of my next brag."
81 brag twenty-five pounds Also"
reioined Smith, cheerfully.
ssThen I will brar fftv no,,nds - 20
turned Jones "and sooner than so on
l solemnly tell you, you should give
me a hundred to look at my hand"
81 wouldn't give farthing to look
at your hand = answered the other,
scornfully; Il am really sorry to ruin
you, but your obstinacy brings it upon
yourself. You will have to part with
Mrs. Jones piano as it is, I expect
Sir replied Jones with resolution,
con the cards which hold here | would
brag Mrs. Jones herself with the utmost
confidence"
''You had better not" the bachelor
responded darkly.
And again there was Shrek of
laughter from the audience, who were
not permitted to spectators.
Snow, my dear Smith, let US under
stand one another. If you continue to
play this game, you will never ride in a
first-class carriage again. | should be
sorry to be the means of driving YOU
into the parliamentary Tell me how
much money you can afford to lose
without going to jail, and | will brag
that"
Il will brag two hundred and fifty
pounds; and you had better give me !
bill Of sale upon your furniture at once |
am quite sure you haven't got so much
in Your bankers hands"
Il will brag FIVE hundred" replied
Jones, with his teeth cenched. II will
brag my house and garden; | viii brag