Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-09-17


his observations and emotions:
Saratoga is a volcano of extrevs
gance. The lava of morality is YER
thin and scarcely cooled, and burr
ing stream of vice oozes from the ho
sea underneath at every cane thrust
The greatest Of these streams is tn
gambling fever Thousands are wol
and lost in the twinkling of an eye
There is a clubhouse at Saratoga
Here they tell me gambling is done OF
the square. Doubtless this is true.
the reader will take my arm, we will
visit it together.
Here is drab colored brick build
ing, shadily embowered and surround
ed with thickets of rose bushes. Vi
six 'bfoad~ eteps Veuitian blind con
fronts us. A pull at the china bell
knob, and the blind flies open. A
colored gentleman in evening costum,
acts as usher. We find ourselves in !
modest hallway, furnished respectabl,
but not gaudily. A thin, sallow.c com
plexioned man meets US at the dool
and grasps our hands This is Mr.
George W. Hill, owner and proprietor
of the Club House. He is a gambler
and is not ashamed to own it. Why
should be be? He risks his money
against the money Of his patrons, and
allows an honest turn Of the cards to
decide the issue. eve were just about
to sit down to supper, gentlemen, and
should esteem it a great honor If you
would favor us with your company.
Certainly. There is no vacant seats AZ
the table. On the left of Mr.. Hill sits
Henry Cotton, partner with Dancie
of No. 8 Barclay street, and owner of
one of the most fashionable gaming
houses in Now York city. Next we
have a Cincinnati merchant, who
yearly visits Saratoga, and yearly
loses from $4,000 to $4,000 at the
faro-tatle. For fifteen years has he
kept this up, and yet he holds his own.
AT his side we find a well-known rebel
officer; but his wealth disappeared in
the smoke of the war, and while ven
turing but few dollars at the faro
table, he invariably turns up at the
supper table. That man dissecting
the body of a woodcock is a New York
judge. Plays? OF course he PLAYS /;
and | am told that three Neg York
judges have been seen in front of the
gaming table here at one time. And
here is a well preserved old gentleman.
whose gold headed cane stands in one
corner Of the room. He came very
near, at one time, being Secretary of
War. This feast is free one, and is
paid for out Of the slight per centage
of split cards, allowed the proprietor
at faro-table. We lounge in the op-
posite parlor This is the inner den
of the tiger. At our right dealer is
running off the cards in game of
faro, with Keen lookout, and drowsy
cue-keeper at his side, and directly in
front we hear the mellow trip Of the
ball on the roulette table. You hear
scarcely word from the gaming ta
bles, where men are hourly losing or
their thousands; and, save
from the gentle hum arising from our
own party, the room would be as quiet
as sitting room at homo.
Mr. Hill sits at our side retailing a
gambling "reminiscences, how
he lost $4,000 at one sitting, how he
made $4,000 at another, and how
he cleared over $3.50, 900 in one year
at the corner of Broadway and
Prince streets, in the identical rooms
now occupied by Barney Jackman. |
Hill is man of nerve. His quiet,
manner Of talking, and the |
decisive manner in which he chews
bis cigar assure you Of that. Let us
ook at the table. At one end of it is
little sink with fat siding wheel,
On which there are a score of small
all numb bered, and al
painted black and red
These numbers run as high as 10, top.
ping off with box in which is pain
ed an eagle The other andlarger end |
If the table presents a fiat surface,
'uled something similar to the plan
Introducing the school game of fox
md geese. The ruled blocks are paint.
ID white and red, numbered GORE.
with the numbers on the
ink. You bet on any number you
,lease. The fiat sunken wheel is
yhirled to the right, and a little
worry ball is sent spinning TO the left
4 you have laid $50 on the eagle, and
he ball lodges in the eagle compart.
nent, you get twenty for one-that
5, you get $500 for your $50. If you
yet on II, you get II for and so on.
"A prominent gambler walked up to
bis table last week." says Mr.. fill,
and went of with $1,000 of my mon.
y, made in two bets"
There are two blank blocks, paint
ID white and red, on which you may
et even on the colors If you choose.
There are well furnished rooms on
he floor above, and in each room a
elect party Of poker-players arc hard
I work. No oaths are heard. No 4
lang offends the ear. Each gam bier
ttends TO his business in silence, and ,
3 the bits of excited pasteboard are
huflled, soft r-r-rr-rip is the only
ound heard. The lace curtains flut.
er in the morning breeze, and the
as-lights dance within their figured
hades as we pass the faro.table, /
round which sits the woaried but ,
objected group ofp'ayers, and we rise
'om our chairs TO bid our host fare.
-ell.
"Take a parting glass of wine with
le, gentlemen p A waiter springs TO .
ILLS side in an instant our glasses ,
re clinked, we select fresh cigar,
nd pass without the door More
ian s250,000 have changed hands
ithin this pile of yellow faded bricks {
nee 9 o'clock last evening. I
Rev. Henry Wondt, formerly super I
ltcndent of tho Lutheran Orphans (
.ome, Germantown, Pa, and who :